Plenary Indulgences the First Week of November
2 November 2024, Mesilla Park, New Mexico, Steven Zimmerman – Many Catholics, myself included, are not aware that you can obtain eight plenary indulgences for those who have departed this life. All of these plenary indulgences can be gained the first week of November.
For centuries, the Catholic Church widely observed All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) as an octave, extending the holy celebration to eight days.
This octave, which grants plenary indulgences, was established by Pope Sixtus IV in the 15th century and demoted to the liturgical calendar around the middle of the 20th century. However, you can still mark the eight-day observance.
The Church still indirectly acknowledges the eight-day octave in granting plenary indulgences for the first week of November.
What is a plenary indulgence?
A plenary indulgence is a grace the Catholic Church grants through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin.
It is not a forgiveness of sin but the remission of punishment for sins already forgiven. It may apply either to oneself or to souls already in purgatory.
To obtain a plenary indulgence, a Catholic must — in addition to being in the state of grace — both have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin (even venial sin), have sacramentally confessed their sins and received the Eucharist (either within or outside of Mass), and must pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
What about the All Saints’ octave?
The Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, in its “Enchiridion Indulgentiarum” (“Handbook of Indulgences”), says that a Catholic can obtain a plenary indulgence for the faithful departed “every day, from the 1st to the 8th of November,” if, in addition to fulfilling the standard terms of a plenary indulgence, one “devoutly visit[s] a cemetery and at least mentally pray[s] for the dead.”
The conditions for a plenary indulgence can be fulfilled a few days before or after performing the works to gain the indulgence. Still, it is appropriate that Communion and prayer occur on the same day.
What are the Holy Father’s intentions for November?
The Holy Father has asked that we all pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.
Calendar of Plenary Indulgences
| Date | Name | Prescribed Indulgenced Act |
|---|---|---|
| November 2, 2024 Saturday | Suffrage for Holy Souls in Purgatory | On any day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the departed. The indulgence is applied to the departed. [Grant 29.1.2] |
| November 2, 2024 Saturday | All Soul’s Day | Visit a church or oratory and pray an Our Father, and the Creed. The indulgence is applied to the departed. [Grant 29.1.2] |
| November 3, 2024 Sunday | Suffrage for Holy Souls in Purgatory | On any day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the departed. The indulgence is applied to the departed. [Grant 29.1.2] |
| November 4, 2024 Monday | Suffrage for Holy Souls in Purgatory | On any day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the departed. The indulgence is applied to the departed. [Grant 29.1.2] |
| November 5, 2024 Tuesday | Suffrage for Holy Souls in Purgatory | On any day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the departed. The indulgence is applied to the departed. [Grant 29.1.2] |
| November 6, 2024 Wednesday | Suffrage for Holy Souls in Purgatory | On any day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the departed. The indulgence is applied to the departed. [Grant 29.1.2] |
| November 7, 2024 Thursday | Suffrage for Holy Souls in Purgatory | On any day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the departed. The indulgence is applied to the departed. [Grant 29.1.2] |
| November 8, 2024 Friday | Suffrage for Holy Souls in Purgatory | On any day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the departed. The indulgence is applied to the departed. [Grant 29.1.2] |
| November 24, 2024 Sunday | Solemnity of Christ the King | Pray Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer. [Grant 2] |
| December 31, 2024 Tuesday | Thanksgiving on the Last Day of the Year | Say the Te Deum. [Grant 26.1.2] |
This list comes from the Manual of Indulgences 4th Edition. It may not contain local or grants added after the Manual of Indulgences was released. The dates are taken from the Liturgical Calendar of the Philippines. If you are from a different country, the Bishop’s Conference of your country may have determined different dates for some of these; kindly consult your country’s Liturgical Calendar.
