Introduction

On All Souls’ Day, the Church gathers to pray for the faithful departed, remembering all who have died and entrusting them to God’s mercy. This commemoration, which follows the Feast of All Saints on November 1, expresses our belief in the communion of saints and the power of prayer to aid those being purified in purgatory. Through this solemn observance, we honor Christ’s victory over death and renew our hope in the resurrection and the life of the world to come.

The Mass for All Souls’ Day is unique in that it does not have a single set of prescribed readings. Instead, the lectionary offers a wide range of options, allowing the celebrant to select passages that best convey the hope of Christian death and resurrection in light of the community’s pastoral needs.

The readings below are those listed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as the readings for this celebration.