The Pope’s Monthly Intention
For the prevention of suicide: Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.
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Prayer for the Dead
Into your hands, O Lord,
We humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love;
deliver them now from every evil
and bid them enter eternal rest.
The old order has passed away:
welcome them into paradise,
where there will be no sorrow,
no weeping nor pain,
but fullness of peace and joy
with your Son and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever.
Amen
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Prayer to the Saints of Ireland • Feast day 6 November
O God, who didst deign to people our land with innumerable saints, and to make it illustrious amongst all the nations of the world for the zeal of its apostles, the fortitude of its martyrs, the constancy of its confessors, and the shining purity of its holy women, give us the grace of devotion to all the Saints of Ireland that we may be inspired by their example to lead lives worthy of the noble traditions which they have handed down from generation unto generation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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St Charles Borremeo (1538-84) • Feast day 4 November
Patron saint of catechists and seminarians and bishops.
If a tiny spark of God’s love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out. Keep the stove tightly shut so that it will not lose its heat and grow cold. In other words, avoid distractions as well as you can.
Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head.
Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter.
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Prayer of St Martin de Porres • Feast day 5 November
In life’s daily struggles I sometimes feel bewildered and alone.
So I turn to you, St Martin, my friend and companion,
to intercede for me before God.
Please pray for (mention your intention).
Most of all, ask for the grace that I may live the Gospel.
May God grant me your humility, Martin,
so that I always do His will.
Dearest Father, in the name of your Son, Jesus,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit,
guide me as I face the challenges of life.
Give me Martin’s sense of service
so that I may be a blessing to all whom I meet. Amen.
St Martin de Porres, pray for us!
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Prayer to St Cecilia • Feast day 22 November
Patroness of music and musicians
O gentle Cecilia, sweet voice and melody of the Heart of Jesus. We come to you to beg your assistance. Pray for us Cecilia, teach us to sing to glories of God and also for the Glory of God. Give us the voice to sing the ‘Ave’ as you did at the hour of your martyrdom. Pray for us o martyr with a singing heart. Amen.
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November Poem Thomas Hood
No sun – no moon!
No morn – no noon –
No dawn – no dusk – no proper time of day.
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member –
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! –
November!
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Norms for Indulgences at the Commemoration of All Souls
- From twelve o’clock noon on 1 November until midnight on 2 November, all who have confessed, received Holy Communion and prayed for the pope’s intentions (one Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other prayer of one’s choice) can gain one plenary indulgence by visiting a church or oratory, and there reciting one Our Father and the Apostle’s Creed. This indulgence is applicable only to the souls of the departed.
Confession may be made at any time within the week preceding or the week following1 November. Holy Communion may be received on any day from 1 November to 8 November.
- The faithful who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the Holy Souls on the usual conditions once per day from 1 to 8 November.