Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Feast of Saint Martin de Porres
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Welcome to November, the Month of the Holy Souls. This week in our Year of the Family we will learn the importance of praying for some of our most cherished familial members – our beloved dead.
Bishop Boyea's Year of the Family | Week Nine | Praying for Our Beloved Dead
Unusually for a man in his mid-seventies, I had the privilege of having my mom and dad in my life until very recently. Mom died three years ago, at the age of 92. Dad died only last year, aged 96. I loved them both very much. May they rest in peace.
So are mom and dad in heaven? That’s obviously my hope but, in truth, I don’t know for certain. That “not knowing” applies to all our beloved dead, with the exception of those saints who have been publicly canonized by the Church.
So what do we know for certain? Well, we know that if we die in a state of grace – that is, we’ve repented of any mortal sins – then we will avoid Hell. That’s good. But we also know that many of us will still need some time of being purified after death so that we are ready to see the Face of God. We call this time of preparation, Purgatory. And those suffering yet hopeful souls in Purgatory need our prayers. That’s why I recently made a pilgrimage to mom and dad’s grave at Calvary Cemetery up in Cheboygan.
And so to my challenge to you this week: During this month of the Holy Souls, ask your local priest to offer Holy Mass for somebody who has died. It may be a family member but it could also be a deceased friend or even somebody you didn’t know but worry that nobody else is praying for their soul. Remember, the Holy Souls are relying on our prayers…and there is no more powerful prayer than the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
So how, practically, do you request a Mass for the dead? It’s actually pretty straightforward. Just contact your local parish office, give them the name of the deceased, and ask that Holy Mass be offered for them. It’s that easy. It is also customary to give a very small monetary gift when you request a Mass for any special intention. It’s not mandatory – you are not “buying a Mass” – but it’s a nice custom to observe, as that money helps support the continued good works of the local priest and his parish.
So, until next week, may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.
+ Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing