The Eternal Rest Prayer (Requiem aeternam)
Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
The Catholic Church dedicates the month of November to the holy souls in purgatory, the Church Suffering. We, the Church Militant, are asked to pray for, especially this month, those souls undergoing perfect purification.
When a Christian dies in God's grace and friendship, their soul is welcomed into heaven, the longing of every human heart, ultimate happiness in communion with the Holy Trinity, but only if he or she is holy, perfectly purified. When a Christian lacks such perfection, the time spent in purification is called Purgatory. Purgatory is the gift of a loving, generous, and merciful God.
We refer to those in purgatory as the “poor” souls, because they can no longer pray for or gain anything for themselves. Those souls rely completely on us to make sacrifices and pray for their purification, sending them more quickly to the arms of our Lord and the saints, the Church Triumphant.
As Christians, we shouldn't fear death. During the month of November, while we pray for our departed loved ones, it's also a good opportunity to meditate on the phrase memento mori (remember, you are mortal). This life is only temporary. We are only visitors here on Earth. When we live each day with this understanding, it is easy to prioritize the things that truly matter.