From the Supreme Knight’s Desk
MONTHLY REFLECTIONS FOR NOVEMBER 2025 ON THE THEME
“WHY WE PRAY FOR THE DEAD”
Dear Brothers,
Embracing our dearly departed in prayers.
November is the month of Remembrance. The month begins with the Solemnity of All Saints when we remember and give thanks to God for the lives of all the saints of God; our brothers and sisters in the faith, the holy men and women of every place and time who have gone before us and are ahead of us on the journey to the kingdom of God. The second day of the month is for the commemoration of All Souls. On this day, we remember our beloved deceased family members and friends, as well as acquaintances, the unknown deceased and those who become known to us only in their death, who we commend to the limitless love and mercy of God in Christ Jesus.
As Catholics, in death, life is transformed but not ended and our prayer for the dead is worthwhile. The worst that we can do for the departed is to presume that they are in a better place and may not need our prayers. The Church commends almsgiving and works of penance on behalf of the dead during this period. There are special graces and indulgences for all who pray for the dead, especially within the Octave of the feast, that is from the 1st to 8th of November.
The Noble Order in its wisdom celebrates Councils of Sorrow in November to commemorate our departed brothers. We remember our departed brothers during this month at our Councils of Sorrow. We pray for God’s mercy for them through the celebration of Memorial Masses and any prayer or activity recommended by Mother Church.
The Bible as well as our catechesis, remind us that there are two destinations for the dead. Those who die in God’s friendship and grace and are therefore heaven-bound (2 Tim 1:8-10) and those who reject God’s friendship and hence hell-bound (Lk 16:19-31, Jn 5: 28-29, Rev 22:3-5; 1Jn 3:1-2)
God is perfect and nothing imperfect can be before God. (Matthew 5:48; 2 Samuel 22:31). Unfortunately, many of us, at the time of our death, even when we die in God’s friendship and grace, may not be so perfect to stand before him. Many of us at the hour of our death may harbour venial (not deadly) sins, some concupiscence (a disordered desire even for good things), temporal punishments of sins that have been forgiven by God and undue attachment to some worldly things. These may make us unworthy and less perfect to stand before our Heavenly Father. We believe that anyone who dies in God’s friendship and grace but is imperfect undergoes purification for perfection.
This state is known as purgatory. Purgatory is a temporal state or condition of purification for souls going to heaven. It is not the destination nor place of the soul. The purification can be very long and painful. Purgatory exists because of God’s mercy and compassion to bring his children perfectly home. Mass celebrated for the dead, almsgiving and other works of penance on behalf and for the dead can reduce the duration and the pain of their purification.
The book of Maccabeus teaches us that if we believe in the resurrection, then it is proper to pray for the dead (2 Mach 12:44-45). In the New Testament, St. Paul prayed for the dead Onesiphorus that God may have mercy on him. (2 Timothy 1:18)
Praying for our beloved deceased is not only scriptural; it is also therapeutic for us the living. In praying for our dead we bring before God, all the loose ends left at death. Our prayer for the dead recognizes our continuing relationship with them and brings that relationship for healing by God. Such prayer becomes an avenue of assurance that we place in the hand of God what was once dear to us. This opportunity is a precious consoling act that no secular or worldly therapy can equal.
I therefore urge you in this month as we pray for our departed brothers to also:
- Request Mass to be said for your departed family, friends and acquaintances from 1st to 20th of November and often throughout the year.
- Visit a cemetery and pray for the departed.
- Go for Confession, receive the Holy Eucharist, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father for the month of November, by praying One (1) Our Father, Three (3) Hail Mary and One (1) Glory be to the Father,
Fraternal Regards,
Sir Kt. Constantine K.M. Kudzedzi
Supreme Knight