November is dedicated to prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, those faithful Christians who have died and gone before us but who still must atone for their sins.

Praying for the dead, especially for those we have known, is a requirement of Christian charity. Our own prayers and sacrifices can be offered up to relieve their suffering. The following prayers can be incorporated into our daily prayers during this month.

Sunday Prayer for the Faithful Departed
O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood, which Thy divine Son Jesus shed in the Garden, deliver the souls in purgatory, and especially that one which is the most forsaken of all, and bring it into Thy glory, where it may praise and bless Thee for ever. Amen.

Prayer for Monday:
We offer our prayer through the Precious Blood of Jesus, especially that shed during his scourging, and we remember in a special way today that soul which is closest to leaving Purgatory and entering into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Prayer for Tuesday:
Christ shed His Precious Blood for us when He was crowned with thorns, and we offer our prayer today through that Blood for the soul in Purgatory that is most in need of our prayers.

Prayer for Wednesday:
Today, we pray in a special way for that soul in Purgatory which has the greatest merit, and we offer our prayer through the Blood that Christ shed when He carried His Cross to Calvary.

Prayer for Thursday:
On Thursdays, we remember Christ's institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, and so we offer our prayer today through the Body and Blood of Christ. We offer it especially for the soul in Purgatory most devoted to the Eucharist.

Prayer for Friday:
Christ died on the Cross on Good Friday, and our prayer today is offered through the Blood He shed on that day. We remember especially that soul for whom we have the greatest obligation to pray - someone we knew who has died and who is in need of our prayers.

Prayer for Saturday:
As our week of prayer for the faithful departed comes to a close, we offer our prayer today especially for that soul in Purgatory most devoted to Mary, the Mother of God, and we offer it through the Precious Blood that she saw flow from her Son when the spear was thrust into His side on the Cross.
Eternal rest grant unto 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.

What will this year bring? We do not know; it will likely bring us its usual times of work and play, experiences of learning, newness, success and challenges. All things that are part of school life.

It’s a new beginning; the planting of a seed that will grow for a year; the seed of fruit that will blossom in times to come. It offers new hope; hope for good work, for successful results, for friendship, for fun, for learning.

In this coming year, may there be learning, prayer and fun. May there be hard work, faith and friendship. May no one in school be lonely. May no one be left out in class. May no one suffer because of how others treat them.

As we begin this new school year in hope, in prayer and friendship, may God begin it with us, be with us during it and successfully bring it to its conclusion, Amen.

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.

Teachers’ Prayer (for a Willingness to Serve Others)

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Student Prayer

For summer's passing
and harvest home
WE THANK YOU

For autumn's splendour
and winter's chill
WE THANK YOU

For seed that has fallen
the promise of spring
WE THANK YOU