In this lesson, you will help teach students about the importance of praying for the souls in Purgatory and how they can play an active role in Christ’s gift of salvation by their participation and cooperation in His work of salvation and sanctification through intercessory prayer.
Students will receive a helpful infographic as well as Pledge Cards with information on how to receive indulgences, so that Catholic and non-Catholic students alike can pray for the souls of the dead.
“If, during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death.” – St. Paul of the Cross
“Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice (Job 1:5), why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.” – St. John Chrysostom
These materials were developed in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. We are especially grateful to Mike Juhas, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, for making possible this collaboration.
With this lesson, you will teach students about the importance of praying for the souls in Purgatory and how they can play an active role in Christ’s gift of salvation by their participation and cooperation in His work of salvation and sanctification through intercessory prayer. You will also provide your students with a structured opportunity to offer prayers for loved ones who are deceased, and for forgotten souls with nobody to pray for them during the week of All Saints / All Souls Day.
Background for teaching
Review the following sources and consider sharing them with your students as well!
A. Explain to your students that that praying for the souls in Purgatory is putting into practice the virtue of charity, and go over the following vocabulary terms.
Soul - the spiritual immortal part in human beings that animates their body
All Souls Day - a holy day set aside to pray for the purification and happy repose of the souls of the dead in the Risen Lord (November 2)
Purgatory - a process of purification to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of Heaven
Temporal punishment - a temporary penalty imposed on us, either on earth or in purgatory, by which we make satisfaction in time for disturbing God’s order. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are forgiven because of the Blood of the Lamb of God, but God still wants us to do penance (prayers, sacrifices) to experience purification and healing after our sins have been forgiven.
Indulgence - a remission (or cancellation) before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven
Plenary indulgence - a full remission of temporal punishment
Partial indulgence – a partial remission of temporal punishment
B. Share some or all of the following saints’ quotes on Purgatory, and invite students to share their responses.
“I come to tell you that they suffer in Purgatory, that they weep, and that they demand with urgent cries the help of your prayers and your good works.” – St. John Vianney
“If, during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death.” – St. Paul of the Cross
“The practice of recommending to God the souls in Purgatory, that He may mitigate the great pains which they suffer, and that He may soon bring them to His glory, is most pleasing to the Lord and most profitable to us. For these blessed souls are His eternal spouses, and most grateful are they to those who obtain their deliverance from prison, or even a mitigation of their torments. When, therefore, they arrive in Heaven, they will be sure to remember all who have prayed for them.” – St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
“Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice (Job 1:5), why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.” – St. John Chrysostom
C. Share with the class the Infographic on the process of obtaining an indulgence, along with the Pledge Cards. (An option for non-Catholic students is provided so they may offer a spiritual bouquet.)
D. Provide opportunities for students and school community members to choose to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the school day on a designated day between Nov. 1 and 8 (eight days before or after Nov. 2 also suffices).
E. Provide opportunity for prayer, and opportunity for students to record the name of the person for whom they’ve offered the indulgence.
F. Offer a prayer service with an offering of the records at the altar.
With this lesson, you will teach students about the importance of praying for the souls in Purgatory and how they can play an active role in Christ’s gift of salvation by their participation and cooperation in His work of salvation and sanctification through intercessory prayer. You will also provide your students with a structured opportunity to offer prayers for loved ones who are deceased, and for forgotten souls with nobody to pray for them during the week of All Saints / All Souls Day.
Background for teaching
Review the following sources and consider sharing them with your students as well!
A. Explain to your students that that praying for the souls in Purgatory is putting into practice the virtue of charity, and go over the following vocabulary terms.
Soul - the spiritual immortal part in human beings that animates their body
All Souls Day - a holy day set aside to pray for the purification and happy repose of the souls of the dead in the Risen Lord (November 2)
Purgatory - a process of purification to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of Heaven
Temporal punishment - a temporary penalty imposed on us, either on earth or in purgatory, by which we make satisfaction in time for disturbing God’s order. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are forgiven because of the Blood of the Lamb of God, but God still wants us to do penance (prayers, sacrifices) to experience purification and healing after our sins have been forgiven.
Indulgence - a remission (or cancellation) before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven
Plenary indulgence - a full remission of temporal punishment
Partial indulgence – a partial remission of temporal punishment
B. Share some or all of the following saints’ quotes on Purgatory, and invite students to share their responses.
“I come to tell you that they suffer in Purgatory, that they weep, and that they demand with urgent cries the help of your prayers and your good works.” – St. John Vianney
“If, during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death.” – St. Paul of the Cross
“The practice of recommending to God the souls in Purgatory, that He may mitigate the great pains which they suffer, and that He may soon bring them to His glory, is most pleasing to the Lord and most profitable to us. For these blessed souls are His eternal spouses, and most grateful are they to those who obtain their deliverance from prison, or even a mitigation of their torments. When, therefore, they arrive in Heaven, they will be sure to remember all who have prayed for them.” – St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
“Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice (Job 1:5), why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.” – St. John Chrysostom
C. Share with the class the Infographic on the process of obtaining an indulgence, along with the Pledge Cards. (An option for non-Catholic students is provided so they may offer a spiritual bouquet.)
D. Provide opportunities for students and school community members to choose to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the school day on a designated day between Nov. 1 and 8 (eight days before or after Nov. 2 also suffices).
E. Provide opportunity for prayer, and opportunity for students to record the name of the person for whom they’ve offered the indulgence.
F. Offer a prayer service with an offering of the records at the altar.
With this lesson, you will teach students about the importance of praying for those who have died, and how they can play an active role in Christ’s gift of salvation through intercessory prayer (praying for others). You will also provide your students with a structured opportunity to offer prayers for loved ones who are deceased, and for forgotten souls with nobody to pray for them during the week of All Saints / All Souls Day.
Background for teaching
Review the following sources for your own background knowledge
A. Explain to your students that that praying for those who have died is putting into practice the virtue of charity, or self-giving love. We pray that those who have died, that can go to Heaven with God and be happy with Him there forever.
B. Share with the class that the Church gives us a special way to do this. If appropriate, share the infographic on the process of obtaining an indulgence, along with the Pledge Cards. (An option for non-Catholic students is provided so they may offer a spiritual bouquet.)
D. Provide opportunities for students and school community members to choose to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the school day on a designated day between Nov. 1 and 8 (eight days before or after Nov. 2 also suffices).
E. Provide opportunity for prayer, and opportunity for students to record the name of the person for whom they’ve offered the indulgence.
F. Offer a prayer service with an offering of the records at the altar.
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