All Souls’ Day, celebrated on the 2nd of November, is a day where Christian communities remember their deceased family and friends. In Catholic belief, the soul of a person goes to 1-of-3 places: heaven, hell, or purgatory.
- Heaven is where the deceased go if in a state of perfect grace and communication with God
- Hell is where the deceased go if in a state of mortal sin
- Purgatory is where the deceased go if free of mortal sin, but in a state of lesser sin
The state of purgatory is necessary for souls to be cleansed before entering heaven. In Micah 7:9 we see this referenced. “I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I shall behold this deliverance.”
On All Souls’ Day, services include prayers and hymns focusing on the notion of All Souls’ Day. The colour purple is often worn as it symbolises penitence and humility or black as it symbolises sadness and mourning.
