November is the month for praying for the poor souls in purgatory, and many Catholic churches have  special ways of remembering those from their community who have died in the past year.  At the Church of Saint Paul we’re invited to write the names of those we know who have died in the past year in a book that’s in the entry next to the Easter Candle.  At each Mass in November, our community will be praying for these people to be in God’s holy presence in heaven.  You may want to continue a similar version of this practice in your home throughout the month by compiling your own list of those you know who have died, and remembering them in your family’s prayer times.

It’s easy to reason that talking about death is too traumatic for children, and apart from our hope in God’s goodness and our longing for heaven, that’s likely true.  Quite often, however, children love imagining heaven and find it comforting to know their beloved friends and family members aren’t forgotten and actually can benefit from their prayers!  This is an important opportunity for parents to set aside their own discomfort about the topic of death and to share their sure faith in God’s mercy.