When the Elect Arrive at the Gates of Heaven They are Greeted by a Crowd of Welcoming Angels

After All Saints Day, Catholics traditionally celebrate All Souls Day.  All Souls Day is typically dedicated to praying for the souls of the “faithful departed.”  According to Catholic doctrine, all those in the “communion of saints” or body of Christ are still tainted by sin when they die and are, therefore, not yet ready to stand before God in Heaven.  These “tainted” Christians, instead, go to purgatory, where they undergo a final cleansing from all sins before entering Heaven and the presence of God.  Catholics believe that they can hasten the cleansing by praying for those in purgatory. 

While you may not be Catholic, you can still celebrate a few All Souls Day traditions to carry out the meaning of Halloween an extra day.  Here are a few suggestions: