November is a special month commemorating all of the souls who have gone before us. We kick it off with All Saints Day on November 1st, when we remember those who went before us crowned with glory. They were people just like us who in some way perfected the virtues we strive for, and through their intercession we know that they are advocating for us in Heaven. Luckily you can have as many saint friends as you like for any occasion or cause that you are praying for. Here are a few examples of Saints I’ve asked to pray for me throughout my life.

St. Anthony of Padua: This was one of the first saints I knew of to ask to pray for me. My dogs at the time had run away and my aunt told me to ask him to pray for their return since he is the patron saint of lost things. He then turned up later in life when someone I know got a tattoo of him on their chest because I gave them a Saint Anthony holy card. I also found spiritual rest at the Shrine of St. Anthony, which was only ten minutes from where I lived.

St. Gianna Molla: St. Gianna was a doctor and mother who risked her life in a high risk pregnancy. When discerning my vocation in life I stumbled upon St. Gianna. I ended up meeting her daughter a few years ago (the one that was the high risk pregnancy St. Gianna risked her life for). St. Gianna is a great intercessor for pro-life causes, pregnancy, motherhood, and marriage.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux (also known as “The Little Flower”): I feel like everyone has some sort of devotion to her, and I also feel like she definitely “stalks” people. My mom’s side of the family had a devotion to her, and my great grandfather would tell my mom that she looked like her. Every time I went to visit my grandma, I would see a block of the Little Flower, and after my grandma passed, I ended up inheriting everything Little Flower-related. My devotion to her grew in college when my spiritual director gave me the book “33 Days to Merciful Love.” A tradition is to get a rose when your prayers have been heard. In 2019 while praying her Novena, I was in London and I was blasted with roses. I found her statue at the Church where I went to Mass, a lady walked onto the tube with roses all over her purse and outfit, and I met a woman named Roz (short for Rose) that evening. There is no doubt in my mind that she is always ready to pray for me and probably has been for longer than I can recall.

St. Francis de Sales: The first book I got from my first spiritual director was “Intro to the Devout Life” by St. Francis de Sales. I highly recommend it. He has a lot of spiritual wisdom and is a great resource for when you need to know what the next best step is in your spiritual life. 

So while celebrating the saints is a great kick off to November, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of praying for all souls. On November 2nd we commemorate all of the souls who have gone before us. It is a day when you can obtain a plenary indulgence by visiting a cemetery and praying for the souls there. (Just make sure you’re in a state of grace in order to receive the full indulgence – in other words, go to confession and receive communion!)

But think about how many souls you can pray for. Pray that they, too, may have the hope and final resting place of Heaven, especially those souls who have been forgotten by younger generations. The most amazing thing you can do for those souls is pray for them or have Masses said for them. This November, I challenge you to think of those souls you can pray for, reflect on your own death, and consider how you can prepare for it spiritually.