The Church has always had special times to pray for the Dead, and since the 10th Century, the Church has designated November 2 as a special day to intercede for all the Poor Souls in Purgatory. This is so important to the Church, that there are two Plenary Indulgences attached to All Souls Day, one for visiting a church and another for visiting a cemetery.
Normally, the plenary indulgence for visiting a cemetery can also be obtained every day from November 1-8, and, as a partial indulgence, on any day of the year. However, in this extraordinary year of pandemic, the Vatican has given special permission to extend the time period of the Plenary Indulgence applied to the deceased by those who visit a cemetery. This year, the indulgence can be obtained by anyone who visits a cemetery, even if only mentally, on any day in November, and devoutly prays for the faithful departed.
Plenary Indulgences are an aspect of Church Teaching that is very often misunderstood (particularly in a historical context!) . This article beautifully presents what the Church teaches about Plenary Indulgences and gives greater detail specific to the All Souls Plenary Indulgence.
This is the beauty of the Catholic Faith, that through Christ, we are all united as his Mystical Body as part of the Church Militant (those of us on earth still battling sin), the Church Suffering (those undergoing suffering as they await Heaven), and the Church Triumphant (those souls part of the Beatific Vision in Heaven). Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in the Church Suffering this November, particularly those souls who are forgotten and have no one to pray for them.
Other ways to offer your prayers:
Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them.
R/. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them.
R/. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them.
R/. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them.
R/. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them.
R/. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them.
R/. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them.
R/. Have mercy on them, O Lord
(Recommend yourself to the Souls in Purgatory and mention your intentions here)
Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.
Saint Gertrude's Prayer for Holy Souls
Eternal Father, I offer You the most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for all sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.