Most souls, after death, go to Purgatory and suffer there, often for years, in order to be purified and then be able to enter Heaven. However, the Magisterium of the Catholic Church tells us that we have an extraordinary means of helping them and reducing the duration and intensity of their suffering: the treasure of indulgences!

On All Saints’ Day, and even until November 8, we can help those who have left us by taking a very simple and extremely powerful step…

First, here is the story of Father Buguet, who delivered many souls from purgatory and obtained their very effective help. Then we will see how we too can relieve the souls of our deceased…

The story of Father Buguet: he prays for the souls in purgatory and receives their precious help!

In 1843, in a small village in the diocese of Séez, in France, a simple man with an extraordinary destiny was born: Paul-Joseph Buguet. From an early age, he was drawn to God, but also deeply marked by suffering and death. When he lost his brother in a tragic accident, his soul was shaken. The question of the afterlife, purgatory, and forsaken souls became a spiritual burning that he would carry with him throughout his life.

Divine Mission

Ordained as a priest in 1866, he carried out his ministry faithfully and discreetly in several parishes. But in 1878, his life was turned upside down when he was appointed parish priest of La Chapelle-Montligeon, a poor and isolated village affected by rural depopulation. There he found a dilapidated church, an impoverished population that did not even have work to earn a living, and hearts deserted by hope.

Father Buguet, deeply moved by so much misery, tried several times to provide concrete help, but without success.
However, far from being discouraged, he saw his presence in Montligeon as a divine mission. He understood that in order to revive faith, it was necessary to give work to the living and hope to the dead. It was from this intuition that his work began to take shape.

An Inspiration from above

Father Buguet decided to celebrate Mass every Monday for the most neglected souls in purgatory. He told no one about this and held it dearer than anything else… Then, some time later, a beautiful and mysterious lady came to thank him for offering Mass for the souls in purgatory. But how did she know? He had never told anyone! When the lady disappeared, Father Buguet understood that this mysterious visit was a sign from Heaven.

He then had an inner revelation: he must create a universal work of prayer for the souls in purgatory, a work of expiation, carried out by the living for the dead.
With the agreement of his bishop, he founded the Expiatory Work for the Deliverance of Souls in Purgatory in 1884. The idea was simple and powerful: to form a large family of prayer, united in charity, to intercede every day for the souls of the deceased.

Delivered souls lend their assistance

But the priest sees further. This spiritual work must have a holy place, a sanctuary, a home for souls, a beacon for the living. He dreams of a basilica dedicated to Our Lady Liberator, the Mother who watches over her children as they await Heaven.

In 1896, the first stone was laid. The means were meager, but Providence provided. Workers, craftsmen, parishioners, donors: all united for a work that was beyond them. Despite the obstacles, the debts, the mockery at times, the abbot held fast.

And then the grateful souls in purgatory brought the much-needed help for the poor villagers: the Work grew so rapidly that Father Buguet founded a large printing press to spread his message throughout France, then throughout the world… From that day on, the call to pray for the souls in purgatory provided work for all his parishioners and lifted them out of poverty!

A place for Eternity

In 1911, the first Mass was celebrated in the majestic basilica standing at the top of the village, facing the sky. The crowned statue of Our Lady Liberator welcomes crowds from all over the world.

Montligeon became a sanctuary of hope, a place where people wept, prayed, hoped, and entrusted their deceased loved ones. Even today, thousands of faithful sign up for the Fraternity of Prayer for the Deceased, perpetual Masses continue to be celebrated, and the walls of Montligeon echo with fervent prayers…

How can we help the souls of our deceased loved ones get to Heaven more quickly? (during the octave of All Saints’ Day)

We can relieve the souls of our deceased loved ones by obtaining a plenary indulgence for them.
“A plenary indulgence is the remission before God of the entire temporal punishment due for sins whose guilt has already been forgiven (through the sacrament of confession).”
→ This indulgence applies only to souls in purgatory.
→ We can obtain one per day during the octave of All Saints’ Day, by doing the same thing for each soul (so we can help from 1 to 8 souls!)

Steps to obtain a plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory

On All Saints’ Day—and if we wish, during the days that follow—we are invited to:

1. 1. Visit a cemetery and pray for a deceased person.
      For example: “Lord, grant him eternal rest…”
      + One Our Father, one Hail Mary, one Gloria. Or a Rosary. Or other prayers.
   2. Receive Holy Communion
      Attend Mass and receive Communion every day we wish to gain a plenary indulgence.
   3. Pray for the Pope’s Intentions : Here is the intention for November 2025:
      “Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.”
   4. Go to confession within eight days before or after the chosen day.
      A single confession is sufficient for multiple indulgences.
      NB: It is important to be in a state of grace and without attachment to sin (even venial). We can make a sincere act of contrition, with the will to reject all sins.

The Gift of All Saints’ Day

“Purgatory is not a place of oblivion, but a place of love. Souls await our prayers as we await the light in the night,” said Father Buguet.

Here is Geneviève’s testimony, in which she fondly recalls her grandmother:

“Every evening, she would say her rosary. It was important not to disturb her. I try to imitate her… it’s not always easy, but I manage.”

With these words, Genevieve testifies to the simplicity of a gesture of faith that connects the living and the dead in prayer.

So, on All Saints’ Day, let us offer our dear departed this wonderful gift that will deliver them from the sufferings of purgatory: Masses, Rosary prayers, or even fasting, indulgenced prayers…
And let us be certain that the souls thus relieved will then help us from Heaven!