One several occasions, we have shared pictures by Mr John Ryan Debil, who does very impressive work in decorating the little chapel where he prays the Divine Office, as you can see on his Facebook page The Home Oratory, also on Instagram. He has recently put together a collection of prayers for the dead which he has composed; it can be ordered through Amazon at this link. We are very glad to share this presentation of the book with our readers; below you can see some examples of his oratory as he decorated it last year for the triduum of All Saints and All Souls.
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In recent decades, many of the Church’s time-honoured devotions surrounding death, judgment, and the faithful departed have faded from daily life, even though November remains the month of the Holy Souls. In an age that has forgotten the Christian remembrance of death – the sober knowledge of judgment and the need for purification before entering Heaven – Prayers for the Octave of the Dead by John Ryan Debíl seeks to invite the faithful to recover an authentically Catholic vision of eternity, one that unites hope with repentance and mercy with truth.
Carrying the
imprimatur of the Rt. Rev. Philip A. Egan, Bishop of Portsmouth, this devotional is designed especially for the laity, offering a structure of daily readings, meditations, and prayers. It opens with an introduction and a concise exposition on the Church’s teaching about Purgatory, grounding the practice of praying for the dead in its true doctrinal context. Drawing on Scripture, the prayers are written in a spirit of traditional devotion and reflections on the Four Last Things, contrasting the complacency of the present age with the purifying realism of those in Purgatory, who long for the vision of God. The mystery of death and judgment urge the faithful to resist the modern presumption that Heaven is assured, and renew the ancient charity of praying for the dead.
The book is enhanced with photographs taken by the author at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini (FSSP) in Rome during the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed in November 2023, with permission of the parish priest, Fr Brice Meissonnier. Printed in a glossy, pocket-sized paperback format, Prayers for the Octave of the Dead is designed for both beauty and practicality. Inside, bold text marks the portions to be read by the leader, making it ideal for use in groups or parish devotions. The booklet includes clear preliminary instructions and several supplementary prayers. Compact and durable, it is easily carried to church, cemetery, or home oratory – an accessible companion for the faithful who wish to pray for the Holy Souls throughout November.
Some examples of Mr Debil’s work on his home oratory, for the vigil of All Saints...
for the feast,
and for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.
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