The practice of praying for the dead dates back to early Christianity and the Old Testament (2 Maccabees). All Souls' Day - Article - The Abbot's Circle

All Souls' Day: A Commemoration of the Faithful Departed All Souls' Day, observed annually on , is a significant Christian day of prayer and remembrance dedicated to the "faithful departed" . While it is most prominent in Roman Catholicism, it is also observed by Anglicans and some Lutheran denominations. Theological Significance

: Catholic doctrine views the Church as a single family in three states: the Church Triumphant (saints in heaven), the Church Militant (believers on earth), and the Church Suffering (souls in purgatory). Historical Origins