A reading and meditation on the Office of the Dead, from the liturgy of All Souls’ Day, November 2, from Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year.The Office of the Dead, prayed on All Souls’ Day and at other times of remembrance for the faithful departed, is a solemn part of the Church’s liturgy that intercedes for souls undergoing purification in Purgatory. Composed of Matins (the Office of Readings) and Lauds (Morning Prayer), it sets aside the joyful expressions typical of other offices, replacing them with psalms, readings, and responsories marked by deep supplication and hope in God’s mercy. Its recurring antiphon “Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine” (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord”) expresses the heart of the devotion—pleading that the departed may be delivered from their sins and welcomed into the light of eternal life through the saving death and resurrection of Christ.Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasizing the unity of faith through the axiom lex orandi, lex credendi ("the law of prayer is the law of belief"), and remains a cherished resource for Catholics seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. Dom Prosper Guéranger (1805–1875) was a French Benedictine monk, liturgical scholar, and founder of the Solesmes Abbey, renowned for his pivotal role in reviving the Benedictine Order in France and restoring the Roman liturgy after the disruptions of the French Revolution. Born in Sablé-sur-Sarthe, he entered the priesthood in 1827 and, inspired by a vision to restore monastic life, reestablished the Benedictine community at Solesmes in 1833, becoming its first abbot. A staunch defender of ultramontanism and traditional Catholic worship, he also championed the revival of Gregorian chant, significantly influencing the liturgical renewal movement.Please note: The entries of the Liturgical Year are primarily authored by Dom Prosper Guéranger, but occasionally contain editors’ additions of subsequent information and events that are relevant to the given feast.Link to the Dom Guéranger's Liturgical Year playlist (updated daily, unless a ferial day): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZKdyYnV_bkh7rH6piW0ShgsdcefFoOvJ