Pentecost Season · All Souls: Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed · Year A

Wisdom 3:1-9 or 4:7-15

The Souls of the Righteous Are in God's Hand

November 2, 2026

The Last Judgement, Fra Angelico — **The Last Judgement**, Fra Angelico, c. 1425-1430Museo di San Marco, Florence · public domain

Roman Lectionary

GospelMatt. 5:1-12a Alt. GospelMatt. 11:25-30 or25:31-46 orLuke 7:11-17 or23:44-46, 50, 52-53; 24:1-6a or24:13-16, 28-35 orJohn 5:24-29 or6:37-40, 6:51-59 or11:17-27, 11:32-45 or14:1-6

First ReadingWis. 3:1-9 or4:7-15 Alt. 1st ReadingIsa. 25:6-9

Responsorial PsalmPs. 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Alt. PsalmPs. 25:6, 7b, 17-18, 20-21 or27:1, 4, 7, 8b, 9a, 13-14

Second ReadingRom. 5:5-11 or5:17-21 Alt. 2nd ReadingRom. 6:3-9 or8:14-23 or8:31b-35, 37-39 or14:7-9, 10c-12 or1 Cor. 15:20-28 or15:51-57 or2 Cor. 4:14-5:1 or5:1, 6-10 orPhil. 3:20-21 or1 Thess. 4:13-18 or2 Tim. 2:8-13

Overview & Insights

"The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them." (Wisdom 3:1)

The passage teaches that the souls of the just rest in God's hand, safe from torment. Though in the eyes of the foolish they seemed to die, they are at peace, and having been disciplined a little they will receive great good, for God tested them and found them worthy of himself.

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Commentary

Haydock's Catholic Commentary on Wisdom 3 StudyLight

George Haydock's Catholic notes on the whole of Wisdom 3, verse by verse.

All Souls Day: Reading Study Agape Bible Study

A Catholic reading study of the All Souls readings, opening with the souls of the righteous.

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Dr. Brant Pitre explains why the church reads Wisdom on the hope of immortality for the dead.

Background & Word Study

Wisdom 3 with Haydock Notes New Advent · Catholic Encyclopedia

The Douay-Rheims text of Wisdom 3 with Haydock's Catholic commentary in the margins.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Wisdom 3 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on the souls of the righteous in the hand of God.

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