The solemnity of All Saints on Wednesday, Nov. 1 is a holy day of obligation this year.
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Since the eighth century, the solemnity of All Saints has marked a day when we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place, canonized or beatified, who are now in heaven. Some were famous; others lived smaller lives going about God’s business on earth relatively unnoticed.
In the Catholic Church, we are called to imitate and venerate saints because of their heroically virtuous lives, martyrdom, or their offering of life for others. But, what does veneration mean and why do we pray to the saints? Veneration of the saints fosters our faith in God and does not detract from it. Rather, our faith in God is strengthened by our relationship with our brothers and sisters in the faith who are in heaven. The Church teaches that by imitating the virtues lived by the saints, the saints brings us closer to Christ. When we ask the saints to pray for us, we ask them to join their wills with the will of God and intercede for us here on earth. This is the Communion of Saints which we profess every Sunday in the Creed. (excerpt from the USCCB’s bulletin insert for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 31, 2021)
Related:
- La Solemnidad de Todos los Santos
- Read a reflection on “The Common Good of the Saints” from Aaron Sanders, director of the Office for Worship
- Read more about the “saints who encourage and accompany us” and the “saints next door” in Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Gaudete et exsultate (2018).
- Learn about the origins of All Saints and All Souls. Are these linked with paganism and Halloween?
Helping Holy Souls in purgatory complete their preparation for heavenly life
During November many Catholics visit a church or cemetery to pray for the holy souls in purgatory, and the Church encourages this custom by attaching a “plenary indulgence” to such prayers for the faithful departed. This indulgence means that through our prayers we can help departed souls complete their preparation for heavenly life. Learn more about indulgences (Relevant Radio)
Gaining indulgences for the faithful departed Nov. 1-8
Catholics can receive a full plenary indulgence once each day from Nov. 1 to 8 when they visit a cemetery to pray for the departed and fulfill other general conditions, and, in particular, when they go to a church or an oratory to pray on Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day.
Read more:
Prayers for death and dying (USCCB)
Why does it help to turn to the saints when we pray?
We are all called to lives of virtue and holiness and the saints are friends and intercessors who can inspire us toward this goal! Saints are people who are on fire with the Holy Spirit; they keep God’s fire burning in the Church. Even during their earthly life, the saints prayed ardently, in a way that was contagious. At Mass on All Saints’ Day, we praise and thank God for their example, their selflessness, and their holiness. We express our faith that they are now around God’s throne, where they “sing his praise forever.” And we ask them to give us “both strength and good example” so that one day we will meet them when we enter eternal life with God.
The feast of All Souls is Thursday, Nov. 2
All Souls’ Day, also known as “The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed” is observed on Nov. 2. This is when we remember people who were more like us – the souls of the faithful departed in purgatory or in process. The faithful on earth can assist these purgatorial souls in attaining heaven through prayer, good work and the offering of Mass.
At Mass on All Souls’ Day, we pray that through Christ’s loving mercy, God’s “departed servants…may be granted pardon and peace, and be brought to the joy of God’s eternal home. All Souls’ Day is an especially rich cultural experience for Hispanic/Latino Catholics, who call it “Día de los Muertos” or “The Day of the Dead.”
Additional resources:
All Saints’ Day, Feast of All Souls and Dia de los Muertos (Cathedral of Saint Andrew)
Two Great Feasts: All Saints and All Souls (For your marriage, Catholic 101)
Cremation and the Order of Christian Burials (USCCB)
Things to do in November:
- Participate in parish offerings in November for remembering deceased loved ones. Light a memorial candle, look for the opportunity to join in the celebration of a remembering prayer service or Mass of remembrance, to add the name(s) of your deceased loved one(s) to the parish’s Book of the Dead, or to bring a memento or photo of your loved ones to church.
- Visit a cemetery and pray for the dead during the Octave of All Saints’ Day. This gains a plenary indulgence that can be applied only to the souls in purgatory. On other days, this work gains a partial indulgence.
- During November, spend a little time after Mass during thanking God for all the unnamed saints, some of whom could be our own relatives.
- Have a special meal and if you have young children have them dress up like their favorite saints and play games.
- Craft Project for Children – Make Cupcakes for All Saints/ Celebrando Todos los Santos con Pastelitos (Catholic Diocese of Dallas)
- Pray the Litany of the Saints – make it really special by chanting it (“he who sings prays twice”). (Eternal Word Television Network)
