The Feast Of All Saints

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All About The Solemnity of All Saints

All Saints Day History, Information, Prayers, Resources, Traditions, & More

All Saints Day Definition and Summary

All Saints Day is when the Church commemorates all saints, known and unknown. The eve of All Saints is known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. All Saints Day is November 1. Prayers: All Saints Day Prayers



Basic Facts About All Saints Day

Liturgical Color(s): White

Type of Holiday: Solemnity, Holy Day of Obligation (West); Feast (East)

Time of Year: November 1 (in the East, the Sunday after Pentecost)

Duration: One Day

Celebrates/Symbolizes: All Saints, known and unknown

Alternate Names: All Hallows, Hallowmas, Halloween

Scriptural References: Mark 12:26-27; Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 12:1, Revelation 5:8



Introduction

The Feast of All Saints is a holy day of the Church honoring all saints, known and unknown. This is much like the American holidays Veterans Day and Presidents Day, where many people are honored on one day. While we have information about many saints, and we honor them on specific days, there are many unknown or unsung saints, who may have been forgotten, or never been specifically honored. On All Saints Day, we celebrate these saints of the Lord, and ask for their prayers and intercessions. The whole concept of All Saints Day is tied in with the concept of the Communion of Saints. This is the belief that all of God's people, on heaven, earth, and in the state of purification (called Purgatory in the West), are connected in a communion. In other words, Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe that the saints of God are just as alive as you and I, and are constantly interceding on our behalf. Remember, our connection with the saints in heaven is one grounded in a tight-knit communion. The saints are not divine, nor omnipresent or omniscient. However, because of our common communion with and through Jesus Christ, our prayers are joined with the heavenly community of Christians. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (AD 350) testifies to this belief:



We mention those who have fallen asleep: first the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition...(Catechetical Lecture 23:9).



The Catholic Catechism concisely describes this communion among believers, by which we are connected to Christ, and thus to one another:



"Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness...They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us...So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped."



"...as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our communion with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from its fountain and head issues all grace, and the life of the People of God itself: We worship Christ as God's Son; we love the martyrs as the Lord's disciples and imitators, and rightly so because of their matchless devotion towards their king and master. May we also be their companions and fellow disciples (CCC 956, 957)!



There are thousands of canonized saints, that is those individuals officially recognized by the Church as holy men and women worthy of imitation. Because miracles have been associated with these people, and their lives have been fully examined and found holy by the Church, we can be assured they are prime examples of holiness, and powerful intercessors before God on our behalf. There are also many patron saints, guardians or protectors of different areas and states of life. For instance, St. Vitus is the patron saint against oversleeping, and St. Joseph of Cupertino is the patron saint of air travelers. It may sound crazy to have a patron saint against oversleeping, but keep in mind the Church has something meaningful for every area of our human lives. All of these saints are celebrated throughout the year, as many have their own feast days (for instance, St. Hilary of Poitiers, whose feast day is celebrated January 13).



History

Christians have been honoring their saints and martyrs since at least the second century AD. The Martyrdom of Polycarp, probably written near the middle of the second century, attests to this reality:



Accordingly, we afterwards took up his bones, more precious than the most exquisite jewels, and more pure than gold, and deposited them in a fitting place, so that when being gathered together, as opportunity is allowed us, with joy and rejoicing, the Lord shall grant us to celebrate the anniversary of his martyrdom, both in memory of those who have already finished their course, and for the exercising and preparation of those yet to walk in their steps (18).



Initially the calendars of saints and martyrs varied from location to location, and many times local churches honored local saints. However, gradually feast days became more universal. The first reference to a general feast celebrating all saints occurs in St Ephrem the Syrian (d. AD 373). St. John Chrysostom (d. AD 407) assigned a day to the feast, the first Sunday after Pentecost, where in the Eastern Churches the feast is celebrated to this day. In the West, this date was probably originally used, and then the feast was moved to May 13th. The current observance (November 1) probably originates from the time of Pope Gregory III (d. AD 741), and was likely first observed on November 1st in Germany. This fact makes the connection of the All Saints Feast with the pagan festival Samhain less likely, since Samhain was an Irish pagan feast, rather than German.



The vigil of the Feast (the eve) has grown up in the English speaking countries as a festival in itself, All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. While many consider Halloween pagan (and in many instances the celebrations are for many), as far as the Church is concerned the date is simply the eve of the feast of All Saints. Many customs of Halloween reflect the Christian belief that on the feast's vigils we mock evil, because as Christians, it has no real power over us. However, for some Halloween is used for evil purposes, in which many Christians dabble unknowingly. David Morrison explains the proper relationship between Christians and Halloween. Various customs have developed related to Halloween. In the Middle Ages, poor people in the community begged for "soul cakes," and upon receiving these doughnuts, they would agree to pray for departed souls. This is the root of our modern day "trick-or-treat." The custom of masks and costumes developed to mock evil and perhaps confuse the evil spirits by dressing as one of their own. Some Christians visit cemeteries on Halloween, not to practice evil, but to commemorate departed relatives and friends, with picnics and the last flowers of the year. The day after All Saints day is called All Soul's Day, a day to remember and offer prayers up on behalf of all of the faithful departed. In many cultures it seems the two days share many customs. See the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church for more information.


What is All Saints Day?

All Saints Day is when the Church commemorates all saints, known and unknown. The eve of All Saints is known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. All Saints Day is November 1. These All Saints Day Prayers are related to this theme. More Info: All About All Saints Day



Catholic Liturgy of the Hours All-Saints Prayer

Father, All-Powerful and ever-living God,

today we rejoice in the holy men and women

of every time and place.

May their prayers bring us your forgiveness and love

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Liturgy of the Hours



A Prayer for Saintly Grace

Almighty and Everlasting God,

who dost enkindle the flame of Thy love in the hearts of the saints,

grant unto us the same faith and power of love;

that, as we rejoice in their triumphs

we may profit by their examples, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gothic Missal



A Catholic Prayer in Praise of the Saints

How shining and splendid are your gifts, O Lord

which you give us for our eternal well-being

Your glory shines radiantly in your saints, O God

In the honour and noble victory of the martyrs.

The white-robed company follow you,

bright with their abundant faith;

They scorned the wicked words of those with this world's power.

For you they sustained fierce beatings, chains, and torments,

they were drained by cruel punishments.

They bore their holy witness to you

who were grounded deep within their hearts;

they were sustained by patience and constancy.

Endowed with your everlasting grace,

may we rejoice forever

with the martyrs in our bright fatherland.

O Christ, in your goodness,

grant to us the gracious heavenly realms of eternal life.

Unknown author, 10th century



Prayer to the Saints and Angels Before Mass

Angels, Archangels,

Thrones, Dominions,

Principalities, Powers,

heavenly Virtues,

Cherubim and Seraphim;

all Saints of God,

holy men and women,

and especially my patrons:

intercede for me

that I may be worthy

to offer this Sacrifice to almighty God,

to the praise and glory of His name,

for my own welfare

and also that of all His holy Church. Amen.

From the Roman Missal



Litany of the Saints

Lord, have mercy on us. (Lord have mercy on us)

Christ, have mercy on us. (Christ have mercy on us)

Lord, have mercy on us. (Lord, have mercy on us)



Christ, hear us. (Christ, hear us)

Christ, graciously hear us. (Christ, graciously hear us)



God the Father of heaven, (have mercy on us)

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, (have mercy on us)

God the Holy Spirit, (have mercy on us.)

Holy Trinity, one God, (have mercy on us)

Holy Mary, Holy Mother of God, (pray for us*)

Holy Virgin of virgins,

St. Michael,

St. Gabriel,

St. Raphael,

All you holy Angels and Archangels,

All you holy orders of blessed Spirits,

St. John the Baptist,

St. Joseph,

All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets,

St. Peter,

St. Paul,

St. Andrew,

St. James,

St. John,

St. Thomas,

St. James,

St. Philip,

St. Bartholomew,

St. Matthew,

St. Simon,

St. Thaddeus,

St. Matthias,

St. Barnabas,

St. Luke,

St. Mark,

All you holy Apostles and Evangelists,

All you holy Disciples of the Lord,

All you holy Innocents,

St. Stephen,

St. Lawrence,

St. Vincent,

SS. Fabian and Sebastian,

SS. John and Paul,

SS. Cosmas and Damian,

SS. Gervase and Protase,

All you holy Martyrs,

St. Sylvester,

St. Gregory,

St. Ambrose,

St. Augustine,

St. Jerome,

St. Martin,

St. Nicholas,

All you holy Bishops and Confessors,

All you holy Doctors,

St. Anthony,

St. Benedict,

St. Bernard,

St. Dominic,

St. Francis,

All you holy Priests and Levites,

All you holy Monks and Hermits,

St. Mary Magdalen,

St. Agatha,

St. Lucy,

St. Agnes,

St. Cecilia,

St. Catherine,

St. Anastasia,

All you holy Virgins and Widows,



All you holy Saints of God, (make intercession for us.)

Be merciful, (spare us, O Lord.)

Be merciful, (graciously hear us, O Lord.)

From all evil, O Lord (deliver us*)

From all sin,

From Your wrath,

From sudden and unlooked for death,

From the snares of the devil,

From anger, and hatred, and every evil will,

From the spirit of fornication,

From lightning and tempest,

From the scourge of earthquakes,

From plague, famine and war,

From everlasting death,

Through the mystery of Your holy Incarnation,

Through Your Coming,

Through Your Birth,

Through Your Baptism and holy Fasting,

Through Your Cross and Passion,

Through Your Death and Burial,

Through Your holy Resurrection,

Through Your admirable Ascension,

Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

In the day of judgment.



We sinners, (We implore you to hear us*)

That You would spare us,

That You would pardon us,

That You would bring us to true penance,

That You would vouchsafe to govern and preserve Your holy Church,

That You would vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate,

and all orders of the Church in holy religion,

That You would vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church,

That You would vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,

That You would vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to the whole Christian world,

That You would call back to the unity of the Church all who have

strayed from her fold, and to guide all unbelievers into the light of the Gospel,

That You would vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Your holy service,

That You would lift up our minds to heavenly desires,

That You would render eternal blessings to all our benefactors,

That You would deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren,

relations, and benefactors, from eternal damnation,

That You would vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth,

That You would vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,

That You would vouchsafe graciously to hear us,

Son of God,



Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.)

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us, O Lord.)

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.)



Christ, (hear us)

Christ, (graciously hear us)

Lord, have mercy, (Lord, have mercy)

Christ, have mercy, (Christ, have mercy)

Lord, have mercy, (Lord, have mercy)

Finally say the Our Father inaudibly.



NB: *- say this response until a new one appears in parenthesis.



Anglican Collect for All Saints

Almighty God,

who hast knit together thine elect

in one communion and fellowship

in the mystical body of Your Son, Christ our Lord:

Give us grace so to follow Your blessed saints

in all virtuous and godly living,

that we may come

to those ineffable joys

that thou hast prepared for those

who unfeignedly love thee;

through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,

who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth,

one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Book of Common Prayer, 1979