Dear Friends in Christ,
As we turn the calendar from October to November, the Church invites us into one of the most beautiful and hope-filled moments of the liturgical year: the celebration of All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). These two days are deeply connected—one celebrates the glory of heaven, the other the mercy of God that leads souls there. Together, they remind us of the Church’s great mystery: the Communion of Saints—the living, the dead, and those in glory, all united in Christ’s love.
All Saints’ Day: The Glory of Heaven
The origins of All Saints’ Day go back to the early centuries of Christianity, when believers gathered annually to honor martyrs who gave their lives for the faith. As the number of saints grew, the Church established a universal feast to honor all who had reached heaven—both known and unknown. Pope Gregory III (8th century) dedicated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica to all saints, fixing the date as November 1. Pope Gregory IV later extended the celebration to the whole Church.
Theologically, All Saints’ Day is not merely a day to admire holy men and women from afar—it is a celebration of our destiny. The saints show us what humanity looks like when transformed by grace. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church’s history” (CCC 828). They were ordinary people who allowed God to do something extraordinary with their lives.
When we celebrate All Saints, we affirm our belief in the resurrection and in the perfection of charity that awaits those who live in friendship with God. The saints remind us that holiness is not a privilege of a few, but a call for all. “This is the will of God: your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
All Souls’ Day: The Mercy of God and the Hope of Resurrection
The following day, November 2, the Church tenderly turns her gaze to those who have died but are still being purified—our brothers and sisters in Purgatory. The tradition of praying for the dead is ancient; as early as the second century, Christians were offering prayers and Eucharistic intentions for those who had “fallen asleep in Christ.”
All Souls’ Day was formalized in the 11th century when the Benedictine abbey of Cluny dedicated a day of prayer for all the departed. The practice spread throughout Europe and eventually became universal. This feast reminds us that death does not sever the bonds of love formed in Christ. Our prayers, sacrifices, and Masses for the deceased are acts of charity that assist them on their journey toward the fullness of heaven.
In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “Purgatory is not a place of punishment, but the soul’s interior process of being made capable of Christ’s love.” It is a state of hope—of longing purified by grace. On this day, we remember that God’s mercy is greater than our sin, and that love truly endures beyond the grave.
A Season of Gratitude and Hope
As we visit cemeteries, light candles, or attend Mass for the departed, we participate in the mystery of eternal life. The Church reminds us that we are “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1), cheering us on as we make our own pilgrimage of faith.
May this sacred season renew our hope in the resurrection and our gratitude for those who have gone before us. The saints inspire us; the souls in purgatory need us; and together we belong to a single family in Christ—a communion that death cannot divide.
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.” Amen.
In peace,
Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School