All Saints' Day

Today's feast honors all the saints of the Church, known and unknown, whose virtues and efforts in this life are considered to have earned them an eternal reward with God. On this day, Catholics are asked to reflect on holiness and sainthood and to celebrate the holiness of men and women who gave their lives in faithfulness and service to God, and whose witness continues to inspire us today. Today is a holy day of obligation.

According to tradition, Catholics did honor Christian marytrs on May 13. Pope Boniface IV created Feast of All Martyrs in 615. Pope Gregory IV changed the date to November 1 to put in the place of pagan festivities in 844. He also moved it on the practical grounds that Rome in summer could not accomodate the great number of pilgrims who flocked to it.

In 741, the feast was used to celebrate everyone in Heaven. The name of the day changed to Feasts of All Saints in 840. Then in 1484, Pope Sixtus IV called November 1 a Holy Day of Obligation and gave it both a vigil (known today as "All Hallows' Eve" or "Hallowe'en") and an eight-day period or octave to celebrate the feast. By 1955, the eight day octave of All Saints was removed.

Catholic Culture explains today's feast in detail and also offers some great activities.

Learn all about the Solemnity of all Saints - the History, Information, Prayers, Resources, Traditions, & More here.

Related Posts: What does it mean to be a Saint? Ten Steps to Follow
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