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.

According to tradition, Catholics did honor Christian martyrs 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 accommodate 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 "Halloween") and an eight-day period or octave to celebrate the feast. By 1955, the eight day octave of All Saints was removed.

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

Litany of the Saints
 
Inspiring Articles:

The Church's Thanksgiving Day by Fr. Joseph Minihan
Ideas for Sanctifying All Saints' Day by Jennifer Gregory Miller
Halloween and All Saints Day by Fr. William Saunders

Related Post: 

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