Friday, November 1, 2024
November 1 — the feast honoring all the saints, known and unknown, who have entered eternal life.
All Saints' Day, celebrated on November 1, honors all the saints in glory — both the named heroes of the faith (apostles, martyrs, theologians, missionaries) and the countless unnamed Christians who have entered eternal life. The feast emerges from the New Testament's expansive use of 'saints' (Greek: hagioi, 'holy ones') to refer not to a spiritual elite but to all believers in Christ (e.g., Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2). The early church remembered specific martyrs on the anniversaries of their deaths. As Christianity grew and more martyrs emerged than days in the calendar, a general feast for 'all saints' arose. By the 7th century, it was widely observed. Pope Gregory IV fixed November 1 as the date in 835 AD. The feast is followed on November 2 by All Souls' Day, which prays for the faithful departed undergoing purification — the two feasts together form the 'Triduum of the Dead.' Many cultures combine these into multi-day commemorations: Mexico's Día de los Muertos, Poland's Zaduszki, the Filipino Undas. The English word 'Hallowe'en' derives from 'All Hallows' Eve' — the vigil of All Saints' Day.
All Saints' Day observance includes: white vestments, the singing of 'For All the Saints' (the great Vaughan Williams hymn), the reading of Revelation 7 (the great multitude of saints before the throne) and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), commemoration of deceased loved ones (in many Protestant traditions), and visits to cemeteries with flowers and prayer (in Catholic cultures). All Saints' Day is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church.
The traditional Bible readings for All Saints' Day include:
All Saints' Day, celebrated November 1, honors all the saints — both the named heroes of the faith and the countless unnamed Christians in glory. The feast emerges from the New Testament's use of 'saints' (Greek: hagioi) for all believers in Christ. Pope Gregory IV fixed the date in 835 AD.
All Saints' Day (November 1) honors those already in heavenly glory. All Souls' Day (November 2) prays for the faithful departed undergoing purification. Catholic teaching distinguishes the church triumphant (the saints in glory), the church militant (Christians still on earth), and the church suffering (the souls being purified). Protestant traditions typically observe All Saints' Day to commemorate all who have died in Christ without the distinction.
The two central readings are Revelation 7:9-17 (the great multitude of saints from every nation standing before the throne) and Matthew 5:1-12 (the Beatitudes — the character of those in the kingdom of heaven). Other readings include 1 John 3:1-3 (we shall be like him) and the Psalms of pilgrimage.
Yes — 'Halloween' is a contraction of 'All Hallows' Evening' or 'All Hallows' Eve' — the vigil of All Saints' Day. 'Hallows' is the old English word for 'saints' (preserved in the Lord's Prayer: 'hallowed be your name'). The Christian observance dates to the 8th century. Halloween's spookier elements blend Christian and older folk traditions.