The Solemnity of All Saints Day is also known as All Hallows Eve. It is celebrated on November 1 by Western Christianity. It honors all souls who have arrived in heaven. Many countries celebrate it as a national holiday. It is followed by All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2 in which Catholics pray for those still on their journey to heaven. This journey is known as purgatory. Catholics believe that life is a spiritual pilgrimage. Death is the beginning of our journey through purgatory to heaven. Purgatory is where a soul is prepared and purified to enter heaven.
A Saint is a person whose soul has arrived in its’ eternal home…heaven. The journey to heaven is not easy! We ask for the prayers of those in heaven to aid us on our journey to heaven.
The observance of All Saints Day goes back to the early centuries of the Christian Church. Prior to All Saints Day, Christians would celebrate martyrs on the anniversaries of their death, because those days marked their birthdays unto eternal life with Jesus in heaven. When the number of martyrs grew during persecutions like that of Emperor Diocletian and his successor…which lasted from A.D. 303-311…it became difficult to assign a specific day to each witness who died for the Faith. Therefore, beginning in the fourth century, the Church established a common day to honor all martyrs on All Saints Day’
True learning consists in the science of the saints: that is to say…..
in knowing how to love Jesus Christ.
Quote of St. Alphonsus Liguori; Feast Day August 1
November is the Month of the Holy Souls
Public Domain Image
