All Saints Day / All Souls Day

10-29-2023Weekly Reflection

The All Saints Day feast dates back to the 7th century, and the occasion of its introduction was the conversion of the ancient Pantheon at Rome into a Christian church. This famous temple, which possibly existed in the time of the Republic, is generally considered to have been built by Marcus Agrippa in his third consulate in the year 27 B.C., but it is not improbable that he merely restored and added to it. Historians do not agree as to the origin of its name, but Pliny tells us that Agrippa dedicated it to Jupiter the Avenger. It was afterward repaired by Septimus Severus and his son Caracalla.

In the beginning of the 7th century, the Emperor Phocas gave it to Pope Boniface IV, who converted it into a church and dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin and all the saints, about the year 608. The feast of this dedication was kept on May 13, and before that event the feast of all the Apostles had been celebrated on the first of the same month.

About the year 731, Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel in St. Peter’s Church in honor of all the saints, and since then the feast of All Saints has been celebrated in Rome. Gregory IV, while in France in 837, greatly encouraged the celebration of this feast in that country. The Greeks celebrate the feast of All Saints on the Sunday after Pentecost.

On November 2, the Church commemorates all the Faithful Departed. The white vestments of All Saints’ day are laid aside, and the dark robes and emblems of mourning are worn to indicate the sympathy of Mother Church for her children, who are being purified in the sufferings of purgatory. The reason for the commemoration of all the Faithful Departed is the doctrine and belief that all who die in venial sin, or have not fully atoned for other past transgressions, are detained in purgatory, and that the faithful on earth can help them through their temporal punishment and hasten their admission to the joys of heaven by prayers and alms, and especially by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The memorial day of the dead comes down to us from the first Christians, and, in the course of centuries, November 2 was selected for the annual commemoration of all the Faithful Departed in churches of the Latin rite.

In every land and in every Christian soul resound the mournful tones of prayer for the dead: “Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.”

Since August 10, 1915, every priest is allowed to offer three Masses on All Souls’ day: one for all the Faithful Departed, one for the intention of the Pope, and one for the intention of the priest himself. Since it is impossible to offer a Mass for the particular intention or intentions of each individual on All Souls’ day, or during the month of November, in many dioceses of the United States and other countries there is a custom by which a collection is made of money offerings by the people. Masses are then offered on All Souls’ day, and, in some places, on other days during November, for the intentions of all the people. In churches where there are several priests, each offers a Mass or Masses, according to the custom of the diocese for the All Souls’ day intentions.