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All Saints Day
This Wednesday, November 1st, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints, a holy day of obligation (Masses are on Tuesday evening at 7 PM and Wednesday at 8:15 AM [St. Mary's], 12:15 PM [OLOP] and 7 PM [OLOP]). From the early days of Christianity, martyrs of the Church were venerated for their sacrifices in the name of their faith. Initially, specific days were set aside to commemorate the martyrdom of individual saints, but, over time, it became difficult to remember and celebrate each martyr individually. To honor them all, a common feast day was established in the Eastern Christian Church (the Catholic Church centered in Constantinople). This feast, known as the "Feast of All Martyrs," was initially celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. As Christianity spread in the Western Roman Empire, the Western (or Latin) Church adapted the Eastern tradition of honoring all martyrs. Pope Gregory III (731–741) dedicated an oratory in Rome to the relics of the apostles and all saints. Pope Gregory IV (827–844) extended this observance to the entire Western Church by designating November 1st as the Feast of All Saints. All Saints' Day was intended to honor not only the recognized saints but also all those who had lived virtuous lives and were now in heaven. All Saints' Day underscores the idea of the communion of saints, that all of us, by virtue of our baptism are united with all those who share the Beatific Vision, those who see and worship the Lord face to face. We profess our belief in the communion of saints every time we recite the Apostle's Creed. All Saints' Day reminds us that we are truly saints in training and that every time we celebrate the liturgy here on earth we are united with the heavenly liturgy and all the saints in glory. As we strive to be saints, let us not forget to pray for the intercession of all those who have survived the time of great distress and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. All holy men and women, saints of God, pray for us!
