Solemnity of All Saints November 1 Mr. Pablo Cuadra Religion Class

What is All Saints’ Day? All Saints is a Solemnity (feast) in honor of All Saints known and unknown. This Solemnity is celebrated on November 1. All Saints is also an ancient Christian formula invoking all the Saints known or unknown.

All Saints’ Day In the early Church, an all night vigil was celebrated on the anniversary of a martyr’s death for Christ. The all night Vigil was followed by the celebration of the Eucharist over the tomb or place of martyrdom. The anniversary of a martyr’s death was commonly referred in early Christianity as the Saint’s birthday.

Other Names for This Solemnity This solemnity is also known as: A. All Saints’ Day B. All Hallows C. Hallowmas (mass of the saints)

What is a solemnity? A solemnity is a principal feast in the Liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. Solemnities commemorate an event in the life of Jesus, Mary or the saints. The celebration of these special feast usually begins in the evening prior to the actual solemnity. Some solemnities are also Holy Days of obligation, on which Catholics are required to attend the Eucharist.

Solemnity A solemnity has the Character of a Sunday mass. Two readings and psalm are read before the Gospel. The Creed is recited If a Solemnity falls on a Sunday, the Eucharist is celebrated with the readings and prayer proper of the feast, rather than the particular Sunday. The readings for the Solemnity of All Saints’ Day are: Revelation 7: 2-4; 9-14 Psalm 24: 1-2; 3-4; 5-4 1 John 3: 1-3 Matthew 5: 1-12

All Saints’ Day After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7: 9; 13-14

What is Saint? The word Saint comes from the Latin word “sanctus” which means Holy. Every baptized Christian is called to Holiness. In the Roman Catholic Church, All Saints Day honors those holy men and women who have attained the beatific vision in heaven. We honor them whether they are known (canonized) or unknown (those who surrendered to the grace and will of God on this earth but are not officially recognized).

What is the meaning of beatific vision? Our Catholic faith teaches that the Beatific Vision is the eternal, direct perception of God enjoyed by those who are in heaven. The Beatific Vision imparts supreme happiness or blessedness to the saints in heaven. In contrast, the earthly human experience of God while alive is indirect (mediated), the Beatific vision is direct (immediate). St. Thomas Aquinas defined the Beatific Vision as the ultimate end of human existence.

Historical Developments 4th Century: neighboring dioceses began to transfer relics and to celebrate the feast of specific martyrs in common. May 13 (609 or 610) Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the martyrs. Gregory III (731-741) consecrated a chapel in the basilica of St. Peter to all the saints and fixed the anniversary for November 1. Gregory IV (827-844) extended this local feast to the entire Church.

All Saints’ Day The solemnity of All Saints is a Holy day of obligation or a Feast of precept for all the faithful.

Holy Day of obligation Canon 1247 states: The faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. Moreover they are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body.

All Saints’ Day Did you Know? With the prior approval of the Apostolic See, however, the conference of bishops can suppress some of the holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday.

Holy Days of Obligation in the United States of America For the United States of America After their general annual meeting in 1991, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) of the United States issued the following decree on Dec. 13. In addition to Sunday, the days to be observed as holy days of obligation in the Latin-rite dioceses of the United States, in conformity with Canon 1246, are as follows: Jan. 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter, the Solemnity of the Ascension. Aug. 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Nov. 1, the Solemnity of All Saints. Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Dec. 25, the Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How to Prepare For all Saints’ Day? Start with a reflection on the meaning of your baptism? Make an examination of Conscience ( a deep introspection of your life’s actions, mistakes and sins) Make arrangements at work to leave early in order to attend the services. Pay special attention to the prayers, readings, homily. What is God saying to you? Think of a concrete way you can relate the experience of All saints’ Day to another person. Incorporate piety, devotion, prayer into your daily life. Live by example be a role model of faith, remember the words of Jesus, “You are the light of the world” Matthew 5:14 Receive the Sacraments as often as possible, specially the sacraments of reconciliation and Eucharist. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. Pray for the grace of a happy death (to die in state of grace).

Holy Men and Women of God Have a blessed All Saint’s Day! “But as for me, I know that my redeemer lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust; And from my flesh I shall see God; my inmost being. Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another's, shall behold him.” Job 19:23-27 Holy Men and Women of God Pray for us. Have a blessed All Saint’s Day!

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