A Word on Evangelization
28th Sunday, Ordinary Time, October 20, 2024
Deacon Mike Meyer
All Saints Day is coming up quickly and is the next major feast on the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. It is a holy day of obligation, which means that we treat this day as if it were a Sunday. We are obligated to attend Holy Mass and dedicate the day to rest and prayer. When I was growing up we were farmers and I remember that on All Saints Day we did not do any unnecessary work and considered it strictly a day of rest and prayer. This obligation still exists today, but most people have to work at their daily professions and are unable to take a day off for rest like they do on Sunday. However, we are still able to do some extra prayer and reflection and we can try to rest and relax more than we normally do once we are home from our daily jobs.
The following is a short history of how All Saints Day came to be in the history of the church:
The history of All Saints' Day can be traced back to the early fourth century, when a feast was held to honor all martyrs. The feast was later established by Pope Boniface IV in 609 AD, who dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to the Virgin Mary and all martyrs. The original date for All Saints' Day was May 13, but Pope Gregory III moved it to November 1 in the eighth century. In 837, Pope Gregory IV extended the celebration to the entire church.
Here are some other notable events in the history of All Saints' Day:
The evening before All Saints' Day
This became known as Hallows' Eve, and the word "Halloween" evolved from it.
The Reformation
The religious holiday of All Saints' Day was largely ended among Protestants.
All Souls' Day
In the tenth century, Abbot Odela established All Souls' Day on November 2. All Saints' Day is for those who have passed and ascended to Heaven, while All Souls' Day is for those who have passed but are not yet in Heaven.
Mexico
All Saints' Day in Mexico coincides with the first day of the Day of the Dead celebration.
Deacon Mike