The Feasts of All Saints & All Souls

The Solemnity of All Saints, Nov. 1

All Hallows’ Day, the Solemnity of All Saints, or All Saints’ Day is a celebration of all Catholic saints held on November 1 each year. “On this solemnity, we recall the holy men and women who, having completed their earthly journeys, now live forever with God. These saints, though not canonized, offer us models of abiding faith and love of God and neighbour” (Essential Guide to Seasons and Saints, 109).

The Church teaches that by imitating the virtues lived by the saints, the saints brings us closer to Christ. When we ask the saints to pray for us, we ask them to join their wills with the will of God and intercede for us here on earth. This is the Communion of Saints which we profess every Sunday in the Creed. (Source: USCCB)

Some resources for celebrating All Saints Day with your family:

• Attend the Solemnity of All Saints Mass at your parish church
• Children's & family Liturgy of the Word for All Saints 
• All Saints Colouring Page
• Celebrating All Saints' Day at home - Crafts & Projects (Catholic Icing)
• Have everyone at the dinner table pray to their confirmation saint and discuss why they chose that saint. Then read the Gospel from Matthew 5:1-12a
• Pray the Litany of Saints (CCCB, CWL Canada) 
• More ideas for celebrating All Saint’s day with your family (Catholic Mom)
• Download graphic​

Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed
​(All Souls Day) - Nov2

All Souls’ Day, also known as “The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed” is observed on Nov. 2. The faithful on earth can assist these purgatorial souls in attaining heaven through prayer, good work and the offering of Mass. At Mass on All Souls’ Day, we pray that through Christ’s loving mercy, God’s “departed servants…may be granted pardon and peace, and be brought to the joy of God’s eternal home. All Souls Day is an especially rich cultural experience for Hispanic/Latino Catholics, who call it “Día de los Muertos” or “The Day of the Dead.”

Some resources for commemorating All Souls Day with your family:

• Attend the All Souls Mass at your parish church
• ​Say a prayer for the dead in your family and community:
  • In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. R/. Amen. 
• Pray especially for those who died of COVID-19 in this time of pandemic. Due to world wide pandemic protocols, many have died without the Sacrament of the Sick. Let us offer our prayers for them:
  • O Lord God Omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood Your Divine Son Jesus shed in the garden, deliver the souls in Purgatory, especially the most forsaken soul. Bring these souls into your glory where it may praise You and Bless You forever. Amen. Eternal Rest grant unto them Oh Lord …… (Source: Oremus, Let Us Pray, Come Close to God in Daily Prayer, pg. 98. Oremus prayer books are available at Holy Name Parish Office for purchase). 
• How to gain a plenary indulgence for the souls in purgatory (Relevant Radio)
• Visit a cemetery and pray for the dead during the Octave of All Saints Day. This gains a plenary indulgence that can be applied only to the souls in purgatory. On other days, this work gains a partial indulgence.
• Prayers for death and dying (USCCB)
• Praying for the dead with Kids (Catholic Icing)
• Download graphics for All Souls: square | Wide