Why We Celebrate All Saints Day
On November 1st, Catholics around the world commemorate all those who have attained heaven in a Holy Day of Obligation known as All Saints’ Day. This day is also known as All Hallows’ Day or Hallowmas. The word “hallows” can be translated to “saints,” and “mas” can be translated to “mass.” Our Catholic Osceola County private school students celebrate this day, and we want to reflect on its history and meaning.
Why We Celebrate
All Saints’ Day is a solemn holy day dedicated to all the Christians we have lost. Saints who are officially canonized by the church, such as Saint Thomas Aquinas, the namesake of Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, have their own holy days. Rather than being specific to those the church has recognized as saints, this day honors all of those who have passed on to the Kingdom of Heaven. On this day, we reflect how faith brings us together, as well as the spiritual connection between heaven and earth.
How We Celebrate
All Saints’ Day is one of few days out of the year when all Catholics are required to attend Mass. While in the US, this day is observed by Catholics as a day of rest, some countries celebrate it as a national holiday. In Portugal, Spain and Mexico, people of faith make offerings to the dead to coincide with the Mexican “Dia De los Inocentes,” a day dedicated to deceased children. Across Europe and in American cities like New Orleans, Christians leave flowers on the graves of the dead. In other places like the Philippines, family members paint and repair graves on this day. Another tradition, which takes place in Eastern Europe, is to light candles at the graves of deceased relatives.
How All Saints Day Came to Be
When the Roman Empire persecuted Christians, people of faith needed a way to honor the martyrs of the holy war. On May 13, 609 AD, soon after the Pantheon was converted into a Christian church, Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day. About two centuries later, Pope Gregory III officially changed the date to November 1. All Souls’ Day, observed on November 2, was established in the 10th century for Christians to commemorate lost friends, family and community members on a more personal level. Both of these days continue to be observed in the Catholic faith today.
On All Saints’ Day, we encourage students to find inspiration in stories of God’s faithfulness. At our Osceola County private schools, we incorporate religious traditions into our education. We foster an atmosphere of care and an environment of high expectations and effective discipline. To learn more about what makes us different, contact us here.