It is hard to believe, but the end of the year is coming upon us quickly. In just two days, November 1, we will be celebrating All Saints Day. The solemnity is great time of reflection to remember all of those saints, known, and unknown, who are in Heaven.
All Saints Is A Holy Day
All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation for those in the Catholic church. It is taken so seriously, that in some Catholic countries it is a national holiday. On this day we remember the exemplary lives of those who came before us in faith.
We look to their example, ask their intercession, and gain much needed courage to march toward the ultimate goal. They have achieved this ultimate goal we all have…which is heaven.
Which Saints?
Which Saints do we celebrate and remember during this solemnity. There is no way to really know how many saints are in heaven. There may be millions, but the church focused on those who are canonized. Specifically those who are named in the Roman Canon, or first Eucharistic prayer.
This doesn’t mean that the other ones are less important. That is not the case at all. The Roman Canon gives us two lists of saints. The first includes our Bless Mother, Apostles, and Earliest popes. It states,
We venerate the memory of those whose fellowship we share: especially the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ our God and Lord, blessed Joseph her husband, the blessed apostles and martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, James and John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude: Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian and all your saints. Through their merits and prayers grant us always the defense of your protecting help.
The second list in the Roman Canon contains the earliest martyrs, including seven women. It states,
As for us, your ministers, sinners who hope in your abundant mercy, grant us of your goodness a share in the fellowship of your holy apostles and martyrs: with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia and all your saints. We beg you, admit us into their company, not considering what we deserve but granting us your forgiveness.
All Saints day was put in place by Pope Boniface IV in 609. He established this solemnity while consecrating the Pantheon to the martyrs and our blessed mother. We remember all saints, but the Roman Canon had already been established at this point.
Your patron saint may not be on the list of the canon, but they are included in the celebration.
Saint Quotes For All Saints
Stand fast in the faith, and love one another, all of you, and be not offended at my sufferings.-St. Perpetua
It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and good people who have learned the great secret of life. They have found a joy and wisdom which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. These are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians. . . and I am one of them.-St. Cyprian
Holiness does not demand anything great, beyond the ability of the person. It depends on God’s Love; every daily act can be transformed into an act of love. ” –St. Ursula Julia Ledochowska
Nothing whatever pertaining to godliness and real holiness can be accomplished without grace.-St. Augustine
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In