Honoring all saints, known and unknown

SAMAL, Bataan – The St. Catherine of Siena Parish gave the annual observance of All Saints’ Day a different touch this year. Instead of the usual images being paraded around the town in the form of a procession, to honor the martyrdom of saints, teenagers dressed as saints, known and unknown, paraded around the town, last Friday afternoon, to the delight of the people. Rev. Fr. Tony Bernaldo, parish priest of Samal graciously allowed 1Bataan to cover said event.

By tradition, All Saints Day is the day when Catholics remember, honor and celebrate all the saints. It stemmed from the Christian tradition of celebrating the martyrdom of saints on the anniversary of their martyrdom. When martyrs increased during the persecutions of the late Roman Empire, local dioceses instituted a common feast day to ensure that all martyrs, known and unknown, were properly honored.

The current date of November 1 was instituted by Pope Gregory III, when he consecrated a chapel to all the martyrs in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and ordered an annual celebration, originally confined to the diocese of Rome. Pope Gregory IV (827-844) extended the feast to the entire Church.

The vigil or eve of the feast, October 31, is commonly known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween.

Often overshadowed by the two days preceding it, Halloween (October 31) and All Saints Day (November 1), All Souls Day is a solemn celebration in the Church commemorating all of those who have died.

The importance of All Souls Day was made clear by Pope Benedict XV (1914-22), when he granted all priests the privilege of celebrating three Masses on All Souls Day: one for the faithful departed; one for the priest’s intentions; and one for the intentions of the Holy Father.

On All Souls Day, we not only remember the dead, but we apply our efforts, through prayer, almsgiving, and the Mass. There are two plenary indulgences attached to All Souls Day, one for visiting a church and another for visiting a cemetery.

Praying for the dead is a Christian obligation. In the modern world, when many have come to doubt the Church’s teaching on Purgatory, the need for such prayers has only increased. The Church devotes the month of November to prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and participation in the Mass of All Souls Day is a good way to begin the month.