The Catholic institution of All Saints Day goes back to the early Middle Ages, at the very least. Is the festivity still appropriate in our day and age?
The Catholic Church in the eighth century first started practicing and observing the solemnity of All Saints and All Souls Day. It was Pope Gregory III who fixed November 1 as the day dedicated to the worship of all saints, while November 2 is a day commemorating all of those people who have died and are now in Purgatory.
Due to the rapid expansion of Christianity in the world and the canonization of many Saints almost every year, celebrating All Saints and All Souls Day is recognized globally. Today, November 1 is a feast celebrated and recognized throughout the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches.
All Souls’ Day was first firmly instituted at the monastery in Cluny in 993 CE and from then, this practice quickly spread throughout the Christian world. In practice, All Saints Day is set to celebrate the Holy Saints and All Souls’ Day is set aside to pray for all departed souls in Purgatory.
The Solemnity of All Saints and Souls Day is commonly a family day of celebration, commemorating the dead people who are now in the presence of God. In addition, the Catholic Church believes that the spirits of dead people visits their loved ones to ask their prayers so that we too may join them in heaven at the right time.
In many Catholic countries, people attend churches and visit family graves to honour the dead people. All Souls’ Day is connected with All Saints’ Day, which is celebrated the day before, where most people take the time to decorate and offer prayers to their loved ones.
As the world is aging, it is true that it is getting harder to keep the practice started by the ancient Catholic Church. There have been plenty of opportunities that the 21st century and globalisation have given to the world; as the people from different countries have absorbed the foreign culture and modern beliefs, many Catholic people have struggled to remain and keep the old tradition in celebrating All Saints and All Soul’s Day.
But, why is it important to celebrate All Saints and All Soul’s Day?
Commemorating All Saints and All Souls’ Day is not only remembering the dead, but it is about exerting efforts, through prayers that are considered in Catholic Churches as a communication not only with God, but also with the people who passed away.
Some people may consider that Halloween is nothing to celebrate, but just a pagan celebration and should not be acknowledged by Christians. However, it should be noted that remembering your loved ones who passed away and offering them prayers is not a violent practice that can negatively affect the morals and values of every people, but it signifies the value of thanking the dead people who once spent their lives with us here in the world. In addition, every tradition and culture must be recognized and respected by other people.
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