All Saints' Day
November 1
All Saints Day is a commemoration of All Holy Martyrs and all the apostles, confessors, and all the just and perfect servants of God whose bodies rest throughout the whole world.
In the year 835 AD the Roman Catholic Church made November 1st a church holiday to honour all the saints, known and unknown, and, according to Urban IV, to supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints' feasts during the year. This feast day is called "All Saints Day". As part of this day of obligation, followers are required to attend church and try not to do any servile work. Eastern churches celebrate it on the first day of Pentecost.
All Saints Day is the modern name of what was once called in older English "All Hallows Day". Hallows was a word that referred to the Saints; they were the "hallowed ones", in the same sense that we say "Hallowed be Thy name" in the Lord's prayer.
Prayer for All Saints Day
Dear Father,
You have given the saints in Heaven eternal happiness and they now live in the fullness of Your glory. Because of their holy love for You, they also care about me and my family, my friends, my church, and my neighbors. Thank You for the gift of their friendship and the witness of their holy lives. I ask our patron saints and every saint who has become especially dear to me to intercede for us. I ask them to help us journey safely on the narrow path that leads to Heaven. O Lord, give us their protection. Grant us their assistance in overcoming temptation and gaining the fullness of life with You.
Amen.