Allhallowtide: October 31st, November 1st, November 2nd
What is Allhallowtide and why celebrate it?
Allhallowtide is coming and we want you to be ready to celebrate! The three days of All Hallows’ Eve, All Hallows’ Day and All Souls’ Day are collectively referred to as Allhallowtide. At the core of this three day celebration is the Communion of Saints. This is a special time to reconnect with and reflect on the unity of the three faithful groups of the Church:
- The Church Militant: we, the faithful on earth, who struggle against sin and seek to grow in holiness.
- Church Triumphant: The saints and martyrs in heaven, who have overcome sin and are in God’s eternal presence.
- Church Suffering: The souls in purgatory, who are undergoing purification in preparation for heaven
By actively participating through the progression of Allhallowtide, Catholics are presented an opportunity to set aside time and intentionally revisit the meaning of our lives on earth and to contemplate death and eternity. These three days in the liturgical calendar invite the faithful to deepen their commitment to holiness, to reflect on the lives of the saints and strengthen relationship with them, and to remember and pray for those who have gone before them. When embraced fully, Allhallowtide becomes a solemn celebration of the journey through life, death, and beyond!
Allhallows Eve
All Hallows’ Eve, known today as Halloween, is the evening before All Saints’
Day. The name derives from “hallow,” an old English term for “holy” or “saint,”
and “eve,” signifying the day before a holy celebration. Traditionally, the Church
held a vigil on All Hallows’ Eve. Worshippers gathered in prayer and often fasted
to prepare for the coming holy day. This is a day to reflect on Christ’s triumph over sin, death, and the devil; to meditate on our own mortality and duties to God; to shun sin, Satan, and all his works; to give honor to the saints in heaven.
Early Christians believed that on this day, the barriers between the earthly and spiritual realms were thinner, making it a time to reflect on the reality of the unseen and to pray for those who had passed away.
Traditions and Customs:
In the medieval Church, people in parts of Europe went “souling,” offering prayers
in return for food, a precursor to modern-day trick-or-treating. The particiapants would go door to door asking for “soul cakes” and offer in exchange to pray for the departed loved ones of the neighbors who gave treats.
All Saints Day
All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, is a solemn holy day dedicated
to all saints and martyrs, known and unknown, who have reached heaven.
Instituted to honor saints who did not have a feast day of their own, this day
celebrates the Church Triumphant, emphasizing hope in the Christian journey
towards eternal life. In Catholic teaching, this day also underscores the unity of
believers in Christ, showing that, through Jesus, death is not the end but a
transition into eternal union with God.
History and Obligation:
While honoring saints has been a practice since the earliest days of Christianity,
All Saints’ Day was formally established by Pope Gregory III in the 8th century,
and Pope Gregory IV extended it to the entire Church in the 9th century. Today,
All Saints’ Day is a Holy Day of Obligation, which requires Catholics to attend
Mass. It reminds the faithful of the powerful intercession of saints and invites them
to seek to emulate their holiness.
All Souls Day
All Souls’ Day, held on November 2, is dedicated to the Church Suffering, meaning the souls in purgatory. According to Catholic teaching, purgatory is a state of purification for souls who died in God’s grace but still have the guilt of lesser sins. Catholics believe that the prayers of the faithful on earth can aid these souls in their journey to the Beatific Vision—eternal communion with God. All Souls’ Day
emphasizes the interconnectedness of the Church on earth and in purgatory,
allowing believers to intercede for those who await entry into heaven.
Historical Development:
The tradition of praying for the dead dates back to early Christianity, but it was St.
Odilo of Cluny in the 10th century who formalized November 2 as All Souls’ Day.
This practice spread, and eventually, All Souls’ Day became an integral part of
Allhallowtide in the Catholic Church. Go visit a cemetery to pray for the dead on
All Soul’s Day!
Going beyond the Allhallowtide: plenary indulgences November 1 - November 8
Ready to continue the devotion of honoring and praying for the dead? The entire month of November the Church Militant (those on earth) is encouraged to offer prayers and sacrifices for the Church Suffering (those in purgatory). Included in this bulletin is a blank November calendar. Please take this calendar and make it your own! For each day of the month, write the name of the deceased person (or group of persons) you are offering prayers and sacrifices for. Put this calendar in a prominent place in your house to remind everyone throughout the day who their intentions are being offered for each day of the month.
A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted each and every day from Nov 1 to Nov 8, who devoutly visit a cemetery and there pray, if only mentally, for the departed. A plenary indulgence is granted the faithful who, on All Souls’ Day devoutly visits a church or an oratory and recites an Our Father and the Creed.
Requirements for obtaining a plenary indulgence:
- Do the work while in a state of grace,
- Receive Sacramental confession within 20 days of the work (several plenary indulgences may be earned per reception),
- Receive Eucharistic communion (one plenary indulgence may be earned per reception),
- Pray for the pope’s intentions (Our Father and Hail Mary, or other appropriate prayer, is sufficient),
- Have no attachment to sin (even venial) – i.e., it is sufficient that the Christian makes an act of the will to love God and despise sin.
Visit: https://onepeterfive.com/gain-plenary-indulgences-for-
the-souls-in-purgatory-this-week/ to review the requirements to gain the
indulgences.
