All Souls Mass For The Commemoration of
All the Faithfully Departed
​Followed by a Remembrance Reception 

Held Yearly on November 2

All Souls Day is a day set aside for remembering “ordinary saints”. The day honors those whose life and witness deeply touched our own. Instead of a day of mourning, our remembrance focuses on the hope of the resurrection, both theirs and ours. We give thanks for their faithful testimony. The day is primarily celebrated in the Catholic Church, but it is also celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and in a few other Christian denominations.

The official name of the celebration in the Roman Rite liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church is "The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed”. Another popular name in English is Feast of All Souls. In some other languages the celebration, not necessarily on the same date, is known as Day of the Dead.

The Western celebration of All Souls' Day is on 2 November and follows All Saints' Day, which commemorates the departed who have attained the beatific vision (the immediate knowledge of God which the angelic spirits and the souls of the just enjoy in Heaven).

THIS HISTORY
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 only a handful of other very important feast days are priests allowed to celebrate more than two Masses.

Originally, the Roman Catholic church observed All Souls Day to remember those who had died, particularly within the last year. As the tradition grew and changed, they included masses for the dead to bring souls out of purgatory. During the Reformation, these practices were abolished in the Anglican churches. But many have begun to revive the day as a time to honor deceased loved ones.

HOW TO CELEBRATE
What do we do to commemorate the faithful departed on All Souls Day? Attend mass and remember those who have died.

An idea: Although there is no formal service, many choose to visit or decorate the gravesites of these “ordinary saints.” In some families, they plan a simple dinner, set the table all in white, and add a long line of white candles. Before eating, they lift a prayer of thanksgiving for “all those who have departed this life in the certain hope of the resurrection.” For each remembrance, a candle is lit.

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