Halloween & All Saints’ Day – a Roman Catholic Christian Liturgical Calendar Commentary.

Halloween & All Saints’ Day – a Roman Catholic Christian Liturgical Calendar Commentary.

This excerpt was taken from Daily Missal with Vespers for Sundays & Feasts by Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, Order of Saint Benedict, of the Abbey of Saint Andre (Belgium), published in A.D. 1925, pages 1011, 1719, and 1722 through 1724.

October 31st. The Vigil of All Saints (or in Old English “Halloween” for All Hallows’ Eve).

Violet vestments are required per liturgical day for the priest in celebration of the Holy Mass.

The most illustrious martyrs had at Rome, from the 4th century, their basilicas, where was celebrated each year the anniversary of their death, or rather of their birth in heaven. At this time a number of Masses were prescribed without any fixed day to honour those who were unknown and had no public recognition. When later the names of Saints who were not martyrs were introduced into the ecclesiastical Calendar, a more universal character was given to such Masses. It is thus that in the 8th century the Gregorian Sacramentary indicates among the common Masses without a date : The Mass in honour of All Saints. Fixed in the following century on November 1st, it became the Mass of All Saints' Day to which we are this day prepared by a vigil. This explains why the Mass contains extracts from the Masses of the Common of Martyrs.

NOVEMBER 1st. The Feast of All Saints. Double of the First Class with Octave . White vestments are required per liturgical day for the priest in celebration of the Holy Mass.

The Temple of Agrippa was dedicated, under Augustus, to all the pagan gods, hence its name of Pantheon. Under the Emperor Phocas, between A.D. 607 and 610 , Boniface the Fourth translated thither numerous remains of martyrs taken from the Catacombs.

It’s noted that in the Pantheon of Agrippa Rome had assembled together all the gods of paganism; this temple, cleared of its idols, was on May 13th, A.D. 610, dedicated by Pope Boniface the Fourth to Mary and the Martyrs, and later to all the Saints. Saint Gregory the Seventh transferred this feast to November 1st, so that, having become the anniversary of this dedication, the Feast of All Saints marks for ever the triumph of Christ over false gods.

On May 13th, A.D. 610, Pope Boniface dedicated this new Christian basilica to Saint Mary and the Martyrs. The feast of this dedication took later a more universal character, and the temple was consecrated to Saint Mary and all the Saints. As there was already a feast in commemoration of all the Saints, celebrated at various dates in different churches, then fixed by Gregory the Fourth in A.D. 835 on November 1st; (then later in the Eleventh Century) Pope Gregory the Seventh transferred to this date the anniversary of the dedication of the Pantheon. The feast of All Saints therefore recalls the triumph of Christ over the false pagan deities.

In this temple is held the Station on the Friday in the Octave of Easter.

As the Saints honoured during the first three centuries of the church were martyrs, and the Pantheon was at first dedicated to them, the Mass of All Saints is made up of extracts from the liturgy of martyrs. The Introit is that of the Mass of St. Agatha, used later for other feasts : the Gospel, Offertory and Communion are taken from the Common of martyrs.

The Church gives us on this day an admirable vision of heaven , showing us with Saint John, the twelve thousand signed (twelve is considered a perfect number) of each tribe of Israel, and a great multitude which no one can count, of every nation and tribe, of every people and tongue standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and with palms in their hands (Confer the Liturgy’s Epistle). Christ, the Virgin, the blessed battalions distributed in nine choirs, the apostles and prophets, the martyrs crimsoned in their blood, the confessors adorned in white garments and the chaste choir of virgins form, as the Hymn of Vespers sings, the majestic cortege. It is indeed composed of all those who here below were detached from worldly riches, gentle, afflicted, equitable, merciful, pure, peaceful and persecuted for the name of Jesus. “Rejoice," the Master had foretold them, “for a great reward is prepared for you in heaven." (Confer the Liturgy’s Gospel & Communion prayer.)

Among those millions of the just who were faithful disciples of Jesus on earth, are several of our own family, relations, friends, members of our parochial family, now enjoying the fruit of their piety, adoring the Lord, King of kings, and Crown of All Saints (Confer the Liturgy’s Invitatory at Matins) and obtaining for us the wished for abundance of His mercies (Confer the Liturgy’s Collect).

Every Parish Priest celebrates Mass for the welfare spiritual and temporal of his parishioners.

All ye Saints, pray for us!

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