Today and tomorrow we celebrate All Saints’ Day (01 November) and All Souls’ Day (02 November). Heaven and earth rejoice to commemorate these days where we pray for our departed loved ones, give honour, show respect, and ask the saints for their intercession.
01 November is the day for all saints. The saints are the holy people who have followed and lived their earthly lives by loving God and obeying the commandments He taught us. If we are named with one of the saints’ names we should be happy – as we grow in age we may understand the right intention to imitate how they lived their lives in love, goodness and justice. They can be our protector or favourite saint who inspires us and lead us to God. We pray and ask help from them because they can intercede for us.
02 November is dedicated to all the souls in purgatory, our beloved dead such as our parents, other members of our family and friends. It is a big day for the souls when we spend time in praying for them. They cannot pray for themselves but they may be able to pray for us* and we can help them by praying for them.
…From the beginning the Church has honoured the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1032)
It is also a day to remember and recall the good memories of how they lived their lives with their good deeds here on earth.
To all the Saints in Heaven and on Earth and the Souls in Purgatory, Pray For Us!
* See Can the Souls in Purgatory Pray for Us?
Daughters of Divine Zeal Vocations 