Feast of All Saints' Day

In lieu of a Wisdom Wednesday post, we are sharing about today's feast day: the Feast of All Saints' Day. On this day we honor ALL those who have reached their eternal glory in Heaven.  This includes those many saints officially recognized by the Catholic Church, as well as those unknown to us, but who have been welcomed openly into God's loving Kingdom. All the souls of the faithfully departed in Heaven are saints, whether they've been canonized by the Church or not. 

As the day is a Holy Day of Obligation, Catholics must attend Mass, either the evening before (a Vigil Mass) or the day of the feast, November 1.  

All Saints' Day was first recognized by Pope Boniface IV in 609 & was celebrated on May 13, the day of the Parthenon's dedication. The feast day was later moved in the mid-8th century to November 1 by Pope Gregory III. 

Mary, the Mother of God, is the most honored saint in Heaven. We know from scripture that all she asks of Her Son, Jesus, will be answered. Just look at the Wedding at Cana, the beginning of His ministry here on Earth.

Many people question the Catholic Church's dedication to the saints in Heaven & consider it a form of idolatry & worship. They believe that we should only pray to God & not the saints. We know that God alone is the one to be worshiped & He alone is above all else.  The saints, however, can & do intercede for us. We can ask for their prayers just as we would ask a family member or friend to pray for us. The only difference is that the saints have a front row seat & can share our prayers directly with God face to face.

All of the saints have a particular patronage, & many have more than one. There are saints for specific states, countries, regions, causes, careers, life situations & health issues, etc. We can petition the saints based on specific needs we may have & be confident that those prayers will be heard by God. Examples include the following:

St. Anthony - when we have lost something. Many often utter this prayer to him: "Tony, Tony! Please come around. Something is lost & must be found."

St. Lucy - for eye problems
St. Monica - for those family & friends to come home to the Catholic Church  
St. Jude or St. Rita - for those issues we feel are impossible to solve
St. Michael - against the evils of the world
St. Gerard or St. Gianna Beretta Molla - for pregnancy related issues
St. Thomas Aquinas - for education
St. Dymphna - for mental illness
St. Cecilia - for musicians
St. Peregrine - for cancer patients
St. Christopher - for travels
St. Matthew - for accountants & bankers
St. John of God - for heart patients & booksellers
St. Joseph of Arimathea - for pallbearers

There is even a patron saint of coffee (St. Drogo), hangovers (St. Bibiana), & bunnies (St. Melangell). 

If you do an internet search for your cause or worry, there should be no trouble finding a saint specific your need. Catholic Online has a great A-Z listing of patronages & the saint(s) HERE.

Take a little time today to reflect on the saints. Perhaps make it a goal to learn about a new saint weekly or monthly. If you're going through some trial right now, find a saint or two who can intercede for your needs. Pray with confidence that they will carry your worries to God.

All Saints in Heaven, Pray for Us!

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A 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.