Solemnity of All Saints: Nov. 1

Background Information:

All Saints Day is an old feast.  It arose out of the Christian tradition of celebrating the martyrdom of saints on the anniversary of their martyrdom

4^th century AD:  Local dioceses instituted a common feast day (as persecutions increased)

373 AD:  St. Ephrem the Syrian mentioned it in a sermon

8^th century AD:  Pope Gregory III (731-741 AD) consecrated a chapel to all martyrs in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

9th century AD:  Pope Gregory IV (827-844 AD) extend the feast to the entire Church

Final Thoughts: The traditional name for All Saints Day was All Hallows Eve. A hallow was a saint or holy person. So that is how we get the name Halloween (Hallow’s Eve or Hallowe’en).