All Souls’ Day

All Souls’ Day, in Roman Catholicism, a day for commemoration of all the faithful departed, those baptized Christians who are believed to be in purgatory because they died with the guilt of lesser sins on their souls. It is observed on November 2. Roman Catholic doctrine holds that the prayers of the faithful on earth will help cleanse these souls in order to fit them for the vision of God in heaven, and the day is dedicated to prayer and remembrance. The Anglican church, which does not believe in purgatory, observes the day as the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, an optional extension of All Saints’ Day meant to honor ordinary Christians who have passed. All Souls’ Day is part of the three-day triduum dedicated to remembering the dead, beginning with Halloween (October 31) and followed by All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2).

Origin and history

From antiquity certain days were devoted to intercession for particular groups of the dead. The institution of a day for a general intercession on November 2 is due to Odilo, abbot of Cluny (died 1048). The date, which became practically universal before the end of the 13th century, was chosen to follow All Saints’ Day. Having celebrated the feast of all the members of the church who are believed to be in heaven, the church on earth turns, on the next day, to commemorate those souls believed to be suffering in purgatory.

The 1915, prompted by the enormous loss of life caused by World War I, Pope Benedict XV promulgated a papal bull, Incruentum altaris sacrificium, to permit priests to celebrate three masses on All Souls’ Day (normally a priest is limited to one mass per day). Of the three All Souls’ masses, one is to be offered for a particular intention, another for all the faithful departed, and a third in accordance with the intentions of the pope. The concession remains in effect within the Roman Catholic Church.

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Observances

Requiem masses are commonly held on All Souls’ Day. Priests celebrate mass wearing vestments of varying color—black (for mourning), violet (symbolizing penance), or white (symbolizing the hope of resurrection). In many places people often visit and sometimes decorate the graves of loved ones, using the time to share memories of their loved ones and to pray for their souls. In Mexico and other parts of Latin America, All Souls’ Day is incorporated into Day of the Dead celebrations in which the deceased are memorialized and greeted with altars called ofrendas.

Keep exploring

All Saints’ Day

Day of the Dead

Halloween

Holy day of obligation

Calendar of Catholic saint feast days

Church year