What is the difference between All Saints Day and All Souls Day?

[blaskoman]

I know that All Saints Day is a Holy day of Obligation. However, what exactly are the differences in these Feast Days? I read today that we should keep in our prayers not only the Saints in Heaven, but all who are living on Earth. So then you got All Souls Day, which encompasses the exact subset of people–those in Heaven and on Earth.

 

[NPC]

The feast of All Saints is a very joyful day. We remember all of the saints who are in Heaven. It is not just about those saints who have been formally canonised by the Church. While we can be sure that the canonised saints are indeed in Heaven, since the Church was moved and guided to proclaim certain exceptional people saints, we know that there must be others who are in Heaven even though their place has not been formally pronounced by the Church. So, even though one would not be advised to pray to uncanonised people as we cannot be sure whether or not they are in Heaven yet (eg. family and friends), it is nice to remember that some of the people we may have known may already be rejoicing with all the other saints in Heaven.

There is a change of mood and tone on the Commemoration of the Holy Souls. The focus is on those who are in Purgatory. That said, it is not all sadness for us who remember them, because we know that they are well on their way to Heaven. They are not yet saints in Heaven, but we know that one day they will join the great company of saints in Heaven. Our prayers for the Holy Souls - especially for family, friends and enemies - can hasten their onward journey to Heaven. Remember too, that the souls in Purgatory who benefit from our prayers are grateful for our intercessions, and one may be sure that when they are counted among the saints that we rejoice with on November 1, they will respond generously with intercessions for us.

 

[puzzleannie]

I know that All Saints Day is a Holy day of Obligation. However, what exactly are the differences in these Feast Days? I read today that we should keep in our prayers not only the Saints in Heaven, but all who are living on Earth. So then you got All Souls Day, which encompasses the exact subset of people–those in Heaven and on Earth.

on All Souls day we pray for the Church Suffering, that is, the souls in purgatory. If our deceased loved ones are already in heaven, we prayed with them on All Saints Day. If they are still in Purgatory, we pray for them today, that their time of just punishment for sin be over and they be admitted to the Beatific Vision. We don’t know who is in what set, so we pray both days. But we do not canonize our loved ones, even our saintly grandmothers, and make no assumptions about their current state.

 

[benedictgal]

The liturgical colors of the day also give you some key clues. Yesterday, the Church chose white as a celebratory color. Today, the Church gives us three options: white, violet or black. These are the common colors worn for funerals. In this case, white is hope in the resurrection while violet and black are more associated with penance and sorrow.

 

[marleelynn]

The liturgical colors of the day also give you some key clues. Yesterday, the Church chose white as a celebratory color. Today, the Church gives us three options: white, violet or black. These are the common colors worn for funerals. In this case, white is hope in the resurrection while violet and black are more associated with penance and sorrow.

at mass this morning (a parish within my cluster), my associate pastor work black vestments. It was the first time I remember seeing black vestments before. At funerals I remember white vestments.

 

[Brendan]

at mass this morning (a parish within my cluster), my associate pastor work black vestments. It was the first time I remember seeing black vestments before. At funerals I remember white vestments.

Maybe you can get your associate pastor one of these

 

[KCT]

The Saints and the aints

 

[turtle18]

I thought All Saints Day celebrated those who had died and gone to Heaven. And I thought All Souls Day was supposed to be about the souls in purgatory and our prayers for them. However, I have noticed, at least where I go to Church, All Souls Day is getting “whitewashed.” No mention of purgatory because it is not “compassionate.” Instead it is just a day we remember the dead.

For example, I am still confused why we are singing the same songs for All Saints Day as we are for All Souls Day.

On an off note, I told my CCD kids the other day that most people go to purgatory not straight to heaven. I think it would have gone over better if I told them there was no Santa Claus.