One of the best ways to live a Godlier life is found in looking to people who have set examples for us. Obviously, we can look to Scripture and find examples of men and woman who lived their lives in accordance with God’s will. However, we can also look to people who we have known personally. All Saints’ Day is the annual celebration of those individuals. With All Saints’ Day quickly approaching, let’s look at what this holiday really means and why we observe it.
As we get closer to the end of October, we are preparing our hearts to celebrate All Saints’ Day. The Christian calendar is filled with multiple days that allow us to celebrate our faith in God. All Saints’ Day is unique in the fact that it allows us to celebrate the men and women who have set Godly examples for us to follow.
Before we get into what All Saints’ Day is and why we observe it, there are some foundational concepts that we should discuss. First of all, All Saints’ Day is not observed in every denomination. There is nothing in the Bible that mandates the observance of this special day, but there is also nothing that prohibits it. Even if you are a member of a denomination that does not celebrate All Saints’ Day, there is no reason that you cannot take the time on November 1 to spend some time in personal reflection about what it means to be a saint and to thank God for the saints who have gone before us.
Also, we should clear up any misconceptions about what it means to be a saint. You may have heard of people receiving the designation of “saint” from the Catholic church, and while that’s certainly one aspect of being a saint, it’s not the only one. In fact, the Official United State Conference of Catholic Bishops defines a saint as “any person in Heaven (canonized or not) , who lived heroically, virtuous lives, offered their lives for others, were martyred for the faith, and are worthy of imitation.”
When we look at Scripture, we often see books of the Bible that were written by Saints. For instance, the four Gospel accounts were written by Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke, and Saint John. Saint Luke and Saint John wrote additional books of the Bible. However, the concept of sainthood isn’t limited to those who helped with the composition of the Bible.
If you can look back at your life and see the influence of Godly people who have already passed from this life into eternity, those people are saints. Remember, part of sainthood is living a life that is “worthy of imitation.”
Today, let’s gain a better understanding of what All Saints’ Day is, how we observe it, and why we do so.
What is the Origin of All Saints’ Day?
History teaches us that All Saints’ Day was celebrated for the first time in the May of 609 A.D. It was then that Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to The Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ. For approximately 200 years, All Saints Day was celebrated in May until Pope Gregory III moved it to November 1 in the eighth century. It was then that Pope Gregory III dedicated the chapel at the Vatican to the honor and memory of “all the saints.” All Saints’ Day was briefly only observed by the Catholic Church until Pope Gregory IV extended the celebration to the universal Church.
How Is All Saints’ Day Celebrated?
One of the most important aspects of observing All Saints’ Day is found in attending a special church service. The Catholic Church routinely has a special mass service on November 1 to observe All Saints’ Day. Other denominations including the Lutheran Church, the Methodist Church, and the Episcopalian Church routinely have special services to commemorate the day.
What those services look like varies from one denomination to the next. There will typically be one or more hymns that focus on the importance of saints, and that include praises to God for the examples that those saints have left behind for us. A famous hymn titled “For All the Saints” is usually a part of these worship services.
Many churches also include some type of meal following the service as a form of fellowship. Remember, since the term “saint” refers to someone who sets a Godly example, it is important that we have times of fellowship with other Godly people so we can better learn from their examples.
Finally, every service that commemorates All Saints’ Day includes a time of special prayer and self-reflection. Some services include moments of prayer that are aimed at the saints, where we may ask them to help us through our journey of life. However, in most cases, these prayers are about asking God to help us better follow their examples so we can enter into the eternal paradise that He has promised us.
How Does All Saints’ Day Pertain to Halloween?
Obviously, All Saints’ Day follows Halloween every year. October 31 is the day that we observe Halloween each year, allowing our children to dress up in fun costumes and receive candy from the neighbors. The following day is All Saints’ Day. Is there a relationship between the two? Yes, there is!
While Halloween has turned into a fun, child-oriented holiday, that was not the original intent. Instead, it was originally a Christian holiday that was referred to as “All Hallows Eve.” In Old English, “hallowed” means “holy” or “sacred.” Hundreds of years ago, Christians would spend the evening of October 31 in prayer and reflection before fully celebrating All Saints’ Day on November 1.
Essentially, All Saints’ Day and our modern-day “Halloween” are closely connected. Both holidays have their origins in observing the lives of the saints who have gone before us.
How Can You Celebrate All Saints’ Day?
If you want to celebrate All Saints’ Day this year, you have some options available to you. Obviously, if you can find a church in your community that observes the holiday, you can attend their service. However, some of us who are more introverted may struggle with the idea of walking into a church that we do not typically attend. In that case, there is still nothing stopping you from participating in a celebration of All Saints’ Day.
Start by sitting down and making a list of people in the Bible whose stories have impacted you. While we know that every story contained in Scripture is the result of divine inspiration, there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that some stories speak to us on a more personal level. Take some time and think about the stories that move you and write down the names of the people involved. Once you have done that, spend some time taking inventory of your life to determine if there are any people that you have known personally who have set a Godly example for you. Perhaps your parents or grandparents left behind a legacy of prayer and faith that you still look to follow. Maybe your childhood pastor or another influential Christian in your life are heroes of the faith in your eyes. Write their names down too.
Once you have compiled the names of saints who you want to recognize on this special day, spend some time thanking God for them and the example that they set for you. Even if you didn’t know them personally, you can thank God for allowing you to know more about their stories and the faith that they had.
Turn on some music and spend a few moments in quite worship and reflection. Ask God to show you areas in your life in which you can live the kind of life that is worthy of sainthood.
A Prayer for All Saints’ Day:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the men and women who have set such beautiful examples of what it means to be a saint. Thank You for recording their stories in Scripture and for letting me know some of them personally. Help me to live the same kind of life. In Christ’s name, Amen.