All   Saints'   Day   is   a solemn   holy    day   of    the   Catholic   Church   celebrated   annually on November 1.

The  day   is   dedicated   to   the   saints   of   the   Church,   that   is,   all   those   who   have   attained   heaven.

It   should   not  be confused  with All Souls' Day,   which is observed on November 2, and is dedicated to those who have  died but  who  may   not yet  have  reached heaven.

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All Saints' Day was formally started by Pope Boniface IV in 609 AD.    He  also established All Souls' Day, which follows All Saints.

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Although   millions, or even billions of people may already be saints,  All Saints' Day   observances tend to focus on known   saints --   that   is those   recognized   in   the canon   of   the   saints   by   the   Catholic   Church.

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Saints who  have not been canonized—  those  who are in Heaven,   but whose sainthood is known only to God—have no   particular feast day,  so   in   a  special way,    All   Saints   Day   is   their   feast.

 

In   English,   the   traditional name for All Saints Day was All Hallows Day.     (A hallow was a saint or holy person.) 

The vigil   or  eve of the feast, October 31,   is  still  commonly  known   as   All   Hallows   Eve.

 

Praying    for   those  who  have  died  is   a Christian obligation.    In   the   modern world,    the need   for such prayers has only increased.

The Church devotes the month of November to pray for those  who  have  died,  the   Holy Souls , and participation in the Mass of All Souls Day is   a  good  way  to  begin the month.

 

If  you  wish,    loved  ones  can  be  remembered in  all  the  Masses  in  November,  by  placing  their  names  in  the  basket  on  the  altar.  Candles  at  the  side  altars   can  also  be  lit.