Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.” (NIV)
What do December 25, March 17, and the first of November have in common? They recognize important events within the history of Christianity.
No, March 17 is not about celebrating green beer and Mardi Gras. It commemorates the remarkable achievements of St. Patrick in spreading the Gospel to Ireland.
No, December 25 is not about Santa Claus and Deck the Halls and crowded malls. It is when Christians in the western world celebrate the birth of Jesus.
No, November first is not the first Sunday of November and a couple of days after your sugar hangover from handing out treats.
What is All Saints Day? Honoring the Saints. Okay great. Who are the saints?
The saints, if you need a reminder, include all those in heaven, the martyrs who faced death for Christ, and those who were an influential in establishing the early church. The lives of the saints are an endless source of wisdom and inspiration for how to live out the Gospel in our everyday lives. Hebrews 12:1-2, the verses above, also provides a beautiful description of the community of saints, something so fundamental to the Christian faith. The cloud of witnesses is another way of describing the saints.
By this definition, my mother, grandmother and extended family members who have passed on are saints. Therefore, this is the time of year when I remind my kids about their grandmother’s faith by going through the photo albums she made for them when they were toddlers.
If you weren’t lucky enough to grow up Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian or Catholic, then of course you are confused as to why this day is important. Let me help clarify.
The night before All Saints’ Day used to be called “All hallows Eve, or “Hallow E’en.” Yes, this Day originated in the Catholic tradition. No, I’m not Catholic, nor am I trying to convert you, but this is still important. The saints are our friends, our intercessors, and brothers and sisters in Christ!
And I won’t bore you with pages and pages of early church history . . .
BUT . . . what you need to know is this:
In the early seventh century, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Roman Pantheon – formerly a shrine to all the gods of Roman mythology – a Christian church of the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs. Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel at St. Peter’s Basilica all the saints, as well, with an anniversary date of November 1. Rome adopted November 1 as the date of the feast of all Saints in the eighth century, and in the nineth century Pope Gregory IV extended that observance to the whole of the Latin Church. This is also nicely explained in https://catholicreview.org.
See? That wasn’t so tedious, was it? Now, how are we supposed to celebrate the saints?
https://teachingcatholickids.com provides multiple suggestions on how to celebrate All Saints’ Day, including eating ridiculous amounts of food, going to Mass, playing games to identify which saint is known for what, lighting candles and even dressing up in costumes of brown robes. Different Catholic traditions do different things. But what surprised me is the pumpkin carving. Apparently, in some traditions, pumpkin carving is done in honor of the saints, and not for pure fun and entertainment. That was doable for my family and what my kids look forward to every year!
After copious amounts of sugar is consumed and costumes admired, let’s take a moment and thank the saints and whoever has been influential to you in your faith development.
Prayer:
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the great cloud of witnesses, and for providing a beautiful community in which to grow in our faith. Help us to be encouraging and supportive to one another during this coming season of gratitude and thankfulness. Amen.