Niamh McGroarty | Reporter
Katie Hunter | Depute Editor-in-Chief
Each year on the 1st of November, All Saint’s Day is celebrated in the Catholic Church. It is a day which is dedicated to the saints of the church – those recognised in the canon of the Saints.
All Saints’ Day was first recorded in 609AD which marked the momentous event when Pope Boniface IV accepted the Pantheon in Rome as a gift and it was celebrated each year on the 13th of May as a day to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary and all of the Martyrs. However, the holy day was not fully extended until the mid-eighth century by Pope Gregory III to a day dedicated by the saints and their relics. He decided that from this year onwards, the day of worship for those who were saints would occur annually on the 1st of November.
Each country celebrates this holiday of obligation differently however all practising catholics must attend church. In Portugal, Spain and Mexico, it is not uncommon to see performances of a play known and “Don Juan Tenorio” in which Don defies God in his search for early pleasures. The legend states that his time runs out and he is dragged down to hell and therefore society is restored to its former glory. In many European countries, the day is commemorated by leaving flowers on the graves of those who are deceased or in Eastern Europe, candles are lit in place of these. Those in the Philippines often paint and repair the graves of their loved ones on this day which help to closely link All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day which takes place the following day.
All Souls’ Day is dedicated to remembering those who are no longer with us and for Christians, it is particularly important to pray for those who are in Purgatory – the place in which those who have died and are not yet in Heaven. It is believed that these souls may not be entirely cleansed but through the power of prayer can be helped to gain the heavenly vision which they seek.
Although the excitement of Halloween may prevail for some, it is important, regardless of your faith, that you take time to commemorate the dead and pay your respects to those who lost their lives in order to improve ours.
