All Saints Day is one of the obligatory feasts of the Roman Catholic Church, such as Christmas, Ascension and Assumption. It is the celebration of Christ’s victory in the lives of many men and women who have joined the heavenly kindness.
It is celebrated every first day in the eleventh month of the year. The Solemnity of All Saints takes place on November 1stas usual throughout the world. In fact, there exists in heaven a huge crowd of people who, in their lifetimes, have been true witnesses to Jesus Christ. Only some among them have been officially mentioned as Saint after a “canonisation” process and being given to us as an example to follow. At the same time, there are anonymous souls who have not been officially recognised by the Church but who, in essence, are genuine spiritual supporters for the people of God. It is therefore right for the Roman Catholic Church to establish a feast in honour of all the Saints, whether known or unknown. Moreover, through its celebration, the Church also remind the primary vocation of human beings: a call to holiness. Every human being, whether white or black, rich or poor are all call to holiness The latter does not just belong to a given type of person. It concerns anyman who decides to follow Christ and puts his life at his service. The souls honoured through the solemnity of All Saints did not achieve it overnight. They are people who have had the same faults,doubts and difficulties,during their earthly stay as we have and who, in their daily efforts, have reached a certain spiritual level. It is therefore a battlefield, a true catechesis, where you learn something new every day. All Saints is not the feast of the dead, but rather the one of the triumphant Church. It should be noted that after the feast of All the saints, each year the 2nd of November is dedicated to the prayer of all the deceased from all over the world. Christians have the opportunity to light a candle on the grave of their missing loved ones.
Eliane FATCHINA
