Today is the Solemnity of All Saints. This year it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, since it falls on a Monday. I have a long standing tradition on my radio show that everyone I speak with will be referred to as Saint (Name). Try that out in your daily life today and see what kind of reaction you get. I promise you, it will make life interesting!
Some people have a real problem with Catholics praying to Saints. I always scratch my head at that one. For those who may not understand or who have a hard time explaining the Communion of Saints, I want to share with you today a chapter from my first book, A Minute in the Church, Volume I. I hope this helps!
Saint So and So, pray for us. Familiar words to Catholics. But to many non-Catholics, those words are foreign. And to some, maybe even offensive. Have you ever had someone close to you die? Maybe a parent? A family member? Or a friend? And you believe that that person is now in heaven with God. Do you think that your loved one, having become one with God, has forgotten all about you? No longer cares about your life? Your happiness? Or your well-being? Or do you think that that person cares about you even more deeply and is lifting you up in prayer before the throne of God?
If you believe that your deceased loved ones still love you and care about you and pray for you, then you believe in the Communion of Saints.
In Mark 12: 26-27, Jesus says of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who were all “dead,” that “God is not God of the dead, but of the living.” The Catholic Church teaches that Saints are not dead people but are even more alive and closer to God, than you and me. They hear our prayers through a special grace from God. Remember, they are no longer limited by our finite and fleshly senses. As it says in Hebrews 12:1 “…we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…”. The Communion of Saints. All holy men and women, pray for us.
If you would like more quick and easy explanations about what Catholics believe and why, get the entire A Minute in the Church series (five books) today at www.GusLloyd.com.
For those who asked. From “denvercatholic.org”
This year, the solemnity of All Saint’s on November 1 will not be a holy day of obligation. Faithful in the United States are not required to attend Mass during this solemnity. This dispensation is granted when this specific solemnity falls on a Saturday or Monday.
The Code of Canon Law (1246 § 2) declares that an Episcopal Conference “can suppress some of the holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday” with the required approval of the Apostolic See.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops decided to eliminate the obligation to attend Mass when the solemnities of January 1 (Mary, Mother of God), August 15 (The Assumption) and November 1 (All Saints Day) fell on Saturday or Monday. The Holy See approved this decree on July 4, 1992.
Yes what does Monday have to do with it?? Is it because the Sunday obligation was full filled???
Thanks for explaining why All Saints Day is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year, due to falling on a Monday. I am relieved.
I feel closer to my Lord as I learn more.
What does a Monday have to do with it not being a holy day of obligation?
It’s beautiful to know this!!!🙏🙏🙏 Thank you!!!