Feast of All Saints

The Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints on November 1 to honor all those who lived the faith, hope, and charity according to the example of Jesus. This solemnity commemorates the men and women who overcame weakness and temptation to follow the Holy Spirit and now share in the glory of Christ.

The origins of the feast date back to the 4th century, when various churches began commemorating martyrs. Early traces of this celebration appeared in Antioch on the Sunday after Pentecost, a practice mentioned by Saint John Chrysostom. Between the 8th and 9th centuries, the feast spread through Europe. In Rome, Pope Gregory III, who served from 731 to 741, established November 1 as the specific date for the celebration.