All Souls Day Explained

All Souls is the commemoration of all the faithful left is celebrated by the Church on 2 November, or, if this be a Sunday or a solemnity, then it is celebrated on 3 November. The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy and all the Masses are to be of Requiem, except one of the present feast, where this is of obligation.

The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleaned from venial sins, or have actually not totally compensated previous transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific Vision. The faithful on earth can help them by prayers, alms deeds and specifically by the sacrifice of the Mass

In the very early days of Christianity the names of the left brethren were entered in the diptychs. Later on, in the sixth century, it was traditional in Benedictine monasteries to hold a commemoration of the departed members at Whitsuntide. In Spain there was such a day on Saturday prior to Sexagesima or prior to Pentecost, at the time of St. Isidore (636). In Germany there existed (according to the testament of Widukind, Abbot of Corvey, 980) a time honoured event of praying to the dead on 1 October. This was accepted and sanctified by the Church. St. Odilo of Cluny (1048) ordered the commemoration of all the faithful left to be held each year in the monasteries of his congregation. Thence it spread among the other congregations of the Benedictines and amongst the Carthusians.

Of the dioceses, Liège was the first to adopt it under Bishop Notger (1008). It is then found in the martyrology of St. Protadius of Besançon (1053-66). Bishop Otricus (1120-25) introduced it into Milan for the 15 October. In Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, priests on All Souls day would say three Masses. A similar concession for the entire world was asked of Pope Leo XIII. He would not grant the favour but ordered a special Requiem on Sunday, 30 September, 1888.

In the Greek Rite this commemoration is hung on the eve of Sexagesima Sunday, or on the eve of Pentecost. The Armenians commemorate the passover of the dead on the day after Easter.