All Saints and All Souls Days – similarities and differences
Kyle Kazlauski, then a second grader at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Peoria Heights, is dressed as Pope St. John Paul II, flanked by an altar line of saints in this photo from the Nov. 13, 2023 issue of The Catholic Post. (Provided photo)
In part due to their proximity on the calendar, All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2), are often spoken of in the same breath, which can muddy the distinctions between them (in much the same way as Veterans Day and Memorial Day can be conflated).
The ways through which we can make the most of All Saints Day and All Souls Day are essentially the same – namely the Mass and prayer – but these have different characteristics depending on the day.
ALL SAINTS DAY
One significant distinction is that All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation, which means we are obligated to attend Mass (traditionally there was also a requirement for fasting on the vigil of All Saints Day, but this was removed by the United States Conference of Bishops in 1983).
All Saints Day Mass is an opportunity to thank God for the witness of the saints, and to ask for their intercession.
ALL SOULS DAY
On all Souls Day we are encouraged to attend Mass, but it is optional. On this day the focus is on our friends and loved ones, or indeed anyone waiting at the “bus stop” of purgatory, looking for a transfer to heaven.
All Souls Day is a reminder to join with the whole church in petition for our brothers and sisters who have died.” – Lindsey Weishar
TWO PRAYER DIRECTIONS
The main difference between the prayer proper to each day is that on All Saints Day we are praying to the saints, asking for their intercession.
On All Souls Day we are petitioning for the departed souls of others (what a soul-boggling privilege!).
As Lindsey Weishar wrote in her Catholic Post column “Praying for the dead – an All Souls Day reflection” (Oct. 26, 2023): “All Souls Day is a reminder to join with the whole church in petition for our brothers and sisters who have died.”
JUMPSTART ON ALL SOULS DAY
There is one way of bringing the two days together.
The Church teaches that saints can pray for souls in purgatory. Therefore, to get a jumpstart on All Souls Day (Nov. 2) we can pray to the saints on their day (Nov. 1) asking them to intercede for the souls in purgatory.
Even heaven has its workarounds.
