November 1
st and 2
nd are two feast days in the calendar of the Church. The first one is the celebration of All Saints’ Day, when we celebrate the great Communion of Saints. On this day, we remember the holy ones who have been canonized and those who were not. Pope Gregory III designated this day for honoring all saints. The other day, second of November, we are celebrating All Souls’ Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.
As Catholics, we are obliged to attend Mass on All Saints’ Day, to praise God and honor the lives of the saints. We remember our patron saints, most especially. The following day, All Souls’ Day, we pray for the souls in purgatory, and we remember our own dead by visiting their graves and praying for them. It is good practice for Catholics to attend Mass also on this day, to light candles for the dead, give alms and to do good.