Course 4, Chapter 51: Christianity visible. — Feast of All-Saints

1. What feast do we celebrate the 1st of November?

On the 1st of November we celebrate the feast of all the saints, commonly called All- Saints. On this day the church invites us to the two fold sentiment of joy and of sorrow. In the Epistle she encourages us by showing that there are in heaven saints of every country and every age. In the Gospel she marks the virtues we must practise in order to arrive there. In the preface, she tells us that the saints are our brethren, that they look upon us with love, and aid us by their powerful prayers. At vespers, she reminds us that we are exiles, and teaches us to sigh like the captive Israelites at Babylon, for the heavenly Jerusalem our true country.

2. Is the feast of All-Saints of ancient date?

It commenced in the seventh century; was established in Rome by Boniface IV, and then passed into all the churches.

3. Why was it established?

1st, to honor all the saints, especially those we do not know, or who have no appointed day during the year; 2d, to thank God for the graces bestowed upon his elect; 3d, to excite us to imitate the virtues of the saints; 4th, to give us an occasion to repair the faults committed in the celebration of the particular feast of each saint.

4. What must we do to celebrate worthily the feast of All- Saints?

We must excite in our heart a great desire of heaven, and great disgust for the earth, and form the generous resolution to imitate the saints.

5. What is the beatification of a saint?

It is an act by which the sovereign pontiff declares a person to be blessed after his death.

6. What is the canonization of a saint?

It is a solemn and definitive decision by which the sovereign pontiff ranks a person in the number of the saints, and authorizes honors to be paid him throughout the church.

7. What is necessary in proceeding to the beatification and canonization of a saint?

Unquestionable miracles, wrought after the death of the person. Thus the church acts with a prudence wholly divine, which even heretics and the impious are forced to admit.