All Soul’s Day
“How happy are the poor in spirit.”
Matthew 5: 1-12a
Why do we celebrate All Souls Day the day after All Saints Day? As Catholics, we believe that the souls of the faithful departed who have not been cleansed from venial sins can’t immediately enter Heaven. However, we can help them to move from purgatory to Heaven by prayer and by the sacrifice of the Mass.
We can see this feast as a gift from God for us to be able to help our loved ones who have passed on, but who were still affected by sin. We remember saints on their feast days and on All Saints Day, but All Souls Day is a day for ordinary people like us. We have faults, but we can enter the kingdom of heaven if we are poor in spirit. Who do we remember from our deceased family and friends who we would like to pray for? If we remember them in our prayers, they will pray for us too, especially when they enter the eternal joy of Heaven.