All Souls’ Day: Reflections, traditions and prayers

On Nov. 2, as a church, we observe All Souls’ Day, a day of prayer and remembrance for the souls of those who have died. The day concludes the season of what was once called Allhallowtide, which includes All Saints’ and its eve, Halloween.

The Catholic Church and Halloween

All Saints Day, Nov. 1, is a feast day to honor blessed people who could not be included in the church’s formal list of saints. But also of great importance was the day before it, Oct. 31, which was a traditional pagan harvest feast day.