SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS: NOVEMBER 1

Every 1st day of November, the Catholic church honors all saints known and unknown or unsung saints, who may have been forgotten, or never been specifically honored. This is a special day where we ask for their prayers and intercessions. As members of the church, we believe that the saints of God are just as alive as you and I, and are constantly interceding on our behalf. We have a connection with the saints in heaven and this is known as the Communion of Saints. 


"We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers." 
(CCC 962)

The Catholic Catechism concisely describes this communion among believers, by which we are connected to Christ, and thus to one another:


"Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness...They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us...So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped."


"...as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our communion with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from its fountain and head issues all grace, and the life of the People of God itself: We worship Christ as God's Son; we love the martyrs as the Lord's disciples and imitators, and rightly so because of their matchless devotion towards their king and master. May we also be their companions and fellow disciples (CCC  956, 957).


This day should be commemorated with enthusiasm as our dear heavenly friends are collectively praying for us on this day that comes but once a year. Going to Mass, fasting and praying is a great way to celebrate this occasion.


Prayer for All Saints Day


Father, all powerful and everliving God, today we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place. May their prayers bring us your forgiveness and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
From Liturgy of the Hours


Anglican Collect for All Saints


Almighty God, 
who hast knit together thine elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of Your Son, Christ our Lord:
Give us grace so to follow Your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living,
that we may come
to those ineffable joys
that thou hast prepared for those
who unfeignedly love thee;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.


Prayer to the Saints and Angels Before Mass


Angels, Archangels, 
Thrones, Dominions, 
Principalities, Powers, 
heavenly Virtues, 
Cherubim and Seraphim; 
all Saints of God, 
holy men and women, 
and especially my patrons: 
intercede for me 
that I may be worthy 
to offer this Sacrifice to almighty God, 
to the praise and glory of His name, 
for my own welfare 
and also that of all His holy Church. Amen.
From the Roman Missal


A Prayer for Saintly Grace


Almighty and Everlasting God,
who dost enkindle the flame of Thy love in the hearts of the saints,
grant unto us the same faith and power of love;
that, as we rejoice in their triumphs
we may profit by their examples, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
From Gothic Missal


Litany of the Saints


Lord, have mercy on us. (Lord have mercy on us)
Christ, have mercy on us. (Christ have mercy on us)
Lord, have mercy on us. (Lord, have mercy on us)
Christ, hear us. (Christ, hear us)
Christ, graciously hear us. (Christ, graciously hear us)
God the Father of heaven, (have mercy on us)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, (have mercy on us)
God the Holy Spirit, (have mercy on us.)
Holy Trinity, one God, (have mercy on us)
Holy Mary, Holy Mother of God, (pray for us*)
Holy Virgin of virgins,
St. Michael,
St. Gabriel,
St. Raphael,
All you holy Angels and Archangels,
All you holy orders of blessed Spirits,
St. John the Baptist,
St. Joseph,
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets,
St. Peter,
St. Paul,
St. Andrew,
St. James,
St. John,
St. Thomas,
St. James,
St. Philip,
St. Bartholomew,
St. Matthew,
St. Simon,
St. Thaddeus,
St. Matthias,
St. Barnabas,
St. Luke,
St. Mark,
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists,
All you holy Disciples of the Lord,
All you holy Innocents,
St. Stephen,
St. Lawrence,
St. Vincent,
SS. Fabian and Sebastian,
SS. John and Paul,
SS. Cosmas and Damian,
SS. Gervase and Protase,
All you holy Martyrs,
St. Sylvester,
St. Gregory,
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
St. Martin,
St. Nicholas,
All you holy Bishops and Confessors,
All you holy Doctors,
St. Anthony,
St. Benedict,
St. Bernard,
St. Dominic,
St. Francis,
All you holy Priests and Levites,
All you holy Monks and Hermits,
St. Mary Magdalen,
St. Agatha,
St. Lucy,
St. Agnes,
St. Cecilia,
St. Catherine,
St. Anastasia,
All you holy Virgins and Widows,
All you holy Saints of God, (make intercession for us.)
Be merciful, (spare us, O Lord.)
Be merciful, (graciously hear us, O Lord.)
From all evil, O Lord (deliver us*)
From all sin,
From Your wrath,
From sudden and unlooked for death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, and hatred, and every evil will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From lightning and tempest,
From the scourge of earthquakes,
From plague, famine and war,
From everlasting death,
Through the mystery of Your holy Incarnation,
Through Your Coming,
Through Your Birth,
Through Your Baptism and holy Fasting,
Through Your Cross and Passion,
Through Your Death and Burial,
Through Your holy Resurrection,
Through Your admirable Ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
In the day of judgment.
We sinners, (We implore you to hear us*)
That You would spare us,
That You would pardon us,
That You would bring us to true penance,
That You would vouchsafe to govern and preserve Your holy Church,
That You would vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate,
and all orders of the Church in holy religion,
That You would vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church,
That You would vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,
That You would vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to the whole Christian world,
That You would call back to the unity of the Church all who have
strayed from her fold, and to guide all unbelievers into the light of the Gospel,
That You would vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Your holy service,
That You would lift up our minds to heavenly desires,
That You would render eternal blessings to all our benefactors,
That You would deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren,
relations, and benefactors, from eternal damnation,
That You would vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
That You would vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
That You would vouchsafe graciously to hear us,
Son of God,
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.)
Christ, (hear us)
Christ, (graciously hear us)
Lord, have mercy, (Lord, have mercy)
Christ, have mercy, (Christ, have mercy)
Lord, have mercy, (Lord, have mercy)
Finally say the Our Father inaudibly.