Dear Calvary family and friends,
Today the Church celebrates All Saints Day. While the origins are not perfectly clear, a festival in honor of all martyrs was held as early as 270 CE. A little over a hundred years later, Saint
John Chrysostom speaks of a festival of All Saints held the Sunday following Pentecost. While the date of All Saints Day has changed, from its inception, it was a time to honor those who had passed from this life to the next, especially those who gave their lives following Christ. In the Episcopal Church today, it is classified as a “Principal Feast” of the Church, one of seven. As such, it takes precedence over any other celebration on November first, even Sunday. It alone may be celebrated on the following Sunday if the first falls on a weekday. While the Church has many saints’ days during the year, this week alone: James Hannington, Maryan of Oidun, and Richard Hooker, it was felt that a day should be set aside to honor all the saints. A sort of church Memorial Day. And so, we take time to remember, to hallow, to set aside as holy the great names of the saints. Realizing that there are far more Christians who have lived a holy and good life, though often not perfect, we set aside November second as “All Souls”, or “All Faithful Departed” as a day to remember those known only to a few, those who are not part of our church calendar. Many take this day as a time to remember family members and friends, especially those who have died over the past year. One of the great misconceptions many have concerning celebrating saints’ days is they think the church prays to those who have died. We set the time apart to remember their examples in the hope that we too may be encouraged to live a faithful life in Christ. Just as we might ask a friend to pray for us, we too ask the saints to pray for us. We do not pray to them. A perfect example is the Hail Mary prayer: “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death.” Because we believe that death is not the end of our spiritual journey, only a door thorough which we enter a new phase, Mary is asked to pray for us, to intercede on our behalf. I would encourage you, especially this week, to take time and think of those who have gone before, who have lived lives not just as Christians, but practicing Christians. Remember them and ask them to intercede on our behalf that we too one day may be counted among the saints in heaven.
Peace,
Bryant+
