All Saints Day

The Church commemorates, on November 1, the Feast of All Saints. Hallowe'en is All Hallows Eve, the Eve of All Saints (Hallows) Day.  We honor all the Saints in heaven, without exception, thus honoring those who are unknown and who have no public recognition in Liturgy.  As I have said, we are all called to be saints. Everyone who attains Heaven is a saint.  From the Old Testament comes the Offertory prayer in the Mass.
Wisdom. 3: 1-2,3 - "The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of malice shall not touch them: in the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, but they are in peace."

In every Mass, every day of the year, scriptures are used that fit the particular day or feast, Old and New Testament passages, psalms, Epistles and Gospels.  The Bible is a huge part of the celebration of the Liturgy.

On All Saints Day part of the entrance prayer, the Introit is Psalm 32:1 - Rejoice in the Lord, ye just: praise becometh the upright.

The Epistle is from Apocalypse 7: 2-12, John's vision of Heaven and the number of them that were marked with the seal of the living God and clothed in white robes.

The Gradual, a prayer that precedes the Gospel, is from Psalm 33: 10,11 - Fear the Lord, all ye His Saints; for there is no want to them that fear Him. But they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.

The Gospel of the day is Matthew 5: 1-12, which has the eight beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount.

The Communion verse is also from Matthew 5:8-10, Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God: blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God: blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Continuing from the Bible during First Vespers are the following Antiphons. Note: Vespers is a part of the public prayer of the Church, the recitation of the "Hours," Matins and Lauds ( from midnight and 3 a.m.), Prime (6 a.m.), Terce (9 a.m.), Sext (noon), Nones (3 p.m.), Vespers (6 p.m.), Compline 9 p.m.). The "Hours" consist of the psalms and certain antiphons and hymns. The hours are set to coincide with an occurrence in the Passion of Our Lord.  Priests and religious pray the Divine Office (the Hours) every day. Some lay people do, if they can, or say an abbreviated form in the "Little Office." Some churches have a public recitation of Vespers on Sunday so that the congregation can take part.

Antiphons:
(Apoc. 7:9) I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations standing before the throne.
(Apoc. 7:11) And all the Angels stood round about the throne, and they fell down before the throne, and adored God.
(Apoc. 5:9,10) Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord God, in Thy Blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made of us a kingdom unto our God.
(Tob. 13:10) Bless the Lord all ye His elect, keep a day of gladness and give thanks unto Him.
(Ps. 148: 14; 149:9) A hymn for all His Saints, for the children of Israel, for the people that is nigh unto Him; this glory have all His Saints.

11/1/11