All Saints

           The Triumph of Christian Rome over pagan Rome

     The celebration of the Feast of All Saints on November 1st is an ancient Roman Feast, originally in honour of all the martyrs.

     In the earliest centuries of the Church’s life, only those who had ‘shed their blood for love of Christ’ were counted as Saints. It was only after the ‘Peace of the Emperor Constantine’ in 312 A.D. that persecution finally ceased in the Roman Empire, and Christians began to recognize other forms of holiness in life and death than in martyrdom alone. The celebration on this date is connected with the Dedication of the Pantheon in Rome, which had originally been a pagan temple to all the gods but was consecrated to Christian worship by the Pope in 610 A.D., in honour of all the martyrs put to death by pagan Rome. All Saints Solemnity therefore celebrates the Triumph of Christian Rome over pagan Rome.

     The meaning of the Feast is found in adoring the Holiness that is God’s alone, but which in His goodness He chooses to share with all those who have been redeemed in Christ. The Preface of the Mass sums this up perfectly. We look forward to the fulfilment of our redemption in heaven, the ‘New Jerusalem’, where the saints are already made perfect. We are given the saints as an example to inspire us on our pilgrim way through this life towards the goal of full union with God. We are also given them as intercessors, who assist us by their prayers in the difficulties of our journey through life, a journey they once travelled themselves. In this sense, today’s solemnity celebrates the triumph of heaven after this life.