This feast honours all the saints of the Church, known and unknown. The occasion provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the nature of sainthood and to celebrate the exemplary faithfulness of holy men and women of every place and time, whose lives and deeds continue to inspire us.

A feast for all martyrs, celebrated in the Eastern Church since the 4th century, it gradually evolved to include non-martyrs. It is first found in the West in the 7th century. In England it was called Allhallows. 'Hallow' is from the Old English word for 'holy.' Thus 'Hallowe'en' is from 'Allhallows even,' or 'the eve of All Saints.'

Originally a feast in the Eastern Church for all martyrs, it was extended to the whole Roman Church in the 9th century as a feast including non-martyrs. It was given this date, November 1, to counter a pagan feast on the same day. A vestige of the pagan celebration remains in Hallowe'en, 'Allhallows even,' or 'the eve of All Saints.'©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.