I know what All Saints Day is, but what is All Souls Day?
The church celebrates the commemoration of the faithfully departed on November 2nd, unless this day falls on a Sunday, then it is celebrated on the 3rd. Theologically, this feast is based on the doctrine that the soul must be cleansed of sin before leaving the body of the deceased so that it can share in the glory of the Risen Christ. If the soul is not cleansed, the deceased can still share in the glory of heaven if those left behind on earth offer prayers and good deeds in honor of the soul. In the early days of the church, All Souls Day was celebrated at many different times in different countries. In 998 A.D., All Souls Day became fixed on November 2nd when the Benedictine Monastery of Cluny chose that date for the commemoration. It spread to other monasteries and then to parishes throughout the region. In the 13th century, Rome adopted it by placing the feast on the churchs annual calendar. Today we celebrate All Souls Day with special prayers and Masses to honor the faithfully de
