November 1
Feast of All Saints
The Catholic Church, which, every day in the year,
places some Saints before our eyes to honor and imitate, represents them all to
us to-day; hence to-day's festival is called: The Feast of All Saints. The
origin of it was as follows: There was, at Rome, a magnificent temple, which
had been built before Christ, by Marcus Agrippa, and was called the Pantheon or
Temple of all the Gods, because they were all worshiped therein. This
idolatrous temple had not been torn down like many others, but Pope Boniface
IV, consecrated it according to Catholic usage, to the Virgin Mother and all
the Saints. To the greater edification of the people, he had many relics of
holy Martyrs placed in it with due magnificence, whence this Church received
the name of the Church of the holy Martyrs. In after years, it was ordered by
Pope Gregory IV, that, not only the festival of the holy Martyrs, but also that
of all other Saints, should be celebrated in the above mentioned Church and in
all Christendom. The reasons for instituting this festival were the following:
First, it cannot be doubted that the number of Saints who First, it cannot be doubted that the number of Saints who reign with
Christ in heaven is very large. “I saw so large a number," says St.
John," that nobody could count them." To
speak only of those who became martyrs for Christ's sake, they, according to
authentic historians, already in the first centuries of the Church, numbered 17
million. Who can count the other Saints, as well of the Clergy as the laity,
who served God faithfully and died in His grace? The number of the Saints is
very great, but most of them are unknown to us. We know the names of the holy
Apostles, of many apostolic men, many founders of religious orders, many popes,
bishops, religious, hermits, virgins, widows, married people, nobles, princes,
kings and emperors; but there is a number far exceeding these, whose very names
are unknown to us. And as it is but just that we, who are yet in the Church
Militant and are united by the bond of charity with the Saints, should honor
them duly, as they are honored as true servants and friends by the Almighty
Himself, the holy Church has appointed this day for honoring them all together,
as it is not possible to consecrate a separate day to each of them. The second
reason is contained in the prayer which the Church on this day recites in Holy
Mass: " That on account of the great number of our Intercessors, God may
bestow on us, more abundantly, the desired gifts of His liberality." No
Catholic doubts that the Saints in heaven, because they enjoy the favor of the
Almighty, can obtain for us by their intercession many graces, of which we are
not worthy, on account of our sins. For, it is known that, while they were
still living on earth, they not only averted much evil from man-kind by their
intercession, but also drew down many benefits upon them. That we may therefore
obtain more surely all that we need or that is useful for our salvation, the
holy Church has ordered that we shall to-day call upon all the Saints as our
intercessors, trusting implicitly that the Most High will not disregard the
entreaties of so many of His friends. The third reason is as follows: The
Church according to St. Bernard, represents to us so many Saints, in every
station in life, to encourage us so that we may not only venerate them, but
also imitate their virtues; and that as we call them blessed, so we too should
strive after that salvation which they have already attained. Hence, also, the
Gospel of the Eight Beatitudes is read to-day; as in it the road is pointed out
and explained, by which the Saints have reached heaven; a road which we too
must walk, if we wish to join them in heaven.
Solemnity of All Saints
Double of the First Class with an Octave - White Vestments
Missa ‘Gaudeamus omnes’
INTROITUS
Gaudeamus omnes in Dómino, diem festum celebrántes
sub honóre Sanctórum ómnium: de quorum solemnitáte gaudent Angeli, et
colláudant Fílium Dei.
Ps. 32: 1 Exsultáte,
justi, in Dómino: rectos decet collaudátio.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in
sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
Gaudeamus omnes in Dómino, diem festum celebrántes
sub honóre Sanctórum ómnium...
INTROIT
Let us all rejoice in the Lord celebrating a
festival day in honor of all the Saints: at whose solemnity the Angels rejoice,
and give praise to the Son of God.
Ps. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just; praise becometh the upright.
Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
be, world without end. Amen.
Let us all rejoice in the Lord celebrating a
festival day in honor of all the Saints...
COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given us in
one feast to venerate the merits of all Thy saints; we beseech Thee through the
multitude of intercessors to grant us the desired abundance of Thy mercy.
Through our Lord.
COLLECT – Commemoration for Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy people; that we may be
delivered by Thy goodness from the bonds of sins, which by our frailty we have
committed. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE – Apocalypse 1: 1- 5
Lesson from the book of the Apocalypse of blessed John the Apostle.
In those days, behold, I, John, saw another Angel
ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God. And he
cried with a loud voice to the four Angels, to whom it was given to hurt the
earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth nor the sea, nor the trees, till
we sign the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of
them that were signed: a hundred and forty-four thousand were signed out of
every tribe of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were twelve
thousand signed: of the tribe of Ruben twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of
Gad twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Aser twelve thousand signed: of the
tribe of Nephthali twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Manasses twelve
thousand signed: of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of
Levi twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand signed:
of the tribe of Zabulon twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Joseph twelve
thousand signed: of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand signed. After this, I
saw a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes,
and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb,
clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and they cried with a loud
voice saying: Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne, and to the
Lamb. And all the Angels stood round about the throne, and the ancients, and
the four living creatures; and they fell down before the throne upon their
faces, and adored God, saying: Amen. Benediction, and glory, and wisdom, and
thanksgiving, honour, and power, and strength to our God for ever and ever.
Amen.
GRADUAL - Psalm 33: 10-11
Fear the Lord, all ye His Saints; for there is no
want to them that fear Him. V. But they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived
of any good.
ALLELUIA - Matthew 11: 28
Alleluia, alleluia. V. Come to Me all you that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Alleluia.
GOSPEL - Matthew 5: 1-12
The continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
At that time, Jesus seeing the multitudes, went up
into a mountain; and when He was sat down, His disciples came unto Him. And
opening His mouth, He taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit; for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess
the land. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are
they that hunger and thirst after justice; for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 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’s sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they
shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you,
untruly, for My sake: be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in
heaven.
OFFERTORY - 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. Alleluia.
SECRET
We offer to Thee, O Lord, the Gifts of our
devotion; may they be pleasing to Thee in honour of all Thy saints; and of Thy
mercy let them avail for our salvation. Through our Lord.
SECRET – Commemoration for Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
We offer to Thee, O Lord, this sacrifice of praise
to increase our zeal in Thy service: that what Thou hast begun in us Thy
unworthy servants, Thou wouldst mercifully bring to completion. Through our
Lord.
COMMON PREFACE
It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto
salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto
Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, through Christ our Lord.
Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the dominations worship it, the
powers stand in awe. The heavens, and the heavenly hosts, and the blessed
Seraphim join together in celebrating their joy. With whom we pray Thee join
our voices also, while we say in lowly praise:
SANCTUS
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus qui venit
in nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis.
COMMUNION - Matthew 5: 8-10
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see
God: blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God:
blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice's sake, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Madonna in Glory with the Saints - Fra Bartolomeo
POST COMMUNION
May the outpouring of the Holy Spirit purify our
hearts, O Lord, and by the inward sprinkling of His heavenly dew may they be
made fruitful. Through our Lord... in the unity of the same.
POST COMMUNION – Commemoration for Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
We beseech Thee, almighty God, that Thou wouldst
not permit us to be subject to human dangers, to whom Thou givest to rejoice in
the participation of divine mysteries. Through our Lord.
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