WHY IS ALL SAINTS DAY SO IMPORTANT?

This solemnity has ancient roots, stemming from the celebration of the anniversary of “all the martyrs” early in the 4th century. The festival became more popular when, in the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV brought wagon loads of bones into the Pantheon in Rome, rededicating that pagan temple as a Christian church. Since the 9th century, November 1st has been the date given to this feast.

On this day, as we remember the holiness of particular saints who have modeled grace for us, we seek their intercession. Our Opening Prayer at the Mass states, “Today we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place. May their prayers bring us Your forgiveness and love.” This certainly brings the historical reality of the saints into our present reality. This living experience causes us to express our joy. In our liturgical celebration at this feast, we are participating in the holiness of the saints, who are in union with us (Communion of Saints) and actively share in our worship, as together we await the day of the Lord—a very important day indeed.

What is Purgatory?

A boy throws a ball through his neighbor’s window. He feels very badly and cries to his dad, who takes him to the neighbor to apologize. The neighbor sees the sorrow on the boy’s face and forgives him. However, the window still needs to be paid for and replaced. This is an analogy for our sins: when we know sorrow for them and repent in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, they are forgiven, but there still may be effects or consequences resulting at the time of our death.

The word purgatory, derived from Latin, means cleansing or purification. In our Catholic understanding, Purgatory is a transitional state of purification between death and heaven, whereby any remaining sinfulness or effects of sin committed during our lifetime are cleansed. This purification completes our process of sanctification, allowing us then to enter into total union with God (Cathechism of the Catholic
Church, #1030). It is important to note that Purgatory is not an opportunity to reverse the course of one’s earthly life. Conversion is not possible if it did not take place in life before death. At the same time, Purgatory is not a state of punishment, only cleansing (CCC # 1031).

This doctrine of Purgatory upholds an unbroken liturgical practice in the Church, from our earliest times, and referring back to 2 Maccabees 12:46, of making intercessory prayers for the dead (CCC #1032). The Church has the practice of offering Masses for the deceased in the firm conviction that as all humans alive and dead are members of the Communion of Saints, we who remain living may “assist” those who have died by our prayers. On All Souls Day, the Church prays specifically for all the souls in Purgatory, and since this is the patronal name of our parish, we have the privilege of including their names in our parish prayers each day.

WHY DON’T WE RING THE BELLS DURING THE CONSECRATION ANY MORE?

The ringing of the bells began hundreds of years ago in European cathedrals and churches. Because there were no pews, people stood during Masses, and were often far away from the Altar, caught behind a column, listening to the choir singing from the choir loft, or even milling around in the church, so that they couldn’t tell exactly when the bread and wine became Jesus’ Body and Blood. So, the custom of ringing bells began to alert people to this action.

In today’s churches, sight lines are adequate, and because the Presider faces the Assembly, who in turn gives their attention to this action, the ringing of the bells is no longer necessary. “Depending on local custom, the minister … rings the bell at the showing of both the Eucharistic bread and the chalice” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #150). “Local custom” here refers to the decision of the pastor, so while you may attend Masses in churches where bells are rung, the decision at All Souls is that bells are not an integral component to the action of the Mass.

DURING MASS, WHY DO PEOPLE BOW IN FRONT OF THE PRESIDER?

The Sanctuary in every Catholic Church holds 3 items: the Altar, the Ambo (Pulpit) & the Presider’s Chair. Other items are present as well, but these 3 are constant. In our sanctuary, the Presider’s Chair fits in the space which used to hold the previous Altar, directly behind the present Altar. So, while it appears that people are bowing to the Presider, they are actually bowing to the Altar. Why? “At the Altar, the sacrifice of the cross is made present under sacramental signs. It is also the table of the Lord, and the people of God are called together to share in it. The Altar is, as well, the center of the thanksgiving that the Eucharist accomplishes” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #296). Because of the action which takes place upon the Altar, it has centrality of place in the Sanctuary, and deserves our reverence. Hence, during the Eucharistic liturgy, the Altar take primacy over the Tabernacle. Not that the reposition of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the tabernacle is not important and worthy of veneration; it is. But our offering and our action of this liturgy takes place on this Altar and so for the duration of the Mass, requires our reverence to it.

What is the role of silence in Masses?

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy states, “At the proper time(s) all should observe a reverent silence” (#30). Silence should not be unending, but it should be long enough so we can understand it as an action of the whole community or Assembly, allowing it to draw us together in the liturgical action. Silence is also our response to God’s call, as well as allowing us to be more open to God speaking to us. Proper times for silence are: before the Mass begins, after the First and Second Readings, after the Homily, and anytime the Presider calls us to prayer with, “Let us pray.” Also, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal calls us to observe a “sacred silence” after all have communicated (received Communion), allowing
us to reflect on God’s great gift in thanksgiving (#88).

Why do some people “cut” in line during Communion?

Gluten intolerance or Celiac Sprue disease prohibits the person from eating any food items containing gluten. Because of this, the American bishops have approved a low-gluten Host for Communion. This Host contains .01% gluten, and most people, though not all, can tolerate it. Several people receive this low-gluten Host at our Masses. However, the presiding priest is the only one who distributes it. Therefore, some people requiring this Host must move from one Communion line into the other in order to receive this Host. When this happens, these people are not “cutting” into line—they just need to be there. By the way, anyone needing this Host must come to the priest sacristy prior to Mass and request it. It will then be consecrated for the person to receive. Just remember to go to the Presider at Communion and when arriving there, tell him you need a low-gluten host.

Welcome to our new Catholic Q&A Blog

Welcome to the All Souls Catholic Church question and answer blog.  We’ll have a variety of questions and answers about our faith on this site.  You moderators for this blog are people you know – Father Bob Fisher, Sheila Miyamoto, Betty Lucero and other experts on Catholic tradition, history and doctrine.