St. Peter's 

Anglican Church

All Saints' Day

PRAYERS (contemporary language)

O Almighty God, who have knit together your elect in one Communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those indescribable joys which you have prepared for those who truly love you: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.

Almighty God, who by your Holy Spirit have made us one with Your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Almighty and everlasting God, we give you most high praise and Hearty thanks for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all your saints, who have been the chosen vessels of your grace, and the lights of the world in their times: for Abraham, the father of believers, and Sarah his wife; for Moses the lawgiver, and Aaron the priest; for Miriam and Joshua, Deborah and Gideon, and Samuel with Hannah his mother, and for all the holy patriarchs; for Isaiah and all the prophets; for the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God; for Peter and Paul and all the apostles; for Mary and Martha, and Mary Magdalene; for Stephen, the first martyr, and for all the martyrs; and for all your other righteous servants, known to us and unknown; and we beseech you that, rejoicing in their fellowship, encouraged by their examples, and aided by their prayers, we also may run with steadfastness the race that is set before us, and finish our course in faith; and that at the day of the general resurrection, we, with all those who are of the mystical body of your Son, may be set on his right hand, and hear his most joyful voice: "Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Grant this, O Father, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate.

"Remembering saints [the departed faithful] and martyrs and dedicating a specific day to them each year [originally on May 13] has been a Christian tradition since the 4th century AD.” [1] However, it was in 615 AD that Pope Boniface IV formally established the date as the Feast of All Martyrs “commemorating the dedication of the Pantheon, an ancient Roman temple, into a Christian church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the martyrs.” [2] Pantheon means “temple of all the gods.” The transformation of the Pantheon into a Christian church, therefore, was a huge triumph of Christianity over paganism.

“By 741, the feast included not only martyrs, but all the saints in heaven… In 844, Pope Gregory IV transferred the feast to November 1st, timing it around the harvests to be able to provide food for the pilgrims,” and the name of the feast day was changed to the Feast of All Saints (All Saints Day). [3]

"All Saints Day was focused on exemplary Christians. This doesn’t mean they were 'perfect' Christians. It means that some aspect of God’s grace shined brightly in their lives, and was seen and acclaimed by many others." [4] 

"We commemorate the Patriarchs, the Prophets, and Mary, Joseph, the Apostles and so many other biblical saints. We also commemorate the saints of the Christian Church including martyrs like Perpetua, teachers like Augustine, and mystics like St. Teresa of Avila." [5]

"Later, All Souls Day was added on November 2nd, as a way to acknowledge all believers." [6]

"This focus on the past helps us gain wisdom for the present. By focusing on these saints, we can learn from them. And since there is only one Body of Christ in heaven and on earth, we also celebrate our communion with them. Of course, this is mystical communion, which means that its out of our control. But we know it is real. We are in fellowship with those who have gone before us, since we are all in Christ. This helps us satisfy our human longing for communion with those who have gone before." [7]

Citations:

[1] The BBC. (2011, October 20). Religions - Christianity: All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/allsaints_1.shtml

[2] Catholic Culture. (n.d.). Liturgical Year : October : History of All Hallows' Eve. Retrieved October 26, 2020, from https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_2.cfm

[3] Ibid. 2

[4] Goebel, G. (2019, January 08). All Saints Day: What Is It? Why Is It Important? - Anglican Pastor. Retrieved October 27, 2020, from https://anglicancompass.com/what-is-all-saints-day/

[5] Ibid. 4

[6] Ibid. 4

[7] Ibid. 4