Why is All Hallows Eve important?

Answer 1

Catholic Answer

All Souls Day with the Benedictines at the Abbey of Cluny, Abbot Odo in 998 established November 2 to pray for all the faithful departed in all the monasteries of Cluny (most of the Benedictine monasteries in Europe at that time). It soon spread throughout hte Church and Pope Benedict XV granted all priests the privilege of offering three Masses on this day, one for the intention of all poor souls.

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from Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices by Ann Ball, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. C 2003

The annual commemoration of all the faithful departed, November 2.

The dead were prayed for from the earliest days of the Church. By the sixth century, Benedictine monasteries customarily held commemorations for departed members at Pentecost. A common commemoration of all the faithful departed on the day after All Saints' Day was begun in the Abbey of Cluny by St. Odilio in 998. Five years later, it was recommended and approved by Pope Sylvester II, and from the eleventh to the fourteenth centuries the feast gradually spread throughout Europe.

In the Western Church, All Souls Day was set for November 2 so that the memories of all the souls, both of the saints in heaven and the souls of those in purgatory, could be celebrated on two successive days. In this way, the Christian belief in the communion of saints could be more clearly expressed. In Eastern Rites, commemorations for the souls in purgatory are celebrated during the Easter season.

Throughout the world, numerous customs and pious traditions were associated with the celebrations in honor of the dead. Almost all ethnic traditions include special prayers, decorations, foods, lights, and the visiting and maintenance of graves. Some groups distribute food to the poor on this day, and others visit graves of the "forgotten," plots that would otherwise remain neglected and unadorned.

Answer 2

Catholic Answer

It is important because one of the principal spiritual works of mercy is praying for the living and the dead. We are responsible for our brothers and sisters who are suffering in purgatory, and we are duty bound, out of Christian Charity, to do all that we can to help them. All Souls Day was specifically instituted to pray for all of those souls who were not otherwise remembered at our altars or in our private devotions.

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All Souls Day with the Benedictines at the Abbey of Cluny, Abbot Odo in 998 established November 2 to pray for all the faithful departed in all the monasteries of Cluny (most of the Benedictine monasteries in Europe at that time). It soon spread throughout hte Church and Pope Benedict XV granted all priests the privilege of offering three Masses on this day, one for the intention of all poor souls.

.

from Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices by Ann Ball, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. C 2003

The annual commemoration of all the faithful departed, November 2.

The dead were prayed for from the earliest days of the Church. By the sixth century, Benedictine monasteries customarily held commemorations for departed members at Pentecost. A common commemoration of all the faithful departed on the day after All Saints' Day was begun in the Abbey of Cluny by St. Odilio in 998. Five years later, it was recommended and approved by Pope Sylvester II, and from the eleventh to the fourteenth centuries the feast gradually spread throughout Europe.

.

In the Western Church, All Souls Day was set for November 2 so that the memories of all the souls, both of the saints in heaven and the souls of those in purgatory, could be celebrated on two successive days. In this way, the Christian belief in the communion of saints could be more clearly expressed. In Eastern Rites, commemorations for the souls in purgatory are celebrated during the Easter season.

.

Throughout the world, numerous customs and pious traditions were associated with the celebrations in honor of the dead. Almost all ethnic traditions include special prayers, decorations, foods, lights, and the visiting and maintenance of graves. Some groups distribute food to the poor on this day, and others visit graves of the "forgotten," plots that would otherwise remain neglected and unadorned.

Answer 3

Roman Catholic AnswerIt was begun by Abbot Odo of Cluny in his monasteries in 998 A.D., and was gradually adopted by the whole Church. Pope Benedict XV granted all priest the privilege of offering three Masses on this day: one for all the poor souls, another for the Pope's intentions, and a third for the intentions of the priest. When it falls on Sunday, it is observed on November 3. from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Answer 4

All Hallows Eve was important because the people believed that if the lit fires and rung church bells the ghost would not haunt them or anyone in that part of land.