All Saints' Day

 

For All the Saints

The summer has passed, and we’re headed full speed ahead toward the festival half of the liturgical year. But before we enter Advent, the end of the Church year brings us several special holy days. Reformation Day and All Saints’ Day are just two of the late fall holidays especially beloved by Lutherans, and they happen to be right next to each other: October 31st and November 1st, respectively.

  “All Saints” honors every Christian who has gone to be with Jesus, from the apostles and martyrs to the lesser-known saints who may even have been members of our own congregations and families.

In the liturgy on All Saints’ Day, it is common for the pastor to name in the prayers all who died over the course of the previous year; after each name, the bell is often tolled until the last name is commemorated followed by three bell tolls, during which people may name in their hearts all whom they love and have lost.

Naturally, this day is quite special to those who miss their loved ones. It is an occasion both for weeping and for great joy, as the Rev. David Peterson puts beautifully in this article from the Lutheran Witness: “Thus we rejoice that, while we weep, every tear has been removed from their eyes. And we weep in joy as well that soon the tears will also be removed from our eyes.”

And so in our Lutheran Churches, All Saints’ Day is a day on which we remember all of the faithful who have gone before us and give thanks to God that by his mercy he receives sinners and gives us the same hope that he gave to them: the hope of the coming resurrection.