Since the eighth century, the solemnity of All Saints has marked a day when we rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place, canonized or beatified, who are now in heaven. Some were famous; others lived smaller lives going about God’s business on earth relatively unnoticed.
In the Catholic Church, we are called to imitate and venerate saints because of their heroically virtuous lives, martyrdom, or their offering of life for others. But, what does veneration mean and why do we pray to the saints? Veneration of the saints fosters our faith in God and does not detract from it. Rather, our faith in God is strengthen by our relationship with our brothers and sisters in the faith who are in heaven.
The Church teaches that by imitating the virtues lived by the saints, the saints brings us closer to Christ. When we ask the saints to pray for us, we ask them to join their wills with the will of God and intercede for us here on earth. This is the Communion of Saints, which we profess every Sunday in the Creed.
[Holy Day of Obligation in 2024]
Friday, November 1, 2024
St. Meinrad Parish
St. Meinrad Catholic Church
4:15 p.m. Mass
St. Boniface Parish
Historic St. Boniface Catholic Church
6:15 p.m. Mass
Saturday, November 2, 2024
St. Meinrad Parish
St. Meinrad Catholic Church
6:15 p.m. Mass
St. Boniface Parish
Historic St. Boniface Catholic Church
12:05 p.m. Mass
All times are Central Time