All Souls' Day | Description, History, & Traditions | Britannica

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Origin and history

Pumpkin jack-o'-lantern carved for Halloween, lit from inside with candles.
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From antiquity certain days were devoted to intercession for particular groups of the dead. The institution of a day for a general intercession on November 2 is due to Odilo, abbot of Cluny (died 1048). The date, which became practically universal before the end of the 13th century, was chosen to follow All Saints’ Day. Having celebrated the feast of all the members of the church who are believed to be in heaven, the church on earth turns, on the next day, to commemorate those souls believed to be suffering in purgatory.

The 1915, prompted by the enormous loss of life caused by World War I, Pope Benedict XV promulgated a papal bull,Incruentum altaris sacrificium, to permit priests to celebrate three masses on All Souls’ Day (normally a priest is limited to one mass per day). Of the three All Souls’ masses, one is to be offered for a particular intention, another for all the faithful departed, and a third in accordance with the intentions of the Holy Father. The concession remains in effect within the Roman Catholic Church.

Also called: Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (Show more) Related Topics: purgatory Halloween soul All Saints’ Day Allhallowtide (Show more) See all related content Holy week. Easter. Valladolid. Procession of Nazarenos carry a cross during the Semana Santa (Holy week before Easter) in Valladolid, Spain. Good Friday Britannica Quiz Christianity Quiz

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