Every year, the Church celebrates two special days — All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. These days come one after the other, and although they sound alike, they have different meanings. All Saints’ Day is a time to honour all the holy men and women who have lived good and faithful lives, while All Souls’ Day is when we pray for all those who have died and are waiting to be with God in heaven. Understanding the difference helps us remember the importance of holiness, prayer, and love for everyone — both the living and the departed. BETTY AMUKPO puts forwards essays by children on this subject. Excerpts:
‘All Saints’ Day honours all saints; All Souls’ Day commemorates the faithful departed’
All Saints’ Day is a day the Catholic Church celebrate all the saints and holy people in heaven that have been good on earth and has died. The book of 1John 3:1- 3 says everyone who has hope in Christ keeps himself pure just as Christ is pure. While All Souls’ Day is a day the Roman Catholic Church commemorates the souls of the faithful departed who are believed to be in purgatory because they died with the guilt of lesser sins on their souls. In the Book of John 6:37–40, “It is the will of Him who sent me that I should not lose any of those He has given me, but that I should raise them up to life on the last day. For what my Father wants is that all who see the Son and believe in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.”
• Michelle Kenechukwu Obumse
‘Honoring the saints, praying for the dead’
Hope of Eternal Life
We honour all saints by recognising the lives and faith of both the known and unknown saints who have attained heaven. This reflects the Communion of Saints—the unity of believers in heaven and on earth (Hebrews 12:1; Revelation 5:8). Inspiration and Intercession We seek the intercession and guidance of all the saints, asking them to continually pray for the living. This we celebrate every November 1st, on All Saints’ Day. All Souls’ Day, celebrated on November 2nd, is dedicated to the memory of the dead, especially our beloved departed ones. On this day, we pray for all the faithful departed, particularly those in purgatory (2 Maccabees 12:46), asking God for mercy and purification for their souls. All Saints’ Day celebrates all who have reached heaven, while All Souls’ Day focuses on prayers for those still undergoing purification. Both celebrations emphasise the deep connection between the living and the dead, offering comfort to the living and reminding us of the enduring hope of eternal life.
• Chima Anita
‘All Saints’ Day honours those in Heaven; All Souls’ Day calls us to pray for those still awaiting God’s mercy’
All Saints’ Day, celebrated on November 1, honours all the saints who are already in Heaven, both known and unknown, for their faith and holiness. All Souls’ Day, on November 2, is a day to pray for all departed souls who are still being purified so they may enter Heaven. While All Saints’ Day celebrates those who have reached Heaven, All Souls Day reminds us to pray for our loved ones who still need God’s mercy.
• Blossom Akalezi
‘All Saints’ Day celebrates the triumphant; All Souls’ Day prays for purification’
All Saints’ Day (November 1) celebrates the Church Triumphant—those who have reached Heaven, “a great multitude… standing before the throne” (Revelation 7:9). All Souls’ Day (November 2) is dedicated to the faithful departed who await full cleansing—“The souls of the just are in the hand of God” (Wisdom 3:1)—so we pray for their eternal rest (2 Timothy 1:18). All Saints’ Day honours those already home, sharing “the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12). All Souls’ Day is a time of charitable prayer for all the faithful departed who may still need purification. We pray, “May light perpetual shine upon them” (4 Esdras 2:35), firmly rooted in the hope that “Jesus died and rose again” (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
• Ogoke Chimamanda Anthonia
