Why do we celebrate All Saints Day?

Answer 1

Catholic answerEveryone who is in heaven is a saint - be definition, there is no way you can see God without being perfect. We know that there are far more people in heaven than are on the calendar (the people who we celebrate as Saints), therefore to celebrate all those who have gone to heaven but do not have their own day on the calendar we celebrate All Saints Day.

All of those who have died in the grace of Jesus Christ, loving God, and with no mortal sins on their souls are going to heaven but many did not die perfect - as saints. God, in His infinite mercy purifies this people so that they can enter heaven. They are certainly not consigned to hell just for not being perfect. They died in a state of grace, attempting to attain perfection. The process by which God purifies these souls is know as purgatory. We don't know a whole lot about it, just that there is a stage between death and heaven in which God purifies them. The Bible clearly teaches that they are helped by our prayers, thus we remember them on All Souls day and pray for them.

All Saints' day was instituted to honour all saints, including those who have not been canonized. All Souls' Day was instituted for the souls in purgatory. The Mass on that day is offered for them.

Answer 2

To honor all the saints in Heaven, especially those who do not have a special feast day of their own. Since all of us on earth who are in a state of grace in the eyes of the Lord are also considered as saints, you might say we, too, are included.

Answer 3

Roman Catholic AnswerTo pray for all the dead in purgatory, as the Bible tells us, in 2 Macc 12:46 "It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins."

Answer 4

To honor all the saints in Heaven, especially those whose names are known only to God. By extension, we also honor all those future saints who are undergoing final cleansing in Purgatory and all those members of the Communion of Saints still living who are in a state of grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Only the declared saints have an annual feast day but there are many more unnamed saints in Heaven who do not have a feast day. All Saints Day is the day we remember ALL the saints, especially those known only to God.

Answer 5

As Catholics we celebrate nearly all events with a Mass. The Mass and Eucharist are part of our core beliefs and central to any celebration.