News from Good News Ministries:
- The Importance of All Saints Day
- Video Playlist: Prayers to Defeat Evil
- Plus great links to great content!
The Importance of All Saints Day
The Solemnity of All Saints is one of the most important feast days in the Catholic Church because it affirms the truth that Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell exist.
While it may seem like a blatantly obvious statement that the Church believes in eternity, All Saints Day is more than just an acknowledgment of an afterlife; it is a statement that what Scripture and Church tradition have revealed about eternity is true.
On May 13, 609, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Roman Pantheon to St. Mary and the Martyrs, converting it into a Church. This was a bold statement because the Pantheon was an ancient Roman temple that was built to honor the pagan gods, Jupiter, Venus, and Mars.
With this action, he essentially declared that the Christian faith was true, proven by the blood of the martyrs, and that the Roman gods were false. This was a seismic shift for the religious and cultural landscape, and for the first time in Church history, the communion of the saints was publicly honored.
For over two centuries, the faithful honored the dedication of the Patheon as the Church of St. Mary’s and Martyrs on May 13th, and the feast became known as All Saints Day. Then, in the year 835, Pope Gregory IV moved the feast from May 13th to November 1st and declared it a Holy Day Obligation for the faithful. The feast was moved to combat the errors of paganism, specifically the festival of the Celtic pagan god Samhain, their lord of the dead.
Pagans believed the souls of the dead would return to haunt them on the eve of their new year, which began on November 1st. To scare them away, they would wear masks and light bonfires. Pope Gregory IV, like Pope Boniface IV, made a statement by moving the feast; the Christian belief in the last things (Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell) is true, and the pagans were worshiping false gods.
Over time, October 31st, the eve of the celebration of All Saints, became known as “Holy Evening” or “Holloween.” However, today, the forces of evil are hard at work to revert the culture to celebrate and worship false pagan gods, participate in seances, and conjure spirits. But Christians must fight back and not allow evil to win.
By celebrating and telling the stories of the saints and martyrs and committing ourselves to prayer, we can demonstrate the truths of the Christian faith and the hope of heaven. As we prepare for All Saints Day this weekend, I encourage you to share your favorite saint story and pray boldly to defeat the evil of neo-paganism.
All you holy men and women, pray for us!
Good News Prayer Room:
Use our collection of Catholic prayers designed with your needs in mind. They will give you hope and a stronger connection to God’s love and support. What do you need prayers for today?
Visit gnm.org/prayers.
Post your prayer requests @ gnm.org/post-a-prayer.
Good News WordBytes:
WANT MORE FAITH and HOPE in TROUBLED TIMES? WE’RE HERE for YOU! Choose from a variety of topics on our website of Catholic Faith-building articles. What do you need today?
Visit wordbytes.org.
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Join us each week during October as we pray for the protection of Good News Ministries and a defeat of evil in the world!
God bless you!
Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.
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Thank you for reading this newsletter.
Your servant in Christ,
Bill Snyder, Executive Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org
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How to Win Victories in Spiritual Warfare
Knowing God’s Will and Doing it Well
Lessons from the Blessed Mother
Daily Prayers with the Saints