The Communion of Saints: Three Holy Days of Hope
By Allison Mosier10/25/2025
All Hallows’ Eve, night of watchfulness
October 31 arrives with cool air and porch lights, yet at its heart this night holds something far deeper than costumes and candy. From the earliest Christian generations, believers gathered to pray for God’s protection and to confront the reality that evil exists but never wins. All Hallows’ Eve invites us to prepare for the holy days that follow with reflection and trust in God.
Families throughout the Diocese of Erie might pray before a candle or visit their parish for quiet evening prayer. A visit to St. Peter Cathedral in Erie or St. Leo Magnus in Ridgway can become a small pilgrimage of the Jubilee Year of Hope. There we may offer prayers for our Holy Father and for every person who seeks God in uncertain times. Children can still enjoy trick or treating while knowing that light in every doorway reminds us that Christ conquers every form of darkness.
The Solemnity of All Saints, a celebration of glory
November 1 lifts our eyes to heaven. On this solemn feast we honor the countless men and women already living in the joy of God’s presence. Some are well known by name, yet many others lived humble, faithful lives and now rest securely in Christ.
This day reminds us of the bond we share with the church in heaven and on earth. We are a single people with one destiny in Christ. Attending Mass is both a joyful obligation and a moment to seek the help of the saints, asking them to guide us and pray for us. As pilgrims in this Jubilee Year of Hope we can pause in a quiet chapel, thank God for the gift of holy lives, and remember that we are called to follow that same path to eternal life.
The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, a work of mercy rooted in love
November 2 brings a gentle and prayerful spirit with The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, also known as All Souls' Day. On this day the church prays for those who have died and now await the fullness of heaven. Love moves us to intercede for them, trusting that God hears every prayer offered on their behalf.
Many Catholic families visit cemeteries, placing flowers or lighting a candle near the names of loved ones. Parishes often keep a Book of Remembrance where the faithful write the names of those who have died. Throughout the first week of November we are encouraged to pray and receive the sacraments for their benefit. This month reminds us that relationships do not end with death. We carry one another in faith until we are all united again in the joy of God’s kingdom.
A shared story of hope
These three holy days form a single message. God’s love reaches into every corner of our lives, from earthly joys to the hour of death and beyond. May All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints Day and All Souls' Day strengthen our hope, inspire prayer and keep us united as one family in Christ, here in the Diocese of Erie and in the communion of heaven.
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