Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival-day in honour of all the Saints: at whose solemnity the angels rejoice, and give praise to the Son of God. — (Ps. 1:6) Rejoice in the Lord, ye just; praise becometh the upright. Gloria Patri. Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given us in one feast to venerate the merits of all Thy saints; we beseech Thee through the multitude of intercessors to grant us the desired abundance of Thy mercy. Through our Lord.... Lesson of the Apocalypse of Saint John (7:2-12) In those days, behold I, John, saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying: Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we (Ps. 33:10-11) Fear the Lord, all ye His saints; for there is no want to them that fear Him. ℣. But they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good. Alleluia, alleluia. (Matth. 11:28) ℣. Come to Me all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Alleluia. The Sermon on the Mount is as famous as the Ten Commandments. The eight beatitudes state the qualities necessary for membership of the Messias’s kingdom on earth and in heaven. Sequel of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew (5:1-12) (Saint Andrew Daily Missal with Vespers for Sundays and Feasts, by Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, O.S.B. of the Abbey of St. André, 1953)Feast of All Saints
Table of Contents
Reflexions on the Liturgy of the Day
On May 13, 610, the pagan temple of Agrippa, called the Pantheon since its dedication to all the pagan gods under the Emperor Augustus, was consecrated as a Christian church by Pope Boniface IV, under the title of “our Lady and the Martyrs”, many of whose relics he brought there from the catacombs. The deification later became more general as “our Lady and all the Saints". Pope Gregory VII transferred the dedication feast of this church to November 1, on which day Pope Gregory IV had in 835 fixed the commemoration of all the Saints, previously celebrated on different days in different places. All Saints Day therefore commemorates Christ’s triumph over the false gods of the pagans, and the original dedication of the church accounts for the use in the Mass, on the feast as well as on the Vigil, of many texts from the liturgy of the martyrs.
The Epistle puts before us St John’s vision of heaven, the twelve thousand (twelve is a symbolic number signifying fullness) from every tribe of Israel and the numberless host from every nation, tribe, people and tongue, standing before the throne and the Lamb, clad in white robes, with palms in their hands. Christ, our Lady and the nine choirs of angels, the apostles and prophets, the martyrs in the crimson of their blood, the white-robed confessors and the choirs of chaste virgins form the majestic throng (Vespers hymn). All are there who here below followed Christ’s teaching: the poor in spirit, the meek, the afflicted, those who hungered and thirsted after justice, the merciful, the clean of heart, peacemakers, those who suffered persecution for Christ; to all these Christ said: Rejoice, for a rich reward awaits you in heaven (Gospel, Comm.). Among these millions who served Christ faithfully on earth are some who were close to us, our relations and friends, our brethren in our parochial family; now they share in the glory of “the Lord, the King of kings, the Crown of all the Saints”. At Mass everything recalls this heavenly homeland and we enter into communion with it: in the Preface we join in praise with the Angels; in the Communicantes we join in prayer with the Saints; our altar, where the Lamb of God is offered, is one with the heavenly altar where the Lamb stands “upright, yet slain... in sacrifice”; it is the same priest, Christ, who offers himself unseen thereon and visibly in heaven.Liturgy of the Mass
Introit
Collect
Epistle
In ancient times a King’s servants and soldiers were known by his device, which he used too as a seal. Here the angels mark the elect with God’s seal to show that they belong to him. The 144,000 perhaps represent the convert Jews, the “great multitude” the convert Gentiles. Angels and men join together in worshipping God and Christ.
sign the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them that were signed: an hundred and forty-four thousand were signed, of every tribe of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Ruben twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Aser twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Nephthali twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Manasses twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand signed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Zabulon twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand signed. After this, I saw a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and they cried with a loud voice saying: Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and the ancients, and the four living creatures; and they fell down before the throne upon their faces, and adored God, saying: Amen, Benediction, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, honour, and power, and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.Gradual
Gospel
At that time, Jesus seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain; and when He was sat down, His disciples came unto Him. And opening His mouth, He taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice; for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart; for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for My sake: be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. — Credo.