Western Christianity , 1888
History In
Western Christianity, there is ample evidence of the custom of praying for the dead in the inscriptions of the
catacombs, with their constant prayers for the peace of the souls of the departed and in the early liturgies, which commonly contain commemorations of the dead. Tertullian, Cyprian and other early Western Fathers witness to the regular practice of praying for the dead among the early Christians. In the sixth century, it was customary in Benedictine monasteries to hold a commemoration of the deceased members at Whitsuntide. In the time of
St. Isidore of Seville (d. 636) who lived in what is today Spain, the Monday after Pentecost was designated to remember the deceased. At the beginning of the ninth century, Abbot
Eigil of Fulda set 17 December as commemoration of all deceased in part of what is today Germany. According to
Widukind of Corvey (c. 975), there also existed a ceremony praying for the dead on 1 October in Saxony. But it was the day after
All Saints' Day that Saint
Odilo of Cluny chose when in the 11th century he instituted for all the monasteries dependent on the
Abbey of Cluny an annual commemoration of all the faithful departed, to be observed with alms, prayers, and sacrifices for the relief of the suffering souls in purgatory. Odilo decreed that those requesting a Mass be offered for the departed should make an offering for the poor, thus linking almsgiving with fasting and prayer for the dead. The 2 November date and customs spread from the Cluniac monasteries to other Benedictine monasteries and thence to the Western Church in general. The
Diocese of Liège was the first diocese to adopt the practice under
Bishop Notger (d. 1008). 2 November was adopted in Italy and Rome in the thirteenth century. In the 15th century the
Dominicans instituted a custom of each priest offering three Masses on the Feast of All Souls. During World War I, given the great number of war dead and the many destroyed churches where Mass could no longer be said,
Pope Benedict XV, granted all priests the privilege of offering three Masses on All Souls' Day.
Roman Catholicism If 2 November falls on a Sunday, All Souls' Day is observed on that day. In the
Liturgy of the Hours of All Souls' Day, the sequence
Dies irae can be used
ad libitum. Every priest is allowed to celebrate three holy Masses on All Souls' Day. In
Divine Worship: The Missal, used by members of the Anglican Ordinariates, the minor propers (Introit, Gradual, Tract, Sequence, Offertory, and Communion) are those used for Renaissance and Classical musical
requiem settings, including the
Dies Irae. This permits the performance of traditional requiem settings in the context of the Divine Worship Form of the Roman Rite on All Souls' Day as well as at funerals, votive celebrations of all faithful departed, and anniversaries of deaths. In the ordinary form of the Roman Rite, as well as in the
Personal Ordinariates established by
Benedict XVI for former Anglicans, it remains on 2 November if this date falls on a Sunday; in the 1962–1969 form of the
Roman Rite, use of which is still authorized, it is transferred to Monday, 3 November. According to the sacred tradition of the Catholic Church, from 1 to 8 November it is possible to gain a
plenary indulgence for the benefit of the souls of the departed who are in
Purgatory. According to the
Enchiridion of Indulgences, a plenary indulgence applicable only to the souls in purgatory (commonly called "the poor souls") is granted to the faithful who devoutly visit a cemetery (graveyard) and
pray for the dead. The plenary indulgence can be gained between the second and ninth days of Allhallowtide (November 1–8); a partial indulgence is granted on other days of the year. During
Luther's lifetime, All Souls' Day was widely observed in
Saxony; ecclesiastically in the
Lutheran Church, the day was merged with and is often seen as an extension of All Saints' Day, with many Lutherans still visiting and decorating graves on all the days of Allhallowtide, including All Souls' Day. In the Lutheran Churches, "the whole people of God in Christ Jesus" are seen as saints and All Souls' Day commemorates those believers who have died as the 'faithful departed'.
Reformed churches Certain
Reformed (
Continental Reformed,
Presbyterian, and
Congregationalist) churches observe All Souls' Day.
Methodist churches In the
Methodist Church,
saints refer to all
Christians and therefore, on
All Saints' Day, the
Church Universal, as well as the deceased members of a
local congregation are honoured and remembered. In Methodist congregations that celebrate the liturgy on All Souls' Day, the observance, as with Anglicanism and Lutheranism, is viewed as an extension of All Saints' Day and as such, Methodists "remember our loved ones who had died" in their observance of this feast. These days are devoted to prayer for departed relatives and others among the faithful who would not be commemorated specifically as saints. The
Divine Services on these days have special hymns added to them to commemorate the departed. There is often a
Panikhida (Memorial Service) either after the
Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning or after
Vespers on Friday evening, for which
Koliva (a dish made of boiled wheatberries or rice and honey) is prepared and placed on the Panikhida table. After the Service, the priest blesses the Koliva. It is then eaten as a memorial by all present.
Radonitsa Another Memorial Day in the East, Radonitsa, does not fall on a Saturday, but on either Monday or Tuesday of the second week after Pascha (Easter). Radonitsa does not have special hymns for the dead at the Divine Services. Instead a Panikhida will follow the Divine Liturgy, and then all will bring paschal foods to the cemeteries to greet the departed with the joy of the Resurrection.
East Syriac tradition East Syriac churches including the
Syro Malabar Church and
Chaldean Catholic Church commemorates the feast of departed faithful on the last Friday of
Epiphany season (which means Friday just before start of
Great Lent). The season of Epiphany remembers the revelation of Christ to the world. Each Friday of Epiphany season, the church remembers important evangelistic figures. In the
Syro Malabar Church, the Friday before the parish festival is also celebrated as feast of departed faithful when the parish remembers the activities of forebears who worked for the parish and faithful. They also request the intercession of all departed souls for the faithful celebration of parish festival. In East Syriac liturgy, the church remembers departed souls including saints on every Friday throughout the year since the Christ was crucified and died on Friday. == Popular customs ==