The Solemnity of All Saints
Today, Tuesday 1 November 2022, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. It is interesting that the Church deems this feast as solemnity. This means that this feast possesses the highest rank among Church’s celebrations.
All Saints is one of the 24 days which are solemnities and, thus, mark the annual liturgical calendar. All Saints solemnity is always celebrated on the same calendar date. It is known as “fixed” on the liturgical calendar. All Saints’ celebration starts with evening prayers on the day before. Since this year All Saints solemnity falls on a weekday, the daily Mass looks much like a Sunday liturgy, including three readings, the Gloria and the Creed. All the prayers of the Mass show on the event that is being celebrated. These added liturgical features aid to embellish the special attention given to these people.
The Catechism of the Catholic church has much to teach us on the saints. Who are the saints? In entry 956 we find:
The intercession of the saints. “Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness…. They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus…. So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped.” [LG 49; cf. 1 Tim 2:5.] “Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life.” [St. Dominic, dying, to his brothers.] “I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.” [St. Therese of Lisieux, The Final Conversations, tr. John Clarke (Washington: ICS, 1977), 102.]”
What do the saints do in Heaven? In entry 2683 the Catechism tells us:
“The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, [Cf. Heb 12:1 .] especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were ‘put in charge of many things.’ [Cf. Mt 25:21.] Their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.”
Relying on the word of the Cathecism we too now are going to ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world. Here is the Church’s most powerful litany of the saints.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.
St. Michael, pray for us.
St. Gabriel, pray for us.
St. Raphael, pray for us.
All you Holy Angels and Archangels pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
All you Holy Patriarchs and Prophets, pray for us.
St. Peter, pray for us.
St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Andrew, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. John, pray for us.
St. Thomas, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. Philip, pray for us.
St. Bartholomew, pray for us.
St. Matthew, pray for us.
St. Simon, pray for us.
St. Jude, pray for us.
St. Matthias, pray for us.
St. Barnabas, pray for us.
St. Luke, pray for us.
St. Mark, pray for us.
All you Holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for us.
All you Holy Disciples of the Lord, pray for us.
All you Holy Innocents, pray for us.
St. Stephen, pray for us.
St. Lawrence, pray for us.
St. Vincent, pray for us.
St. Fabian and Sebastian, pray for us.
St. John and Paul, pray for us.
St. Cosmas and Damian, pray for us.
All you Holy Martyrs, pray for us.
St. Sylvester, pray for us.
St. Gregory, pray for us.
St. Ambrose, pray for us.
St. Augustine, pray for us.
St. Jerome, pray for us.
St. Martin, pray for us.
St. Nicholas, pray for us.
All you Holy Bishops and Confessors, pray for us.
All you Holy Doctors, pray for us.
St. Anthony, pray for us.
St. Benedict, pray for us.
St. Bernard, pray for us.
St. Dominic, pray for us.
St. Francis, pray for us.
All you Holy Priests and Levites, pray for us.
All you Holy Monks and Hermits, pray for us.
St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.
St. Agatha, pray for us.
St. Lucy, pray for us.
St. Agnes, pray for us.
St. Cecilia, pray for us.
St. Anastasia, pray for us.
St. Catherine, pray for us.
St. Clare, pray for us.
All you Holy Virgins and Widows, pray for us.
All you Holy Saints of God, pray for us.
Lord, be merciful, Lord, save your people.
From all evil, Lord, save your people.
From all sin, Lord, save your people.
From your wrath, Lord, save your people.
From a sudden and unprovided death, Lord, save your people.
From the snares of the devil, Lord, save your people.
From anger, hatred and all ill-will, Lord, save your people.
From the spirit of uncleanness, Lord, save your people.
From lightning and tempest, Lord, save your people.
From the scourge of earthquake, Lord, save your people.
From plague, famine and war, Lord, save your people.
From everlasting death, Lord, save your people.
By the mystery of your Holy Incarnation, Lord, save your people.
By Your Coming, Lord, save your people.
By Your Birth, Lord, save your people.
By Your Baptism and Holy Fasting, Lord, save your people.
By Your Cross and Passion, Lord, save your people.
By Your Death and Burial, Lord, save your people.
By Your Holy Resurrection, Lord, save your people.
By Your wonderful Ascension, Lord, save your people.
By the coming of the Holy Spirit, Lord, save your people.
On the Day of Judgment, Lord, save your people.
Be merciful to us sinners, Lord, hear our prayer.
That you will spare us, Lord, hear our prayer.
That you will pardon us, Lord, hear our prayer.
That it may please you to bring us to true penance, Lord, hear our prayer.
Guide and protect your holy Church, Lord, hear our prayer.
Preserve in holy religion the Pope, and all those in holy Orders, Lord, hear our prayer.
Humble the enemies of holy Church, Lord,hear our prayer.
Give peace and unity to the whole Christian people, Lord, hear our prayer.
Bring back to the unity of the Church all those who are straying,
and bring all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel,Lord, hear our prayer.
Strengthen and preserve us in your holy service,Lord, hear our prayer.
Raise our minds to desire the things of heaven,Lord, hear our prayer.
Reward all our benefactors with eternal blessings,Lord, hear our prayer.
Deliver our souls from eternal damnation,
and the souls of our brethren,
relatives, and benefactors, Lord, hear our prayer.
Give and preserve the fruits of the earth, Lord, hear our prayer.
Grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, Lord, hear our prayer.
That it may please You to hear and heed us, Jesus,
Son of the Living God,Lord, hear our prayer.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us,Christ, graciously hear us
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lord, have mercy on us Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us Lord, have mercy on us
Let us pray to them daily in all our needs! Their intercession is simply POWERFUL, EFFECTIVE, AFFECTIVE AND HOLY!
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
