Long Island Christians mark All Saints Day

Long Island Christians on Monday marked All Saints Day, when the faithful remember those who have died they believe live on in heaven.

On All Saints Day, historical figures canonized as saints are celebrated. But so is anyone else believed to be in heaven, said Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York.

Bishop John Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre has noted that Pope Francis has spoken of "the saints next door" — ordinary people who are nonetheless considered saints because they are in heaven.

"It may never be proclaimed from the altars of St. Peter’s Basilica, but nonetheless there are so many uncanonized saints," Barres told the Catholic Faith Network.

Typically, Roman Catholics are required to attend Mass on All Saints Day. However, this year the requirement was lifted because it fell on a Monday, the day after traditional Sunday Mass, said Sean Dolan, a spokesman for the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

The diocese suspended the obligation to attend Mass in-person in general after the pandemic broke out in March 2020, but lifted that suspension this past August, Dolan said.

All Saints Day is preceded by All Hallows Eve, which has become known as Halloween.

All Saints Day will be followed by All Souls Day on Tuesday. This day has different meanings for various denominations of Christianity.

For the Roman Catholic Church, it is a day to pray for those deceased people who are in purgatory and have not yet made it to heaven, Zwilling said. The faithful pray that these souls make it to heaven.

During the Protestant Reformation, the doctrine of purgatory was disavowed, creating confusion and disagreement about how, or whether, All Souls Day should be observed, said the Rev. Marie A. Tatro, vicar for community justice ministry for the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island.

Now on All Souls Day, Episcopalians remember the faithful who have died, she said.

"In my home parish, we would place in a basket at the altar a piece of paper with the names of deceased loved ones," Tatro told Newsday. "We would then collectively focus our private and communal prayers toward this community of departed souls. Despite its name, some regard All Souls’ Day as a service more for the living. Indeed, it brings comfort and provides community in times of grief."

With Jim Merritt