ALL SOULS DAY

The memorial of all the faithful departed has its origins in the memorial established in 998 by Odilo, abbot of the Benedictine monastery at Cluny. The memorial first included the deceased from all the subordinated monasteries. The celebration on November 2 spread very fast in the entire western Christianity.

In the 15th century, Spanish Dominicans got into the habit of celebrating three masses (each priest) on this day. This privilege was granted to all priests in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America in the 18th century and Pope Benedict XV expanded it to the whole Church. Consequently, the missal contains three mass formularies which all focus on the hope of the deceased rooted in the resurrection of Christ.