Requiem for All Souls

One of my favorite times of the year is fall. Not only is it the season for changing leaves, cooler weather, fire pits, and s’mores, but it also brings one of my favorite church liturgies. As November begins, we celebrate Allhallowtide, the triduum of services surrounding All Saints’ Day. Many cultures and religions intuitively mark this time of year to remember those who have gone before us—and Christianity is no exception.

As early as the fourth century, All Saints’ Day (or All Hallows) was a time to celebrate the faithful who, through their lives, witness, and sometimes martyrdom, gave us an example of godly living. Over time, the day became especially devoted to those whom the Church had declared official Saints (with a capital “S”).

The celebration eventually expanded to begin the evening before with a vigil, called All Hallows’ Eve. In modern times, influenced by other traditions, a spirit of playfulness and mockery of the macabre emerged—giving rise to our present-day Halloween. Later, around the eighth century, the Church added a third observance, All Souls’ Day, a time set apart to remember those local saints—our loved ones whom we see no longer—who helped nurture our faith and sense of God’s presence.

This year, St. Luke’s will join in this ancient tradition as we celebrate All Saints’ Day on Sunday, November 2, and later that same day at 4:00 p.m., hold a Requiem for All Souls.

When you look at these three observances together, the progression almost feels like an ancient form of grief. Halloween mocks and even denies death. All Saints’ Day remembers the great names of faith who have died, yet still keeps death at arm’s length. And then, finally, All Souls’ Day invites us to remember those we personally loved and lost—to feel the weight of grief, and perhaps, to move toward acceptance. In the end, these days remind us of our own mortality, and that we ourselves are the future saints and souls for generations yet to come.

Please join us on November 2 for these services as we, with both joy and reverence, celebrate and remember all who have gone before us.

The Rev. Jesse Perkins, Rector

St. Luke’s Episcopal, Jackson, TN

Submit a name to be read at the Requiem for All Souls