All Souls' Day

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Scope note
In the Christian church, a day for commemoration of all the faithful departed, meaning those baptized Christians who are believed to be in purgatory because they have died with the guilt of only lesser sins on their souls. It is celebrated on November 2. In the early days of Christianity the names of the departed brethren were entered in the diptychs. Later, in the sixth century, it was customary in Benedictine monasteries to hold a commemoration of the deceased members at Whitsuntide. The intention was honored in various ways over the centuries; in 1888 Pope Leo XIII ordered a special Requiem in the Roman Catholic Church; it is celebrated on different days in different Christian sects. Anglicans, Lutherans, and others view All Souls' Day as an extension of the observance of All Saints' Day. In many cultures, the remembrance takes on traditions of pre-Christian ancestor worship.
All Souls' Day
Accepted term: 18-Nov-2024