All Saints Day

All Saints is first mentioned in Christian history in 373 AD by St Ephraim of Cyrus - to give you an idea of how long ago that was - St Ephraim of Cyrus was a delegate at the Council of Nicaea - the council that produced the Nicene Crede.

Back then it was celebrated in May - shortly after Pentecost. But in the 8th century a chapel in the Basilica of St Peter was dedicated to ‘All the Saints’ - the dedication of this chapel took place on 1 November and since then All Saints has been celebrated on 1 December.

In Ancient tradition the celebration of Holy Days began with a vigil the evening before.

The vigil was an opportunity to prepare for the worship on Sunday.

Spiritual Preparation.

All Saints & All Souls

So - ‘All Saints’ and ‘All Souls’ celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November are Christian Celebrations in which we remember ‘The Saints’.

What is a Saint?

This is a good protestant question - Protestants simplified a lot of the faith - that seemed to be a little over encumbered with references to the departed.

They grew quite suspicious of the term ‘saint’. Thinking that it referred to a person who may be thought of as a ‘mini God’.

But that is not the case in Catholicism - nor is the meaning of the word Saint.

A Saint - is Sanctified

The Greek Word is

ἁγίων = Holy

It simply means “Holy”

In Romans 6:22 Paul refers to our being ‘Made Holy’ - Sanctified.

Romans 6:22 NRSV

22 But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life.

Because - Jesus Christ was crucified and rose again we know that death is defeated.

Romans 6:4 NRSV

4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Paul reminds us to turn away from sin and death:

Romans 6:23 NRSV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And embrace Sanctification:

Romans 6:22 NRSV

22 But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life.

Saints

In the New Testament - Saints - becomes shorthand for members of the Christian community.

Reflecting 1 - that they have received holiness - through what God has done through Jesus for them.

And 2 - That they are being made holy as they are becoming more and more like Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 NRSV

23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why the scary kids on the night before All Saints Day?

Cartoons use images of angels and demons on the shoulders of their characters to let us know what they’re thinking - and how they are tempted...

But in the days before TV actors would dress up. And this would be part of the Halloween festivities...

People dressed as demons coming to ask you how your soul was.

So this evening I will sit on my roof dangling a spider on any children that come past.

I will hand out sweets.

And if people ask you why your Methodist Minister enjoys Halloween - show them this.

The evening before All Saints Day that reminds us not to fear the monsters because - as Paul says:

Romans 6:22 NRSV

22 But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life.

Happy Halloween

Hallo (Saints)

Ween (Evening)

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