TODAY'S SAINT (All Saints)

ALL SAINTS

This feast dates back to the 7th century, and the occasion of its introduction was the conversion of the anceient Pantheon at Rome into a Christian church. This famous temple, which possibly existed in the time of the Republic, is generally considered to have been built by Marcus Agrippa in his third consulate in the year 27 B.C., but it is not improbable that he merely restored and added to it. Historians do not agree as to the origin of its name, but Pliny tells us that Agrippa dedicated it to Jupiter the Avenger. It was afterward repaired by Septimus Severus and his son Caracalla.

In the beginning of the 7th century, the Emperor Phocas gave it to Pope Boniface IV, who converted it into a church and dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin and all the Saints, about the year 608. The feast of this dedication was kept on May 13, and before that event the feast of all the Apostles had been celebrated on the first of the same month.

About the year 731, Pope Gregory III consecrateded a chapel in St. Peter's Church in honor of all the saints, and since then the feast of All Saints has been celebrated in Rome. Gregory IV, while in France in 837, greatly encouraged the celebration of this feast in that country. The Greeks celebrate the feast of All Saints on the Sunday after Pentecost.

PRAYER

God, you allow us to honor all Your Saints in one common

festival. Through the prayers of so many intercesors grant

us an abundance of Your merciful favors which we so gre-

atly desire. Amen.

Feast: November 1