What is All Saints Day?

All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church that falls on November 1st each year. In 2026, All Saints Day falls on a Sunday, so attending your regular Sunday Mass fulfills the obligation.

All Saints Day is dedicated to honoring all of the saints in heaven, both the canonized and those whose holiness is known only to God. The day also serves as a powerful reminder of the communion of saints, in which all of the faithful, both those in heaven and those on earth, are spiritually connected.

Three Ways to Honor All Saints Day
On All Saints Day, we enjoy connecting with the saints through Mass, prayer, and reflection.

1. Attend Mass
Because All Saints Day is a holy day of obligation, we joyfully gather for Mass to thank God for the example of the saints and ask for their intercession. This year, that celebration lines up with our usual Sunday Mass, a beautiful reminder that every Sunday already points us toward the saints and toward heaven.

2. Pray the Litany of the Saints
This beautiful and ancient prayer invokes the names of saints from different periods in the Church’s history, asking for their prayers. It is especially appropriate to pray on All Saints Day to connect ourselves with the great cloud of witnesses in heaven.

“Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
St. Michael, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us…”
— Prayer Excerpt from the Litany of the Saints

3. Reflect on the Lives of the Saints
Read about the saints who inspire you and seek their guidance in your daily life. You might begin with your Confirmation saint or explore the life of Venerable Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. Though not yet canonized, Ven. Lanteri lived a life of heroic virtue, making him one of the many unrecognized saints we celebrate on this day.