By All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Eve, takes place each year on Nov. 1.
This year, Carroll College was given special privilege by Bishop Austin Vetter to celebrate Mass on the Solemnity of All Saints.
This celebration was followed by another celebration of pizza, pie, Saints costumes and trivia.
Catholics do, in fact, know how to party.
This day, however, is particularly important to Carroll College as it is also the naming day and name of Carroll’s very own All Saints Chapel, which was named by Carroll’s previous chaplain, Father Mark Lenneman.
All Saints’ Day was started all the way back in the 4th century as a way to commemorate all saints and martyrs of the Catholic Church.
Pope Boniface IV made this commemoration official in 642 A.D., originally placing the day on May 13, before Pope Gregory III moved it to where it is today on Nov. 1.
All Saints’ Day is also one of the namesakes for Halloween. As the eve of this day was named All Hallows’ Eve, which transformed into Halloween.
“All Saints Day is important because the church is a family and those who have gone before us in holiness and have lived beautifully holy lives are examples, models, and inspirations for us to live our faith well here on earth,” said Father Tyler Frohlich, Carroll College Chaplain and 2012 graduate. “All Saints Day brings us closer to our lord through prayers and teaches that a life with Christ is possible and joyful.”
Carroll College has a rich history, which is only furthered by the beautiful chapel named for this holy day.
While it pays a bit of a homage to the mighty fighting Saints, it also holds a deeper meaning on Carroll’s Campus.
“It’s about a call to holiness, we’re all called to sainthood, and Carroll is a place where we can grow in a depth of faith that lays a foundation for being true disciples of Jesus Christ for the rest of our lives,” said Frohlich.
All Saints Day is a day of not only remembrance for those exemplars who have gone before us, but also a call to remember what they are calling us to do.
“The church is a family, and true unity comes in when Jesus Christ is the center of our hearts,” said Frohlich. “We believe along with these people who are still alive, just in heaven.”
