Recent years have witnessed the rise of All Saints’ Day celebrations in schools across the Diocese of Lansing, where students are encouraged to dress as their favorite saints.
That includes this prayerful parade of young blesseds at Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish and School in Ann Arbor, which took place on Friday of last week. The Diocese of Lansing’s Senior Multimedia Producer, Matt Riedl, went along to capture the saintly sights and sounds of the occasion.
All Saints’ Day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. It precedes All Souls’ Day on November 2, which specifically commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached Heaven.
The Catholic Church celebrates All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in the fundamental belief that there is a prayerful spiritual communion between those in a state of grace who have died and are now in Heaven, the Church Triumphant; those in a state of grace who have died but are being purified in Purgatory, the Church Penitent; and those of us still working out our salvation here on earth, the Church Militant. Enjoy the film!