For those who understand the Catholic Faith, two specific days were celebrated earlier this week.
On November 1, 2026, it was All Saints’ Day.
On November 8, 2026, it was All Souls’ Day.
“In short: All Saints’ Day (November 1) honors all the saints already in heaven and is one of the universal holy days of obligation listed in Canon 1246 of the Code of Canon Law.”
“All Souls’ Day (November 2) is the Church’s annual commemoration of the faithful departed who are still being purified — it is not on the Canon 1246 list, so it does not carry a Mass obligation.”
All Saints’ Day vs. All Souls’ Day — The Difference
So when some think of holiness, you must understand it has no age limit.
We have the youngest canonized Roman Catholic saints: Jacinta (age 9) and Francisco (age 10) Marto, Portuguese siblings who are said to have witnessed a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary (the mother of Jesus) in Fátima,
Both were canonized on 13 May 2017, marking the 100th anniversary of the first apparition.
14 Young Roman Catholic Saints | List, Canonized, Martyrs, & Facts | Britannica
This past Saturday (November 7, 2026), I traveled almost three hours to Montgomery, AL, to celebrate and remember members of Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary at our annual Mass for the Deceased.
We held the Mass at Resurrection Catholic Church in Montgomery, AL.
Last year, in Huntsville, AL, Council and Court 286 hosted the Zone Four Mass of Remembrance for the Deceased at the Knights & Ladies Founder’s Day Celebration.
As I sat in the pews and listened to the Pastor and celebrant, Father Manuel B. Williams, Clerics Regular (C.R.), he said something interesting about how we remember those being honored who are no longer here today.
Father Williams, C.R., tied his comments to the reading we mostly hear at funerals, using Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 NIV – A Time for Everything – There is a time – Bible Gateway
He said that through song, dance, food, and our relationships, we can remember our deceased.
More importantly, he said we should remember our ancestors. “You don’t get to be an ancestor by dying.”
“You get to be an ancestor by the quality of life you have lived.”
I first met Father Manuel B. Williams, C.R., several years ago as he spoke about Sister Thea Bowman and how we were working to get her canonized.
Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman | USCCB
As one who has always wanted to visit Resurrection Catholic Church after learning about Sister Thea Bowman through Father Manuel B. Williams, C.R., years ago, I found last Saturday’s Mass as a memorable experience.
So when Father Manuel B. Williams, C.R., spoke about our ancestors, it felt like it came full circle.
Today, I challenge you to think about your ancestors and remember, “You don’t get to be an ancestor by dying.” “You get to be an ancestor by the quality of life you have lived.”~Father Manuel B. Williams, C.R.
My cousins attended Resurrection Catholic School! I have passed that church countless times, because they live in the nearby neighborhood. There’s a lot history there and at St. Jude in the south of the city. In fact, the same aunt who sent them to Resurrection is the one who met Marchers as they were coming from Selma at St. Jude! …it is good to remember the Ancestors!
Dr. Walker,
Greetings, and what a connection you have with my blog today.
In 2023, I attended Mass at the “City of St. Jude Catholic Church”, located at 2048 W Fairview Avenue, Montgomery, AL.
Everything comes full circle. Thanks for sharing the moment in history with me about the coming from Selma at St. Jude! Yes, it is good to remember the Ancestors!
McKinley
McKinley
I will remember the statement about becoming an ancestor through how we lived our life rather than from the inevitable act of passing away. We should strive to be an example of a life deserving of emulation rather than simply becoming an insignificant footnote from the past.
Sam,
Greetings as well.
I’m amazed sometimes when I hear something so profound that I take a pen and note card to write it down.
The quotes by Father Manuel B. Williams, C.R. are ones that I will try to always remember.
“You don’t get to be an ancestor by dying.” “You get to be an ancestor by the quality of life you have lived.”
McKinley