“Today, All Souls Day, is the celebration of the Mother Church for all who have departed. This is the meaning of All Souls’ Day,” a Catholic Church leader said.

“Let us reflect carefully on our lives that we do not only live with honor and holiness but instead, let us strive to become like those who we are celebrating on the first day of November, that is to be like the saints. We all have the potential to be saints. We can be saints. God wants us to be His saints,” said Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos.

The faithful will say their prayers and honor the memory of their departed loved ones at home, Nov. 2, as cemeteries and columbaria around the country remain closed until Nov. 4 as a safety measure against the spread of COVID-19.

“The cemetery is a visual reminder that there is an end to our existence here on Earth. We are not in this world forever. This is not our real home. We come from the Lord God, and to Him we shall return. Our life, which comes from God, must be patterned after Him. Our life begins with God and must end with God. We will return to Him,” Santos said.

The bishop reminded the faithful to live holy and blessed lives.

“While we are still here on Earth, let us aspire to be saints. We must work not only to enter heaven but much more to be saints of God. Therefore, our life must always be in conformity, not in contradiction, to the will of God. Our life should be aligned with, not away from God’s ways. Let us see and live specifically in the light of reflecting His love and values to others. In doing so, we will be living a blessed life. We will be saints of God,” the Church leader said.

“As we stay at home this Nov. 1 and 2, let us resolve to live an honorable and holy life. We should be inspired with firm hope to be faithful to Christ’s teachings even in the middle of a pandemic. Let us work hard to be God’s living saints so we can truly say: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on a merited crown awaits me’ (2 Timothy 4,7),” he added.

Also known as the Feast of All Souls and in some countries, the Day of the Dead or Memorial Day, “The souls of the faithful which at death have not been cleansed from venial sins or have not fully atoned for mortal sins and therefore, have not attained the beatific vision in heaven, may be helped to do so by praying, alms-giving, and by the holy sacrifice of the mass offered in their memory,” Church officials said.

All Souls’ Day is an acknowledgment of human frailty. It reminds the faithful to live holy lives and of the need to pray and offer masses for the eternal repose of the souls of the departed.

All Souls’ Day was first established by St. Odilo, abbot of Cluny, France during the 11th century and began to be widely celebrated during the 13th century.