November 2 annually is observed as All Souls Day in Roman Catholicism and it is also observed by Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Methodism and other Protestant denominations. It is a day of commemoration of all the departed faithful, those baptized Christians who are believed to be in purgatory as they died with guilt of lesser sins on their souls. It is observed on November 2 as Roman Catholic doctrine holds that the prayers of the faithful living on earth will help clean the souls in order to enable them for vision of God in heaven and the day is dedicated to prayer and remembrance. Requiem masses are held and many people visit and decorate the graves of their loved ones. We celebrate All Souls Day because in the 10th century the Catholic priest St Odilio of Cluny instituted All Souls Day to pray for the souls of the deceased family members, ordinary men and women who lived good lives and were languishing in purgatory to enter the kingdom of heaven.
