Why Non-Catholics (Most Protestants & Other Sects) Don’t Observe All Saints’ Day & All Souls’ Day — Theology, History, and Evidence

Why do most Protestants and non-Catholic Christians not observe All Saints’ Day (Nov 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov 2)? This in-depth, source-backed article explains the biblical, historical, and theological reasons — with timelines, comparison tables, quotations from Reformers and Church Fathers, and references to the Catechism and primary sources.

 

Quick summary (so you know what you’ll learn)

Most non-Catholic Christians (especially Reformed and many Evangelicals) do not mark All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day—or do so very differently—because of three linked reasons:

1. Different theology of saints, intercession, and the dead (e.g., sola scriptura emphasis, rejection of invoking saints, and rejection of Purgatory). Vatican+1

2. Historical and liturgical development: All Saints and All Souls evolved as church-wide observances over many centuries (4th–11th c. onward); Protestants during the Reformation rejected certain late-medieval practices they saw as unscriptural. Encyclopedia Britannica+1

3. Different readings of biblical and patristic evidence (same texts read differently — e.g., Revelation’s “prayers of the saints,” Hebrews’ “cloud of witnesses,” and 2 Maccabees). Catholic Answers+2Catholic Apostolate Center+2

Below: expanded explanation, evidence, a compact comparison table, a chronological timeline, and short quote boxes with primary sources.

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1. Short theological primer — why practice matters

• All Saints’ Day (Nov 1, West): A feast that honors all saints (known and unknown). It grew from local commemorations of martyrs and became fixed on November 1 in the West (medieval consolidation). Wikipedia+1

• All Souls’ Day (Nov 2): A day specifically for praying for the faithful departed (the “holy souls”), formally associated with St. Odilo of Cluny in 998 and developed with the theology of prayers for the dead and Purgatory. Wikipedia+1

Why many Protestants don’t observe these feasts (short list):

• They reject invocation of the dead/saints (asks the dead to intercede) as unscriptural or as obscuring Christ’s unique mediatorship. Key Reformers (Luther, Calvin) criticized the invocation of saints. Lutheran Reformation+1

• They reject Purgatory (central to All Souls’ Day’s medieval development); without Purgatory the theology behind intercessory Masses for the dead is rejected. The Catholic doctrine of purgatory is clearly articulated in the Catechism (CCC 1030–1032). Vatican

• They prefer sola scriptura (practices must have explicit scriptural warrant). Reformers argued that feasts or rites without clear biblical foundation should not be mandated. Christian Classics Ethereal Library

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2. Biblical & patristic evidence (what both sides cite — and how they read it)

Key biblical texts commonly discussed

• Revelation 5:8; 8:3–4 — “incense which are the prayers of the saints.” Catholics often see this as evidence that those in heaven participate in prayer/intercession; Protestants typically read it symbolically or as praising God, not authorizing invocation. Catholic Answers+1

• Hebrews 12:1 — “a great cloud of witnesses.” Catholics read this as compatible with the communion of saints (support, intercession); many Protestants read it primarily as inspirational example rather than active intercession. Catholic Apostolate Center+1

• 2 Maccabees 12:42–46 — Jewish precedent for prayer for the dead; used historically by the Catholic tradition to justify commending the dead to God. Many Protestant traditions do not accept 2 Maccabees as canonical (it’s in the Catholic & Orthodox canons), so it carries less weight for them. Wikipedia

Early Church / Fathers

• Evidence for praying for the dead appears early: inscriptions in catacombs, Tertullian’s references (early 3rd c.), Cyprian, Augustine’s prayers for his mother, and liturgical practices (diptychs) show the practice was widespread in late antiquity. Catholics point to this as continuity with later feasts. Protestants argue that continuity ≠ doctrinal warrant and emphasize Scripture as primary. Wikipedia+1

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3. Historical development — short timeline (visual)

• 2nd–4th centuries — Local commemorations for martyrs; cemetery inscriptions and some Fathers show prayers for the dead and remembrance. Wikipedia

• c. 609/610 — Pope Boniface IV consecrates the Pantheon to “Mary and all martyrs” (May 13 observance appears). Wikipedia

• 8th–9th centuries — November 1 becomes associated with All Saints in parts of the West; Pope Gregory III/IV and Frankish support helped spread Nov 1 observance. Wikipedia+1

• 998 — St. Odilo (Abbot of Cluny) institutes an annual commemoration for the faithful departed (All Souls’ Day, Nov 2) in his monasteries; later spreads through Western Christendom. Wikipedia

• 16th century (Reformation) — Reformers critique invocation of saints, Purgatory, and ecclesial practices they saw as unscriptural; many Protestant churches either abandoned or reinterpreted the feasts. Christian Classics Ethereal Library+1

 

 

4. Comparison table — Catholic vs common Protestant positions

Topic	Typical Catholic Position	Typical Protestant Position(s) (Lutheran/Reformed/Evangelical)
Are saints invoked (prayers to saints)?	Yes: faithful may ask saints to intercede. (CCC & tradition) Vatican	Mostly no (Reformed & many Evangelicals): invocation is discouraged or rejected as lacking scriptural warrant. Lutherans vary (honor saints, but generally avoid invocation). Lutheran Reformation+1
Prayers for the dead / All Souls	Prayers for the deceased (esp. those in Purgatory) are efficacious; All Souls Day developed for this purpose; Purgatory doctrine affirms a state of purification. (CCC 1030–1032). Vatican	Many Protestants reject Purgatory; prayers for the dead may be practiced as remembrance but not as intercessory aid for a post-mortem purification. Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Authority for feasts	Church tradition and liturgical development + patristic evidence provide authority. Wikipedia+1	Sola scriptura: unless commanded or clearly warranted by Scripture, feasts are optional; late medieval developments are viewed skeptically. Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Observance today	Widely observed in Catholicism; also kept by some Anglican, Lutheran, and Methodist churches (though emphases differ). Wikipedia	Most Reformed/Evangelical churches do not observe both feasts liturgically; some commemorate All Saints’ in a simplified way (honoring those who died). Christianity Stack Exchange

(This table generalizes — there is diversity inside both Catholic and Protestant families.)

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5. Selected short quote boxes (primary-source flavor)

“All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification…” — Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1030). Vatican

“Then, in all their litanies… there is no mention of Christ.” — John Calvin, Institutes (on public prayers that honor dead saints). Christian Classics Ethereal Library

“Tertullian… is the first to mention prayers for the dead.” — historiography summary referencing early patristic evidence (catacombs, inscriptions). Wikipedia+1

“The twenty-four elders… had golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” — Revelation 5:8 (text that undergirds debates about intercession). Catholic Answers

(Quotes are short paraphrases or short snippets to stay within fair-use and citation norms.)

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6. Why reformation leaders objected — three short theological objections

1. Obscures Christ’s unique mediatorship — Reformers argued that calling on saints undermines 1 Timothy 2:5 (“one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”) and the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Christian Classics Ethereal Library

2. No explicit biblical command — Reformers repeatedly asked: “Where is the scriptural warrant?” They argued that practices not clearly grounded in Scripture should not become required public worship. Bible Study Tools

3. Connected to doctrines they rejected (Purgatory, indulgences) — Because All Souls’ Day was shaped in medieval theology that included Purgatory and Masses for the dead, Reformers rejected the whole package as unscriptural or abused. Wikipedia+1

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7. Common misunderstandings (quick FAQ)

Q: Do all Protestants reject All Saints?
A: No — Anglican, Lutheran, and some Methodist traditions do commemorate All Saints’ Day, but usually as remembrance, not with invocation of saints or Masses for the dead as in Catholic practice. Wikipedia+1

Q: Is prayer for the dead entirely absent from early Christianity?
A: No — archaeological and patristic sources (catacomb inscriptions, Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine) show early prayers for the deceased. The interpretation of what those prayers meant differs between traditions. Wikipedia

Q: Is All Souls’ Day purely a “medieval invention”?
A: The specific observance of Nov 2 as an institutionalized day is medieval (St. Odilo, Cluny, ~998), but it built on older practices of praying for the dead. Wikipedia+1

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8. Further reading & primary sources (select, reliable links)

• Catechism of the Catholic Church — Communion of Saints & Purgatory. (Vatican) — CCC §§962, 1030–1032. Vatican+1

• All Saints’ Day — Britannica (history of the feast). Encyclopedia Britannica

• All Souls’ Day — historical summary (Cluny / Odilo). Wikipedia

• Tertullian and early attestations to prayer for the dead — overview & primary references (New Advent / CCEL). Christian Classics Ethereal Library+1

• John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (relevant passages on invocation and prayers for the dead). Christian Classics Ethereal Library

• Book of Concord / Lutheran confessions — Article on Invocation of Saints. Book of Concord

(If you want, I can assemble these specific documents into a downloadable reading packet — let me know.)

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9. Short conclusion — balanced answer

The simplest honest answer is: because of theological differences over authority (Scripture vs. later tradition), the role of Christ as sole mediator, and the doctrine of the dead (esp. Purgatory)—and because All Saints and All Souls were liturgical developments that the Reformers and many modern Protestants judged either unnecessary or theologically problematic. At the same time, many of the earliest Christians practiced commemoration and prayer for the dead; the difference is how those practices are interpreted and authorized today. Wikipedia+2

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

ANG PAG-AMPO ALANG SA MINATAY NAA SA BIBLIYA.

 

Sirac 7:33 – "Ayaw hikalimti ang paghandom sa nangamatay."

 

2 Macabeo 12:43-45 – i-ampo ang kalag sa mga nangamatay ug paghalad og sakripisyo ngadto sa Dios alang sa ilang kapasayloan.

 

Kini nga mga lebro sa Old Testament gitanggal sa mga nagprotesta sa Simbahan tungod kay mabasa man dinhi ang mahitungod sa mga patay.

 

Apan naa pa'y ubang mga lebro nga wala nila naapil pagtanggal sa Bibliya.

 

Sa Old Testament, daan nang gihimo sa katawhan sa Dios ang paghinumdom sa mga nangamatay, giduaw ang ilang lubong ug giampo sila sa Dios.

 

Ruth 1:8 – "Hinaut unta nga panalanginan kamo sa Ginoo sama nga kamo maayo kanako ug niadtong mga nangamatay."

 

Ruth 2:20 – "Panalanginan unta siya sa Ginoo nga nagtuman kanunay sa Iyang mga saad ngadto sa mga buhi ug sa mga patay."

 

Nehemias 1:5-6 – "O Ginoo nga Dios nga anaa sa langit,.. Pasayloa intawon kami sa among mga sala kanimo. Ako ug ang akong mga katigulangan nakasala."

 

Nehemias 2:5 – "Kon mouyon ka, Kamahalan, ug kon malooy ka kanako, tugoti ako pag-adto sa Juda, sa siyudad nga gilubngan sa akong mga katigulangan, aron ako kining tukoron pag-usab."

Sa Bag-ong Testamento, padayon gihapon kining gibuhat.

 

Santiago 5:10 – "Mga igsoon, hinumdomi ninyo ang mga propeta nga nagwali sa ngalan sa Ginoo."

 

Hebreo 13:7 – "Hinumdomi ang inyong mga pangulo kaniadto nga misulti kaninyo sa mensahe sa Dios. Palandonga giunsa nila sa pagkinabuhi hangtud nga namatay sila ug sundoga ang ilang pagtoo."

 

2 Timoteo 1:16-18 – gihinumdoman ug giampo ni Pablo ang iyang higala nga namatay na.

 

Juan 11:17-27 – giduaw ni Jesus ang lubnganan ni Lazaro ug nag-ampo siya sa Amahan.

 

Buhat 9:36-46 – giampo ni Pedro ang patay. Nabuhi kini pagbalik.

 

Kita sab karon nag-ampo aron ang atong mga minahal nga nangamatay tungod sa kalooy sa Dios makabaton unta sa walay katapusang kinabuhi.

 

Let us pray:

 

Eternal rest grant unto Ubaldo, Lord

And let perpetual light shine upon him

May he rest in peace. Amen.

Contributed by: 

(Ihayag Ang Katotohanan)

READ ALSO:

• “All Saints Day & All Souls Day: Biblical Roots, Historical Basis & Catholic Answers to Protestant Objections”

• ❌ Are Catholic Doctrines Man-Made?

• Bible Alone and Faith Alone: Doctrines of Christ or Human Inventions?

• Is the bible ready made from heaven? If not who compiled the bible that we are using today?