November 2nd, the day following All Saints Day, is the great solemnity of All Souls.

From the beginning, the Church has always prayed for the dead: singing psalms, reciting prayers, and offering Holy Mass for the repose of their souls. Yet, for centuries, there was not any particular feast dedicated to praying for the dead.

It was not until late in the tenth century that the Church instituted the Commemoration of all the faithful departed.

It all began at the close of the tenth century - in the Abbey of Cluny, France. St. Odilo, who was Abbot there, edified all France by his charity towards everyone. His compassion for his fellow men extended even to the dead. Every day, he prayed for the souls in Purgatory.

In time, the holy Abbot was inspired to establish a feast-day in his monasteries. It was the feast commemorating all departed souls.

The saint’s biographers tell us that while St. Odilo governed his monasteries in France, there was a pious hermit who lived in a little island off the coast of Sicily.

One day, this hermit was visited by a French pilgrim who had been caught in a storm at sea, and thrown by the waves onto the hermit’s shore.

After the hermit met him, he asked the pilgrim if he knew the Abbot Odilo.

"Certainly I know of him," said the pilgrim, "And I am privileged to know him personally. But how do you know him, and why do you ask me this question?"

The hermit replied.

"I often hear the evil spirits complain about pious persons who - by their prayers and alms-deeds - deliver the souls in Purgatory from the pains which they endure in the other life. But these spirits complain the most about Odilo, Abbot of Cluny, and his Religious."

Having explained this, the hermit continued.

"So when you return to your native country, I beg of you, in the name of God, to entreat and encourage the holy Abbot and his monks to redouble their good works in behalf of the poor souls."

The pilgrim went to the monastery and did as he was told. As a result, St. Odilo gave orders that all the monasteries of his Institute would observe a commemoration of all deceased souls.

This commemoration was to be made on the day after All Saints Day. It would be made by reciting the vespers for the dead on the eve (The night of All Saints Day). And on following morning, (All Souls Day) matins would be offered by ringing all the bells and celebrating Mass for repose of the poor souls.

The decree for this devotion was officially written at Cluny, for the monastery in that place, and for all those that were adjoined to it.

This pious practice, observed by the saintly Abbot and his monks, soon spread to other churches. And in the course of time, it became the universal observance of the whole Catholic world.