The earliest certain observance of a feast in honor of all the saints is an early fourth-century commemoration of "all the martyrs." In the early seventh century, after successive waves of invaders plundered the catacombs, Pope Boniface IV gathered up some 28 wagonloads of bones and reinterred them beneath the Pantheon, a Roman temple dedicated to all the gods. The pope rededicated the shrine as a Christian church. According to Venerable Bede, the pope intended "that the memory of all the saints might in the future be honored in the place which had formerly been dedicated to the worship not of gods but of demons" (On the Calculation of Time).

But the rededication of the Pantheon, like the earlier commemoration of all the martyrs, occurred in May. Many Eastern Churches still honor all the saints in the spring, either during the Easter season or immediately after Pentecost.

How the Western Church came to celebrate this feast in November is a puzzle to historians. The Anglo-Saxon theologian Alcuin observed the feast on November 1 in 800, as did his friend Arno, Bishop of Salzburg. Rome finally adopted that date in the ninth century.

The handout provided for Brian Singer-Towns' "Biblical Literacy Made Easy" workshop at NCCYM 2008.  To get the downloadable audio recording of this session click here.

The presentation used during Brian Singer-Towns' "Biblical Literacy Made Easy" workshop at NCCYM 2008.  To get the downloadable audio recording of this session click here.

A supplemental handout provided for Dr. Charlotte McCorquodale's "Authorizing Lay Ecclesial Ministers" workshop at NCCYM 2008.  To get the downloadable audio recording of this session click here.

The presentation used during Dr. Charlotte McCorquodale's "Authorizing Lay Ecclesial Ministers: Issues, Models, and More" workshop at NCCYM 2008.  To get the downloadable audio recording of this session click here.

The presentation used during Dr. Maggie McCarty's "Introduction to Grant Writing" resource spotlight workshop at NCCYM 2008.

The presentation used during Paul Jarzembowski's "Young Adult Ministry Basics" preconference at NCCYM 2008.

The presentation provided for Patrick Donovan's "Using the Remote to Channel Jesus: The Sequel" workshop at NCCYM 2008.

A supplemental handout provided for Kevin Driscoll and James Chesnes "The Elephant in Your Youth Room" workshop at NCCYM 2008.

A supplemental handout provided by Kevin Driscoll and James Chesnes during the "Elephant in Your Youth Room" workshop at NCCYM 2008.

The presentation material for Kevin Driscoll and James Chesnes' "The Elephant in Your Youth Room" workshop at NCCYM 2008.  To get the downloadable audio recording of this session click here.