All Saints Day is a holy day of the Catholic Church

All Saints Day, a solemnity set aside by the Catholic Church to honor saints known and unknown, will be celebrated Nov. 1.

A holy day of obligation on which Catholics are expected to attend Mass, the feast has its roots in the early centuries of the church, when Christians honored martyrs. The obligation to attend Mass on All Saints Day in the Archdiocese of Baltimore is maintained every year except for those in which the feast falls on a Saturday or Monday. This year, the feast falls on a Wednesday.

All Souls’ Day is observed Nov. 2. Although not a holy day of obligation, Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass that day to remember the faithful departed.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore will celebrate All Saints Day Masses at 7:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. and will celebrate All Souls’ Day Masses at 7:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. Check with your parish for Mass schedules those days.