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In the Catholic church, saints are special people who are honored for having a closer connection with God than ordinary people. Lutherans believe that all believers are equal. The Catholic church celebrates their special people on All Saint's Day.  We celebrate our personal connection to all believers on All Saint's Day.

November 1st is All Saints Day.   It is the day when we honor all those people who have lived their faith.  The first saints were the 12 Disciples. Some saints are famous martyrs who died for the faith - like Saint Stephen. Some saints are just people who lived according to their faith in God and touched others with their goodness - including people we know, like a neighbor, relative, or friend.  This is a day that remembers the people of faith who came before us. 

In the Apostles Creed we say that we believe in the Communion of Saints.   Martin Luther talked about all of us as part of a "royal priesthood of believers."  In the New Testament the Apostle Paul talks about the church as the body of Christ with Jesus as its head. These phrases - the body of Christ, royal priesthood of believers,  and the Communion of Saints - mean just about the same thing for Lutherans. 

The Catholic Church has a process for determining who should be called a saint after they die. There is a nomination process, a lot of rules, and the Pope makes the final decision.  The Lutheran Church does not designate modern day saints.  We believe that "you know one when you see one!" They don't have to perform miracles that can't be explained by science, or get anyone's special approval.   

We believe that all Christians, living and dead, are connected together through their faith in God and the saving grace of Jesus. On All Saint's Day we celebrate the gift of faith passed down to us from those who came before us. We also celebrate the blessings that happen when people of faith work for good, both as individuals and together, not just in the past, but also in the present, and we know they will make themselves known, in private and public ways, in the future!