All Hallows' Eve, the Vigil

All Hallows’ Eve, the vigil falls The night before the saints are crowned Shadows gather, candles burn We remember those in holy ground Hallow means the holy ones The evening of the great All Saints Every soul that reached the light Every martyr, every saint November first they stand in glory November second we still pray For the ones who wait in fire Till the final judgment day Skulls and shadows once reminded All must die and all will rise Not a feast of empty fear But a call to holy eyes Dress in black or dress as saints Walk the night with measured tread Every costume, every mask Points us to the living dead Death and judgment, heaven, hell These last things we know so well All Hallows’ Eve, the night of bone Saints above and souls alone Light the candles, face the grave Christ has conquered, death is slave Gregory set the feast in stone Eighth century, the calendar turned All the saints in one great day Every forgotten name is learned From the catacombs to the altar From the blood of martyrs shed Now the Church in heaven sings While we walk among the dead Not the pagan fire of old Not the fear that sells the night But the vigil of the Church Standing firm in sacred light Pray for those still purified Honor those who see His face On this eve of all the saints We prepare to take our place Death and judgment, heaven, hell These last things we know so well The night is dark, the saints are bright The grave is real, the hope is true All Hallows’ Eve calls us to live As those who know what death can do All Hallows’ Eve, the night of bone Saints above and souls alone Light the candles, face the grave Christ has conquered, death is slave All Hallows’ Eve… the vigil deep… Saints in glory… souls who weep…