On the cover are the names of our 83 young people who received Confirmation this month. We are so grateful to Mrs. Lattuca, Mrs. Horgan, Mrs. Maldonado, all the teachers and Catechists who played a vital role in the life of these young Christians. I also thank God for their parents, family and sponsors. Our prayers will be with them as they begin their new vocation as full members of the Catholic Church.
This Thursday is Halloween, which began as a Christian holiday. It was prior to 1955 a mini liturgical season in the Church’s year. It was known as Allhallowtide, Hallowtide, or Hallowmas. Halloween was the first of three days of special religious devotions. Contrary to pumpkins, ghosts and goblins and a night of scaring people, trick or treating for candy, Halloween has Christian roots.
All Saints (Nov.1st ) is one of the major feasts of the Church’s year and a holy day of obligation, as such, it had both a vigil Mass with an octave( eight days of celebrating the same Mass). The vigil Mass, with its own prayers and readings, was celebrated the day before. The vigil was a penitential day with fasting and abstinence with violet vestments worn for Mass. Then the next day, All Hallows-All Saints, saw the White vestments to be worn, followed by the black vestments of All Souls Day.
Many do not realize the commercial side of Halloween celebrated has kept a number of aspects of the liturgical origin. For example, there is an emphasis on death (All Souls), the traditional colors of Halloween, and come from the liturgical colors of Hallowtide (purple, black and white, while orange which comes from the color of the dying, falling leaves).
This Triduum takes place on the last day of October and the first two days of November. As the Church enters November, it prepares us for the end of time and the liturgical year, which culminates with the Solemnity of Christ the King. It seems appropriate as we reach the end of our liturgical journey; we remember our death as well as our future, seeing Christ the King and Judge.
Halloween should remind us and prepare us for the day of our death and hopefully, the glory of All Saints. All Souls’ Day is not meant to be sad or lacking hope. Rather, All Souls day is the height of Hallowtide. The Church of God is composed of the faithful on earth, and the souls of the faithful departed who are being purified in Purgatory, and those members of the faithful whose lives were so well lived that they are now in union with God in Heaven. Together, with the angels, these groups form the communion of saints.
In recent times, Halloween has become more macabre with giant skeletons, zombies and violent scenes of death. One obviously shouldn’t glorify the darker side of the modern celebration. But instead of turning off your porch lights and not giving out any candy, why not instead provide treats and say “God bless you” or “God loves you” to the children who knock on your door? Or give them a holy card, or a medal with the candy. Enjoy the little ones coming to your house, have fun with them.
With a little creativity, you can turn Halloween into an occasion for evangelizing. After all, on what other night are you going to have all kinds of kids—and their parents—knocking on your door with smiles on their faces? Providing them candy gives you an entree into sharing the Good News with them. Death is not the end, becoming a saint is!
Thank you to the 36 life-saving donations. Because of your generosity up to 108 people in need will benefit. Please think of giving blood, it’s painless, quick, plus you get good cookies to eat afterwards.