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Friends of the Rosary:
Today is Halloween which simply is the eve of All Saints Day. In other words, it’s a feast day of Catholic origin, which means All Hallow’s Eve, that is, All Saints Eve, or Vigil of All Saints. Hallows is the Old English term for saints.
It is the evening before one of the major feasts of the year, All Saints Day, celebrated on November 1st.
It’s the day when the living (the Church Militant) honor all the dead in Christ: the saints in heaven (the Church Triumphant) as well as all the holy souls detained in purgatory on their way to heaven (the Church Suffering).
Halloween has been twisted by our secular society, associating it with the likes of witches, goblins, and gremlins. But Halloween and its association with the dead does find its roots in Catholicism.
In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the ancient Roman Pantheon to the saints of the Church, especially to all the martyrs. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III transferred the feast to November 1st and has been celebrated as such ever since.
So we Catholics can celebrate Halloween as a holy party that culminates in worship in Mass, regardless if we see this feast quite different from the original.
This week, after All Saints Day — a holy day of obligation, we will observe November 2nd the commemoration of the Faithful Departed (or All Souls Day), in Spanish la conmemoración de los Fieles Difuntos.
We will remember those who are in purgatory and pray for them. All the souls in purgatory will go to heaven after their final purification and preparation. Our prayers can assist them in this transitory state.
Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!
To Jesus through Mary!
+ Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
