Dear Agathians:

Our secular society has been trying hard to erase every trace of faith and every mention of God from our culture and history.  Instead of “Merry Christmas,” they say “Happy Holidays.”  Instead of thanking God on Thanksgiving, they celebrate a generic Fall Festival.  And, year after year, they repeat the lies about the dubious origin of Halloween.

Unfortunately, many Catholics have unwittingly believed those lies.  Some have also been misled by the non-Catholic Christians who know nothing about the Catholic belief of the Communion of Saints.  Instead of forbidding their children from celebrating Halloween, Catholic parents should take this opportunity to educate their whole family about this unique Catholic teaching.

First of all, the name Halloween itself comes from the Catholic feast of All Saints, or “All Hallows” in old English, which falls on November 1st.  The night before, October 31st, is called “All Saints’ Eve” or “All Hallows’ Eve” which eventually becomes “Hallowe’en.”

The tradition of wearing costumes also came from a very pious Catholic practice.  When Europe was hit with the “black death” (the bubonic plague), the “Dance of Death” was a good way for the Church to remind the faithful about our immortality and our need to pray for the souls in purgatory.  A whole parish would take part in this enactment of the devil leading a daisy chain of all sorts of people – popes, kings, knights, ladies, monks, peasants, lepers, etc. – to the tomb.  What’s a better way to prepare for All Souls’ Day (November 2nd) than that?

So, don’t be afraid to celebrate Halloween this Saturday.  Put on your armors (like St. Michael), carry your sword (like St. Joan of Arc) or your camcorder (like Bl. Carlo Acutis), dress like a Roman soldier (like St. Martin of Tours) or a beheaded bishop (like St. Denis), have arrows sticking out of your chest (like St. Sebastian), etc. and let your friends and neighbors ask you about it, so that you can tell them the real story of Halloween.  Let us re-Christianize our world with our wholesome celebration of All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

— Fr. Vincentius Do, Pastor