YOU HAD ME AT BOOOooooo: Should Catholics Be Afraid of Halloween?
By Juan Rodriguez:
The fact is, every young person may have had this experience or a different experience of Halloween, and can recall their moment of fright during "trick or treating." That was then; now, looking at this and studying about Halloween, I have come to the conclusion, “we’ve been duped.”
You bring it up to family members or friends that “Halloween is a Holy Day (CCC 2180 - 2183) of the Church” - you get the impression, “you’re buggin”.
Bring it up to Christians who are uninformed of the Holy Day (CCC 2180 - 2183), and you get “tu ta loco, that’s the day of Brujas (witches)”, or killing, sacrifices and mysterious monsters that lurk in the shadows.
The Church teaches us that on [H]oly Days obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass. The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by the assistance at the Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening proceeding of the day. (CCC 2180)
August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
November 1, the solemnity of All Saints
December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
December 25, the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
These days should be remembered, taught, and practiced by the Youth Minister of the Parish, so that youth and young adults may keep the celebrations. The list of Holy Days of Obligations are:
January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter, the solemnity of the AscensionAugust 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
November 1, the solemnity of All Saints
December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
December 25, the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
The list can go on. Another fact: when we’ve been poorly catechized, when we’ve lost interest in the Christian Faith and history, people get “funky” about the Holy Day that it stops being celebrated as the Vigil Night we remember the saints.
Even the word “Hallow” has lost its meaning - just say the Our Father... the words, “Hallow be thy Name”, and watch yourself fall into deep thought.
“Hallow “ - What does that even mean? And why say it? Why pray to Our Father, and not know its meaning?
A Faithful Christian knows that the word means “Holy”. Now imagine, if we believe God’s Name is “Holy”, then why think that Halloween (The Holy Evening of the Saints) is for the Devil? Have you been duped? Did you get caught out there? Yep, we all bought into a lie, and you can’t make it up - we can only say “Lord, have mercy.”
Let the word sit with you - “Hallow”. It means “Holy” - how can His Name mean “evil”?
Reminds me of the first scene of “The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring”, where the Elf Maiden Galadriel says, “And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge.” Isn’t that what’s happening to Halloween? Is Halloween passing out of all knowledge?
Forget the Feast, and you will forget the Saints, and the reason for the journey to Sainthood. It’s a simple “Trick”, and we’ve been fed a “Treat” of lies.
The word “Holy” means to be dedicated or consecrated to God. That day was our Baptism - we were blessed to be covered in His protection and be a light in our world - in its darkest hour. Halloween reminds us, “get back to the journey towards Holiness!”
So how do we take Halloween back?
1. Be Holy - His Name is Holy, and He made you and blessed you to be Holy! This is our First Vocation.
2. Reflect on His Name. Meditate on His Name. Call His Name. Speak His Name daily! The only way to appreciate His Holy Name is if you talk with Him.
3. Read the lives of the Saints. Start with your name, or find the Saint who has your name. Even better, look up your Baptism or Confirmation Saint Name and read about the Saint. I even dare you to talk with this Saint. They’ve been praying for you! Stop making “rain checks” or “excuses” to find time to chat. We make time for everything, but for God and the Saints - we put off the practice of talking to the Saints for a later time. Talking to our brother or sister who is a saint. It's no different than using your mobile device - You’ll get a reality check when you pick up your cell for a call or text.
It’s not easy to shake off the “Halloween” idea of being Holy over the misconception of it being “evil". Time, patience, study, and prayer to God can slowly remove the FEAR or FRIGHT fest our minds encounter when the word “Halloween” is mentioned. Don’t be fooled!
Even the word “Hallow” has lost its meaning - just say the Our Father... the words, “Hallow be thy Name”, and watch yourself fall into deep thought.
“Hallow “ - What does that even mean? And why say it? Why pray to Our Father, and not know its meaning?
A Faithful Christian knows that the word means “Holy”. Now imagine, if we believe God’s Name is “Holy”, then why think that Halloween (The Holy Evening of the Saints) is for the Devil? Have you been duped? Did you get caught out there? Yep, we all bought into a lie, and you can’t make it up - we can only say “Lord, have mercy.”
Let the word sit with you - “Hallow”. It means “Holy” - how can His Name mean “evil”?
Reminds me of the first scene of “The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring”, where the Elf Maiden Galadriel says, “And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge.” Isn’t that what’s happening to Halloween? Is Halloween passing out of all knowledge?
Forget the Feast, and you will forget the Saints, and the reason for the journey to Sainthood. It’s a simple “Trick”, and we’ve been fed a “Treat” of lies.
The word “Holy” means to be dedicated or consecrated to God. That day was our Baptism - we were blessed to be covered in His protection and be a light in our world - in its darkest hour. Halloween reminds us, “get back to the journey towards Holiness!”
So how do we take Halloween back?
1. Be Holy - His Name is Holy, and He made you and blessed you to be Holy! This is our First Vocation.
2. Reflect on His Name. Meditate on His Name. Call His Name. Speak His Name daily! The only way to appreciate His Holy Name is if you talk with Him.
3. Read the lives of the Saints. Start with your name, or find the Saint who has your name. Even better, look up your Baptism or Confirmation Saint Name and read about the Saint. I even dare you to talk with this Saint. They’ve been praying for you! Stop making “rain checks” or “excuses” to find time to chat. We make time for everything, but for God and the Saints - we put off the practice of talking to the Saints for a later time. Talking to our brother or sister who is a saint. It's no different than using your mobile device - You’ll get a reality check when you pick up your cell for a call or text.
It’s not easy to shake off the “Halloween” idea of being Holy over the misconception of it being “evil". Time, patience, study, and prayer to God can slowly remove the FEAR or FRIGHT fest our minds encounter when the word “Halloween” is mentioned. Don’t be fooled!
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