We arrived in Ohio for our November stay with Connie’s family and to celebrate our traditions Thanksgiving and Christmas Zoo lights. Our arrival worked out perfectly to celebrate Mass at All Saints and the installing of our friend Father Scott by the Bishop of the Diocese of Toledo.
This Mass was conveniently timed days before the Solemnity of All Saints (yes this blog is a bit behind).
All Saints’ Day is observed on November 1 by the Roman Catholic Church, while the Eastern rite churches observe the solemnity on the first Sunday after Pentecost. All Saints Day commemorates the lives of all saints in the communion of the living and the dead, to ask for their intercession before God.
All Saints’ Day is also called Allhallows. Halloween is celebrated the day before, or, specifically, the evening before All Saints’ Day. The word Halloween is a derivative of Hallows Eve. The emphasis on spirits, goblins, witches, and other dark images came about from the supposition that the dark forces were especially active just before All Saints’ Day in order to hinder the prayer for the dead that would be offered the next day. I know of several who celebrate Halloween as a great feast upon which they savor in many ‘rituals.’ As much as Halloween may have hold of the world’s attention, as Catholics we need to focus upon the communion of the full church and Kingdom of God on All Saints Day (and every day). We know that no matter how many demons, witches or others run and cast spells to entrap the faithful, it only took one Man to break all their bindings and spells – Jesus Christ.
