Image by Michael Bußmann from Pixabay
CHURCH SOCIAL TIPS
By Sherry Hayes-Peirce
The secular world celebrates the last day of this month, Oct. 31, as Halloween, a holiday about dressing up, trick-or-treating, and scaring people. For our church, it is the start of 48 hours celebrating those who have been elevated to sainthood on All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and our friends and family who have died as members of the Body of Christ on All Souls (Nov. 2).
So, we regard Oct. 31 as All Hallows Eve!
The origins of this holiday came centuries ago from England, Ireland and Northern France. It was a holiday that proposed that the souls of the dead, both good and bad, could mingle with the living. In fact, the origins of “trick or treat” came from a belief that demons had their fun with poor mortals by frightening, harming or playing tricks on them. To protect yourself from the demons, humans could offer them treats or disguise themselves as one of them and roam with them.
In today’s world, it seems the notion of remembering the dead is antiquated. But in our faith tradition as part of the Apostles Creed we say I believe in the Communion of Saints and these celebrations of our beloved dead are embedded in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Here are six ways you can celebrate the lives of the holy ones who have gone before us.
Celebrate our saints from Hawaii
We have two canonized members of the Communion of Saints in Hawaii: St. Damien de Veuster and St. Marianne Cope. Talk story about these great saints with the keiki.
Watch an All Hallows movie
Three years ago, Pixar’s “Coco” premiered. This animated tale of how one family celebrates All Souls Day and shares a powerful message about how, if you don’t remember the dead, they just disappear. I remember thinking of every relative that I could remember dying through my life and praying for them after the movie ended hoping my thought would arrive in time and might prevent them from going “poof” like the souls who disappeared because they were not remembered. Watch it as a family as part of your All Hallow’s Eve!
Add loved ones to Mass intentions
Many parishes offer special Masses for those who have died and there are envelopes or online options on the parish website to request that your loved one be added to the days of prayer for the souls in purgatory.
Visit a grave in-person or virtually
Gathering to remember and pray for the dead is a beautiful tradition to share with current and future generations of ohana. If you aren’t able to visit in-person, FindAGrave.com allows you to have a virtual experience that shares pictures of your loved ones’ gravesites and even allows you to order flowers.
Dress like the saints
Do some online research with your kids about the saints with whom they share a name or chose as their confirmation name. Work together with them to create a costume that celebrates that holy person. In many cases, the names come from relatives that also share the name of the saint too. This allows you to celebrate a soul and saint as part of your All Hallows Eve celebration.
Carve Catholic-themed pumpkins
Carving jack-o’-lantern-style pumpkins is the norm for many families. But as Catholics, shifting to carving Catholic images on your pumpkins promotes our faith. If you’re not the best freehand artist, you can buy stencils online to help you carve a pumpkin that promotes your faith.
May souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace.
Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a digital communications consultant based in California.
