Here we go againit’s the celebration of All Saints. That is to say Halloweenbut in its true meaning. All Hallows Eveliterally All Saints’ Eve. Why it should be associated with the macabre and horror is not clear, except for the forgetfulness of its origins and the misrepresentation of its value. For a month, supermarkets have been full of horrifying sets and costume parties have been a huge hit Addams Family. Instead, a little history and a desire for knowledge would be enough.
We are in thehigh Middle Agesin the Nordic countries, but Catholic. And we follow the consecration of November 1st from a pope, Gregory IIIin suffrage of all the martyrs and persecuted for the faith. It was difficult for him to be aware, in8th century ADof the customs of an ancient Celtic celebration, Samhain: because the Celts had long ago converted to Christianity, while the Celtic New Yearor end of summer, was born in a pagan context, in the north of England and Ireland. The theme of death of nature in autumn, i propitiatory rites to chase it away and invoke the souls of the deceased are found in different cultures.
As with other founding myths taken on by Christianity which filled them with new meaning and traditions, also the November 1st it becomes part of the liturgical calendar. Because, as the catechismthere exists Communion of Saintswhere “the union of those who are on the journey with their brothers who died in the peace of Christ is not broken in the slightest” and the blessed “strengthen the whole Church in holiness”. They intercede with the Fatherthrough Jesus“the only mediator between God and men”.
It is understandable then that our loved ones who have left us on earth and the saints who precede them and follow them already in Sky in the Communion of Saints they are linked to us, that it is possible through the blessed souls to intercede so that those who are not yet saints find grace and forgiveness, and that both of them stand by us. We are all an active part in the history of salvation, universal and eternal. The fact that death arouses fear and anguish and attempts are made to exorcise it with similar customs in different peoples is part of our memory, of traditions that are passed from generation to generation.
Lightsgifts for the deceased, banquets, processions, fruit and sweets in exchange for prayers, fires to burn evil spirits, ward off their nefarious presence… But the Church he has always wisely united the deceased with the saints, who protect and comfort our pains and fears. Their celebration comes first, anticipating death, grounding our hope in Sky.
This is what we should explain to our children: tell them about saintsof their enlightening and courageous stories. Other than superheroes. Vampires, ghosts and witches are the expression of a dark and desperate conception of life, which does not have paradise as a horizon. Which ridicules evil, while hiding death and pain; that give pumpkins easily switches to darkat the splatteral Satanismwhich grasp many of our adolescents with prey.
How to Carnivaldisguises for playing are great, exchanging sweets is great. But it is not a Christian holiday. It serves to fatten increasingly invasive marketing, which little by little undermines our identity.
