Happy Halloween (a couple of days early)! Which is to say, Happy All Saints Day! This week we celebrate an important day on the Church calendar, a day set aside to remember all the holy men and women of the Church who do not have their own dedicated feast or memorial. This practice dates back to the fourth century; the Church had the practice of commemorating martyrs by honoring the on the day of their martyrdom, but eventually the numbers got so high that many had to share a common day.
The date of November 1 comes from the eighth century when Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome to all the saints on that date. He then extended the date of the celebration to the universal Church. The choice of the Nov. 1 date, then, had nothing to do with the old Celtic new year celebration of Samhain, which fell on that date. Pagan belief was that during Samhain, the world of the dead was closest to the world of the living. So even though these two different traditions are not related, it is fitting that this day be marked as a special time to remember those who have gone before us in faith. Of course, the saints are not dead but very much alive in Christ, part of the same Body of Christ - the Church - as are we!
The word "Halloween" comes from an archaic name for All Saints Day - All Hallows Day. "Hallowed" means "Holy" the same as "Saint." (We use this word in the Our Father prayer, when we say, "Hallowed by Thy name"). The Vigil of All Saints which takes place the evening before was called All Hallows Eve; this was shortened to Hallowe'en.
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
