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1. Halloween, All Saints & All Souls The History
2. Halloween Hallows Even or holy evening.
The last day in October
3. The Christian Connection When you think of Halloween, what comes to mind?
For a lot of people, Halloween has become synonymous with candy, costumes, scary stuff, witches, ghosts and pumpkins.
But do you know the Christian connection to the holiday?
4. The Irish The true origins of Halloween lie with the ancient Celtic tribes who lived in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brittany.
For the Celts, November 1 marked the beginning of a new year and the coming of winter.
The night before the new year, they celebrated the festival called Lord of the Dead.
During this festival, Celts believed the souls of the deadincluding ghosts, goblins and witchesreturned to mingle with the living.
In order to scare away the evil spirits, people would wear masks and light bonfires.
5. When the Romans Conquered the Irish The Romans added centerpieces to the table of fruit and nuts to the goddess Pomona, she was the goddess of orchards.
The Romans bobbed for apples and drank cider.
6. Trick or Treat! The current custom of going door-to-door to collect treats actually started in Ireland
Groups of farmers would go door-to-door collecting food and materials for a village feast and bonfire.
Those who gave were promised prosperity; those who did not received threats of bad luck.
When an influx of Irish Catholic immigrants came to the United States in the 1800s, the custom of trick-or-treating came with them.
7. Carving Pumpkins? You can thank the Irish for the tradition.
Actually, the custom began with a turnip.
People would hollow out the turnips and place lighted candles inside to scare off the evil spirits.
When the Irish came to America, they discovered the pumpkin as a larger substitute for the turnip. And so, we now carve pumpkins instead of turnips for Halloween.
8. The Tale of Jack OLantern The name actually comes from the legend.
After death Jack couldnt get into heaven or into hell
He was forced to roam the earth with only a burning coal inside a pumpkin to light his way because he had never performed a single selfless act throughout his life. The Tale of Jack O'Lantern
A Read-aloud Story from Catholic Update
Jack, the Irish say, grew up in a simple village where he earned a reputation for cleverness as well as laziness. He applied his fine intelligence to wiggling out of any work that was asked of him, preferring to lie under a solitary oak endlessly whittling. In order to earn money to spend at the local pub, he looked for an "easy shilling" from gambling, a pastime at which he excelled. In his whole life he never made a single enemy, never made a single friend and never performed a selfless act for anyone.
One Halloween, as it happened, the time came for him to die. When the devil arrived to take his soul, Jack was lazily drinking at the pub and asked permission to finish his ale. The devil agreed, and Jack thought fast. "If you really have any power," he said slyly, "you could transform yourself into a shilling."
The devil snorted at such childs play and instantly changed himself into a shilling. Jack grabbed the coin. He held it tight in his hand, which bore a cross-shaped scar. The power of the cross kept the devil imprisoned there, for everyone knows the devil is powerless when faced with the cross. Jack would not let the devil free until he granted him another year of life. Jack figured that would be plenty of time to repent. The devil left Jack at the pub.
The year rolled around to the next Halloween, but Jack never got around to repenting. Again the devil appeared to claim his soul, and again Jack bargained, this time challenging him to a game of dice, an offer Satan could never resist, but a game that Jack excelled at. The devil threw snake eyestwo onesand was about to haul him off, but Jack used a pair of dice he himself had whittled. When they landed as two threes, forming the T-shape of a cross, once again the devil was powerless. Jack bargained for more time to repent.
He kept thinking hed get around to repentance later, at the last possible minute. But the agreed-upon day arrived and death took him by surprise. The devil hadnt showed up and Jack soon found out why not. Before he knew it Jack was in front of the pearly gates. St. Peter shook his head sadly and could not admit him, because in his whole life Jack had never performed a single selfless act. Then Jack presented himself before the gates of hell, but the devil was still seething. Satan refused to have anything to do with him.
"Where can I go?" cried Jack. "How can I see in the darkness?"
The devil tossed a burning coal into a hollow pumpkin and ordered him to wander forever with only the pumpkin to light his path. From that day to this he has been called "Jack o the Lantern." Sometimes he appears on Halloween!
The Tale of Jack O'Lantern
A Read-aloud Story from Catholic Update
Jack, the Irish say, grew up in a simple village where he earned a reputation for cleverness as well as laziness. He applied his fine intelligence to wiggling out of any work that was asked of him, preferring to lie under a solitary oak endlessly whittling. In order to earn money to spend at the local pub, he looked for an "easy shilling" from gambling, a pastime at which he excelled. In his whole life he never made a single enemy, never made a single friend and never performed a selfless act for anyone.
One Halloween, as it happened, the time came for him to die. When the devil arrived to take his soul, Jack was lazily drinking at the pub and asked permission to finish his ale. The devil agreed, and Jack thought fast. "If you really have any power," he said slyly, "you could transform yourself into a shilling."
The devil snorted at such childs play and instantly changed himself into a shilling. Jack grabbed the coin. He held it tight in his hand, which bore a cross-shaped scar. The power of the cross kept the devil imprisoned there, for everyone knows the devil is powerless when faced with the cross. Jack would not let the devil free until he granted him another year of life. Jack figured that would be plenty of time to repent. The devil left Jack at the pub.
The year rolled around to the next Halloween, but Jack never got around to repenting. Again the devil appeared to claim his soul, and again Jack bargained, this time challenging him to a game of dice, an offer Satan could never resist, but a game that Jack excelled at. The devil threw snake eyestwo onesand was about to haul him off, but Jack used a pair of dice he himself had whittled. When they landed as two threes, forming the T-shape of a cross, once again the devil was powerless. Jack bargained for more time to repent.
He kept thinking hed get around to repentance later, at the last possible minute. But the agreed-upon day arrived and death took him by surprise. The devil hadnt showed up and Jack soon found out why not. Before he knew it Jack was in front of the pearly gates. St. Peter shook his head sadly and could not admit him, because in his whole life Jack had never performed a single selfless act. Then Jack presented himself before the gates of hell, but the devil was still seething. Satan refused to have anything to do with him.
"Where can I go?" cried Jack. "How can I see in the darkness?"
The devil tossed a burning coal into a hollow pumpkin and ordered him to wander forever with only the pumpkin to light his path. From that day to this he has been called "Jack o the Lantern." Sometimes he appears on Halloween!
9. All Saints Day November 1
10. Feast Day The Church declared martyrs/saints need a day of remembrance, a feast day, assigned to them.
Frequently groups of martyrs suffered on the same day, which naturally led to a joint commemoration.
The Church, feeling that every martyr should be venerated, appointed a common day for all.
In the early Church this special day was in May.
11. Pope Gregory IV In 835, Pope Gregory IV moved the celebration for all the martyrs (later All Saints) from May 13 to November 1.
The night before became known as All Hallows Even or holy evening.
The name was shortened to the current Halloween.
12. All Souls Day November 2
13. Day of the Dead All Souls Day is sometimes called the Day of the Dead.
Its a day of remembrance for friends and loved ones who have passed away.
All Souls follows All Saints to shift the focus from those in heaven to those in purgatory.
14. Does Purgatory Exist? The existence of purgatory is universally taught by all the Fathers of the Church.
The words of Our Lord, "You shall not come out from it [prison] until you have paid the last penny" are very clear (Matt. 5:25-26).
Later, when speaking of the sins against the Holy Spirit, Jesus says that such a sin "will not be forgiven either in this world or in the next," thus implying that there are some sins that can be atoned for in the next world (Matt. 12:32). Even in the Old Testament there was a belief in the existence of purgatory, for there we find Judas Maccabeus sending 12,000 drachmas to Jerusalem to have sacrifices offered for the sins of the dead.
That chapter ends with the advice. "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins" (2 Mac. 12:46). Paul also shows his belief in purgatory when, in his second letter to Timothy, he prays for the deceased Onesiphorus. "May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day" (2 Tim. 1:18).Paul also shows his belief in purgatory when, in his second letter to Timothy, he prays for the deceased Onesiphorus. "May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day" (2 Tim. 1:18).
15. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY CCC 1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still
imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but
after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness
necessary to enter the joy of heaven. Malachi 3:3Malachi 3:3
16. Malachi 3:3 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver
Malachi 3:3 RSVCE Refiners Fire
Silver There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three that says:
"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week this woman called up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot- then she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silver smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver smith, how do you know when the silver is fully refined? He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part -- when I see my image reflected in it." If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep His hand on you and watch over you until He sees His image in you. Author unknown
Refiners Fire
Silver
17. You Can Help! Praying for souls of loved ones helps to remove the stain of sin, and allow the souls to enter the pearly gates of heaven.
Through prayer and good works, living members of the church may help their departed friends and family.
18. In Mexico All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day are collectively observed as "Los Dias de los Muertos" (The Days of the Dead).
Days of the Dead is a time when families fondly remember the deceased.
It is also a time marked by festivities, including spectacular parades of skeletons and ghouls.
In one notable tradition, revelers lead a mock funeral procession with a live person inside a coffin.
19. Whats The Catechism Say? The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that through the communion of saints a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, Those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and
Those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things (#1475).
20. Vatican II Apostles' Creed: "I believe . . . the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints".
A life beyond the present one
The Church distinguishes three states of existence in union with God. The communion among the saints:
the pilgrim Church on earth,
the suffering Church in purification, and
the Church in Heaven.
21. Lk. 16:19-31 The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Only in Luke) The poor man went to paradise, while the rich man suffered in hell.
In agony, the rich man cried out for help, asking Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers of this tragic, irreversible fate.
Their evil way of life was not a result of a lack of information but was instead due to their stony hearts.
22. 2 Maccabees 12:42-43 42 Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas warned the soldiers to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.
43 He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice.
In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view
23. Communion of Saints 962 "We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ,
Those who are pilgrims on earth,
the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together
forming one Church; and we believe that in this
communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is
always [attentive] to our prayers" (Paul VI, CPG § 30).
24. Matthew 12:31-32 31 Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit ?? will not be forgiven.
32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
?? Blasphemy against the Spirit: the sin of attributing to Satan (Matthew 12:24) what is the work of the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28).
25. CCC 1031 Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says
that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will
be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come.
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the
From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be
forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.
26. Many Saints Tell Us About and Some Report Contact With The Souls in Purgatory We have other testimonies quite as genuine, such as those of St Athanasius, St. Basil, St. Gregory of Nazianzen, St Cyril, St. Chrysostom, Tertullian, St. Cyprian, St. Ambrose, and St. Jerome. All these are quoted by Bellarmin in his "Treatise on Purgatory."
We have other testimonies quite as genuine, such as those of St Athanasius, St. Basil, St. Gregory of Nazianzen, St Cyril, St. Chrysostom, Tertullian, St. Cyprian, St. Ambrose, and St. Jerome. All these are quoted by Bellarmin in his "Treatise on Purgatory."
27. The Catechism says: 823 "The Church . . . is held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy.
This is because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as 'alone holy,'
loved the Church as his Bride, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her;
he joined her to himself as his body and endowed her with the gift of the
Holy Spirit for the glory of God.
The Church, then, is "the holy People of God, and her members are called "saints."
28. We Are A People of Hope! When the end of our life comes, it isnt over.
God provided us with a confessional so that we might repent.
The Bible tells us to repent and shows us how.
God even provides purgatory to help us to get to eternal life with He who loves us beyond all understanding.
God, just like good parents, provides all His children with every opportunity to achieve their eternal goal.
29. Hebrews 12:1 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
30. What Did We Learn? We learned how Halloween developed.
We learned how Trick or Treat came about.
We learned that All Saints Day started as a memorial to martyrs.
We learned that All Saints Day developed into a memorial of all saints, not just martyrs.
We learned that the church always follows All Saints day with All Souls Day to pray for the souls in purgatory.
We learned that purgatory does exist and was referred to by Jesus in Matthew 12:31
31. Mt. 7:22 how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. "How great is the mercy of the Lord, and
His forgiveness to them that turn to Him.
Sirach 17:29
