The Vatican newspaper warned on Friday that Halloween is tied to occultism and is anti-Christian. Perhaps Christians should avoid Halloween celebrations?
There is no doubt whatsoever that the origins of the day are pagan; and that there are those who seek the darker aspects of the day in our time.
Then, there is also a "secularized holiday", which consists of children dressing up, and going out in search of candy. My wife and I choose to support that level of the day, in that such children are always welcome at our home. We can provide a perfectly safe stop for them, and can show love by practicing hospitality, in this small way.
Our children, and now, our grandchildren, also paticipate. We have talked about our concerns; and especially about Jesus Christ providing the truth about life and death, and taking away forever any reason to fear death.
All of that said, there are, of course, Christians who totally disagree. I do understand, and respect, that. Perhaps we will hear from both sides, as this thread developes.
Michael
__________________ "The glory of God is a human being fully alive." St. Irenaeus
I think nowadays Halloween has been modified to such an extent in our culture that the sort of "evil" contained therein is of more concern to dentists than anyone else.
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The Book of Occasional Services has a lovely service for all hallows eve.
__________________ "In [the Liturgy of the Hours], the Church, the Bride of Christ, whispers words of love to her spouse and, schooled in the mystery of Christ's life, death, and resurrection, fulfills the very purpose of His Incarnation, taught as she is by Christ, the Unique Cantor, the arts of perfect sacrifice and praise."
-Dom Cuthbert Brogan OSB, from the preface to The Monastic Diurnal (St. Michael's Abbey Press)
Halloween is, when celebrated appropriately, a day of fun, candy, parties, and enjoyment. Nothing wrong with that.
Reformation Day is fine for those who agree with Luther.
Samhain is a day for Neopagans. I disagree with their religions. It isn't for me to celebrate.
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I think nowadays Halloween has been modified to such an extent in our culture that the sort of "evil" contained therein is of more concern to dentists than anyone else.
.
OUCH!!!!
Don't remind me of my toothache.
;0)
__________________ “Doubts raced through my mind as I considered the feasibility of enforcing a law which the majority of honest citizens didn't seem to want.” Eliot Ness
The lovely Anne carved a beautiful icon of Hallowed Elisabeth of Thuringia onto her pumpkin which we set out to light our porch on All Hallows' Eve.
God made the Earth and the Sun, and God set the Earth on its axial tilt in such a way that we in the North and South have seasons marked by the equinoxes and solstices and the corners between them. In mediterranean lands the seasons don't matter so much, but for us they frame our experience of the Creator. Winter is coming: with it cold and 'flu and Seasonal Affects and the risk of Death. Of course the fabric between Heaven and Earth is thin at this turning point, half-way between mid-autumn's Michaelmas and mid-Winter's Christmas. So of course we celebrate the Saints who have gone before us and face the sometimes-scary reality of death (especially this fall, with one little child I know hospitalized with H1N1 and another extremely ill at home under a doctor's care).
And of course there will always be those who don't "get it" that God's hand is over us in both life and death, and in the turning of the year, and in the munching of caramel sweets and peanut-butter cups. But their ignorance didn't stop last night from being a Holy Night, or today from being one of the greatest Feast-days of the Christian year!
There is no reason Hallowe'en should be dangerous to Christians, although all children should be accompanied when they go trick or treating, whatever their faith.
Someone needs to send some Butterfingers and Reeses Peanutbutter Cups to the Vatican.
__________________ "Love the sinner, hate the sin? How about: Love the sinner, hate your own sin! I don't have time to hate your sin. There are too many of you! Hating my sin is a full-time job. How about you hate your sin, I'll hate my sin and let's just love each other!"
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