• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Search
  • Calendar
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Bulletins
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Apostolic Center of Arts and Culture

  •  
  • Join Us!
    • Welcome!
    • Becoming Catholic/OCIA
    • Become a Member
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Reconciliation
    • Eucharist
    • Confirmation
    • Marriage
    • Holy Orders
    • Anointing
    • Funerals
  • Parish Life
    • Staff
    • Office Hours
    • Ministries
      • Altar Server Schedule
    • Fellowships
    • The Rescue Project
    • Alpha
    • Bible Study
    • Room Use Policy
    • Event Checklist
    • Have a Good Idea?
  • Tours
    • Statue and Relic Pilgrimage
    • Group Tours
    • History
    • Our Stained Glass
    • Other Neat Tour Stuff
    • Virtual Tours
      • Go Inside the Cathedral
      • Get a Bird’s-eye View
  • Weddings
    • Process
    • Marriage Prep
    • Documents
    • FAQs
    • Choosing Your Music
    • Liturgy Planning
      • Nuptial Mass Planning Form
      • Sacrament of Matrimony Planning Form
  • Music
    • Cathedral Cultural Series
    • Support CCS
    • Organs
    • Schola
    • Archdiocesan Chorus
    • Parish Choir
    • Cathedral Choir Academy (Children)
  • Candles
    • Candle Lighting
    • Prayer Requests
  • Grotto Fund
  • Apartments
  • Times · Location
  • Events
  • News · Notes
  • Donate
  • All Articles
  • Arts & Culture
    • Statue and Relic Pilgrimage
    • The A.C.C.
    • Art for God’s Sake
Home All Articles Fr. JJs Jottings Halloween? All Saints? All Souls? Why should we care?

Halloween? All Saints? All Souls? Why should we care?

October 30, 2021 by Fr. J.J. Mech

What is the reason we celebrate Halloween? Halloween is thought to have roots in medieval Christian beliefs and practices. The phrase “All Hallows'” is found in Old English, “All Hallows’ Eve” dates to 1556.  The word Halloween or Hallowe’en dates to about 1745 and is of Christian origin. The word Hallowe’en means “Saints’ evening”. Since the time of the early Church, major feasts in Christianity (such as Christmas, Easter and Pentecost) had vigils that began the night before.  It comes from a Scottish term for All Hallows’ Eve (the evening before All Hallows’ Day). Over time, (All) Hallow(s) E(v)en evolved into Hallowe’en. It is the evening before the Christian holy days of All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2. The traditions and importance of Halloween vary greatly among countries that observe it.

What is the reason we celebrate All Saints? The celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day stems from a belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven and the living. In Catholic theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision (i.e. seeing God). Both the Feast of All Saints and the Feast of All Souls evolved in the life of the Church independently of paganism. The exact origins of All Saints are uncertain, although, after the legalization of Christianity in 313, a common commemoration of Saints, especially the martyrs, appeared in various areas throughout the Church. The primary reason for establishing a common feast day was because of the desire to honor the great number of martyrs, but there were not enough days of the year for a feast day for each martyr and many of them died in groups. Therefore, a common feast day for all saints was established.

Particular ethnic groups developed their own lore which was eventually merged with the celebration. For example, in Ireland, people held a parade in honor of Muck Olla, a god. They followed a leader dressed in a white robe with a mask from the head of an animal and begged for food. Ireland is also the source of the jack-o’ lantern fable: A man named Jack was not able to enter heaven because of his miserliness and he could not enter hell because he played practical jokes on the devil; so, he was condemned to walk the earth with his lantern until Judgment Day.  The Scots walked through fields and villages carrying torches and lit bonfires to ward off witches and other evil spirits.  With the spread of Christianity and the establishment of All Saints Day, some of these pagan customs remained in the English-speaking world for All Hallows’ Eve, out of superstition and out of fun. Nevertheless, All Saints’ Day clearly arose from genuine a Christian devotion.

What is the reason we celebrate All Souls? All Souls’ Day, in Roman Catholicism, is a day for commemoration of all the faithful departed, i.e., those baptized Christians who are believed to be in purgatory because they died with the guilt of lesser sins on their souls. Roman Catholic doctrine holds that the prayers of the faithful on earth will help cleanse these souls in order to prepare them for the vision of God in heaven, and the day is dedicated to prayer and remembrance.

Why should we care and How can I make it my own?  First, come to Mass.  It is the source and summit of what we are!  Come to our “Commissioning Mass” for the Priests of the Family of Parishes.  It will take place with Bishop Hanchon at Our Lady of the Rosary at 6:30 PM on November 1. You can also pray for all your deceased loved ones with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Vigneron on November 2 here at the Cathedral at 7 PM.  Contact Anna Romano today or tomorrow for details about memorial candles, or see page 4 of this weekend’s bulletin. The Mass will be offered for your loved ones.  Hope to see you there!

God Bless,

Fr. J.J.

 

Primary Sidebar

Cathedral Mass Times

Our current Mass schedule is:

Sundays: 11 AM in person and livestreamed.

All* Other Days: 8 AM in person and livestreamed.

Typically, non-Sunday Holy Day Masses are held at 8 AM. Any additional Masses will be listed under Upcoming Events.

Exposition on First Fridays and Second Thursdays after 8 AM Mass.

*High holy days and ordinations will cause exceptions.

Cathedral Hours

Current office hours are:

Sunday:  office closed

Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: office closed

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Recent Articles

  • Holy Week / Easter Hours
  • G.K. Chesterton and Friends
  • Deacon on Duty – Holy Souls
  • From the Archbishop – Part Two
  • Jottings from Fr. J.J. – How Are We Doing?

Footer

Search this Website

More Information

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Connect With Us

  9844 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202
  (313) 865-6300
 cathedral@aod.org

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Get Our Newsletter

You may unsubscribe at any time.

Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
9844 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48202
(313) 865-6300


© 2023 · Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament · All Rights Reserved

Designed by 1955 Design