Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day: A Reflection
The word "Halloween" is a contraction of "All Hallows Eve," and it designates the vigil of All Hallows Day, more commonly known today as All Saints Day. Both the feast of All Saints Day, November 1st, and its vigil, October 31st, have been celebrated since the early eighth century when they were instituted by Pope Gregory III in Rome. Today, All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics to celebrate all the lives and sacrifices of the saints, known and unknown. It is an important day for those saints whose feast days are not widely observed and for those saints who have not yet been canonized and whose sainthood is still known only to God. The next day, November 2nd, marks All Souls' Day on which we remember and pray for the souls of people who have died and may still be in purgatory. It is our hope that you had a safe, fun Halloween with your families but never forget those believers who have passed on and still watch over us. As we continue to navigate the challenges of today's world, it's important to know that we are not alone in our efforts to make a brighter, more loving future for everyone.
Once a month, we will feature an online student or faculty/staff member who embodies the Ignatian ideals of faith, truth, justice, and service in our online community. If you'd like to nominate someone, please contact ssconlinega@loyno.edu to share who and why you think deserves to be in the spotlight.