All Saints' Eve

[buzzcut]

Drove by an evangelical church the other day. On their church sign they were advertising an event on October 31 titled “All Saints’ Eve.” I guess they’re trying hard to present an alternative to Halloween. But how can they have saints if they’re not Catholic? Weird, huh?

 

[Della]

It does seem weird, but then there is a trend in some Protestant churches to return to some of the things their founding fathers abandoned, such as honoring the saints or seeing a place in their lives for the Virgin and that sort of thing. I see it as encouraging steps towards reunification with the Church Christ founded.

On another level, I think it only natural since the Catholic faith is the truth, and all those who truly wish to live according to the truth will stumble upon doing things their communions ditched through an artificial sense of puritanism. What is imposed and artificial eventually falls by the wayside in those who endeavor to live the truth as Christ passed it on in his Church, whether they understand that is what they are doing or not.

 

[Zooey]

Actually, my (Methodist) pastor has been having something like this for years…The Sunday before Halloween, there is a special time for the children, when a number–usually 2 or 3–of the adults who come dressed up as a saint, tell the kids the story of that saint’s life…
I have been St Teresa of Avila, & St Joan of Arc…The children love it, and the grown-ups inevitabley end up at the local library, checking out books on saints’ lives…
I would point out that we do use the word a little more loosely. I mean, a saint can be any outstanding Christian from history, not just a canonized saint (Catholic or otherwise)…

 

[MariaG]

buzzcut:

Drove by an evangelical church the other day. On their church sign they were advertising an event on October 31 titled “All Saints’ Eve.” I guess they’re trying hard to present an alternative to Halloween. But how can they have saints if they’re not Catholic? Weird, huh?

In the Evangelical Church I left right before coming to the Catholic Church, there was absolutely no understanding of communion of saints, as in with the Church Triumphant.

I would guess if you talked to the people of the Church this “All saints eve” is probably going to be a celebration that only includes those in the Church Militant, those here on earth.

God Bless,
Maria

 

[Milliardo]

buzzcut:

Drove by an evangelical church the other day. On their church sign they were advertising an event on October 31 titled “All Saints’ Eve.” I guess they’re trying hard to present an alternative to Halloween. But how can they have saints if they’re not Catholic? Weird, huh?

Well, they could go on a little further and have All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). Then All Saints’ Eve would make more sense. BTW, All Saints’ Day is observed here in the Philippines. People go to cemeteries to visit and pray for their loved ones (if they’re not too busy singing, eating, playing cards and doing other things). November 1 here is always a holiday.

 

[puzzleannie]

since the word Halloween is a contraction of the archaic English phrase All Hallow’s Eve (hallowed meaning those who are hallowed=holy=saints) they are merely updating their English usage.