Halloween Mass

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Orion

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My parish has invited all children to wear their Halloween costumes to mass on Sunday. The bulletin had a blurb about some who might question the “wisdom” of this decision and continued to explain some old customs etc. Our pastor also hopes those who choose to let their kids wear costumes will use good judgment in their choice of costumes.

One side of me says no big deal…the kids will love it. The other side is saying this is inappropriate at a Sunday mass. If it was one mass, I might think differently too…but it’s at all masses.

Any thoughts? Is this acceptable?

Thanks,

ORION
 
well we are doing the same thing, usually we encourage them to wear saint costumes to All Saints day Mass, but becaue of timing and a parish potluck after Mass we are encouraging kids to wear ghoulie costumes too, Long, very careful catechesis in bulletin, in CCD and in parent meetings. try www.cuf.org for complete explanation under Faith Facts – All Hallows Eve. basically the tradition of began with some children dressed as saints and angels, others as demons and witches, in a kind of medieval morality play to demonstrate belief in Christ’s victory of sin and death, mocking the devil and showing his power is subordinate to Christ.
 
Orion,

[78.] It is not permissible to link the celebration of Mass to political or secular events, nor to situations that are not fully consistent with the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Furthermore, it is altogether to be avoided that the celebration of Mass should be carried out merely out of a desire for show, or in the manner of other ceremonies including profane ones, lest the Eucharist should be emptied of its authentic meaning. (copied from Zenit)
zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=52462
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is the Church’s greatest offering to God and any addition to the Mass itself – such as “Polka,” “Clown,” “Disco” (yes, there have been cases) or any similar extraneous element – reduces its scope and attempts to press it into service for some cause other than the worship of God.
It could be argued that this is done in order to make the Mass more attractive or welcoming to certain groups. I am certain that it is often done in good faith. Yet, I think that 40 years after the Second Vatican Council it is clear that such attempts have failed to fulfill their promises. (copied from Zenit)
zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=52306

roamer
 
I think common sense should prevail here. Why on earth would we want anyone to wear Halloween costumes to Mass? Completely rediculous.
 
It seems like an unnecessary distraction for the kids. They have a hard enough time behaving and paying attention during Mass. Wearing Halloween costumes will only encourage them to spend the time looking all around for other costumes, playing with their hats/props, crying at other scary costumes, etc.
 
Since the Mass is the re-presentation of the Sacrifice at Calvary, how on earth could it be appropriate for there to be people (no matter their ages) in costume there?

This is a horrific idea - shows me that the priest has lost it! :bigyikes:
 
I don’t feel that Halloween costumes, whether encouraged by the pastor or not, are appropriate to the reverence we all should be showing during mass.

It has only been about two years that I have been attending my parish, and only last Easter that I was finally baptized and chose to enter the Church, but in that time I have seen what I feel is quite often unintentional, but still a lot of people seem to not really reflect on what their dress and general behavior does to reflect the reverence (or irreverence) they are showing at Mass.

An instance of this is a young woman that came to mass a couple months ago, dressed in a miniskirt short enough that she could not modestly kneel, genuflect, or even sit in the pews. To top this off, she was wearing an “Official Hooters Inspector” t-shirt. This young lady professed to have not really thought about it before coming to church that morning. And, I could believe her. I had seen her in church before, and she was dressed much more modestly. Now, I don’t condone denigrating or condemning those who in some peoples’ opinion aren’t dressed well–sometimes the person is in fact dressed in the best that they own, but some prudence does come into actin when you are choosing the manner in which to dress.

I see quite often that parents will allow their children to dress in styles that while fashionable to the youth market, are totally inappropriate for such a reverent act as attending mass. Parents should exercise some control in teaching their children modest forms of dress. Lately it seems more common to see young girls in Mass wearing hiphuggers, with exposed thongs than it is to see them wearing modest skirts or dresses, or even modest slacks. I am not saying that women only belong in dresses or skirts, but I am saying, show your kids how to dress modestly, and do so by example. I see almost as many young mothers dressing in scanty outfits at church as I do their daughters.
 
I say no to costumes of an evil nature, and I wish the Pope
would too. The devil and his workers are no friends of the
church. They want to kill us all and why should we dress
like them to receive communion? Does this warm the heart
of Jesus?
 
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Chris-WA:
I think common sense should prevail here. Why on earth would we want anyone to wear Halloween costumes to Mass? Completely rediculous.
Click to expand...
Common sense? I’m not sure if it exists much in the church these days…

http://stagneslifeteen.com/Thumbs/fear/DSC00375.JPG

stagneslifeteen.com/Thumbs/fear/fear2.html
 
40.png
roamer:
Orion,

[78.] It is not permissible to link the celebration of Mass to political or secular events, nor to situations that are not fully consistent with the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Furthermore, it is altogether to be avoided that the celebration of Mass should be carried out merely out of a desire for show, or in the manner of other ceremonies including profane ones, lest the Eucharist should be emptied of its authentic meaning. (copied from Zenit)
zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=52462
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Click to expand...
The only problem is that the event in question is at its root (although generally no longer perceived to be) a religious event, not a secular one. That said, I still think wearing costumes to Mass, no matter how purely intentioned, has way more potential to distract the attention and detract from the solemnity of the liturgy than any positive benefit it may confer.
 
It’s definitely not from a mass. So what is your point. Are just looking for a way to be offended by life teen.
 
Halloween costumes to Mass? NO WAY.

Liturgical dress only and then only on the Priest, Altar servers and those ministries for which there is liturgical dress.

I have to say this is way over the line.
 
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Great…Children dressed up as demons and even Satan himself during the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Not only inappropriate, but down right evil.

Why on earth would we encourage our children to dress up like that which the LORD died to destroy during Mass?

Outrageous, foolish, pitiable and evil.

Adam
 
We shouldn’t be surprised at this - after all, just take a look at the threads here - there is so much abuse and disrespect at Mass, what’s one more? I’m not surprised by anything anymore - my former parish encourages people to dress up in outlandish clothing for Mardi Gras at the Saturday Vigil mass prior to Ash Wednesday. And of course the children often come in their costumes for Halloween and are dressed up with rabbit ears at Easter… Party on!
 
Joan M:
This is a horrific idea - shows me that the priest has lost it! :bigyikes:
Click to expand...
I think that the local bishop needs to be notified IMMEDIATELY and asked how this violation of …
[78.] It is not permissible to link the celebration of Mass to political or secular events, nor to situations that are not fully consistent with the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Furthermore, it is altogether to be avoided that the celebration of Mass should be carried out merely out of a desire for show, or in the manner of other ceremonies including profane ones, lest the Eucharist should be emptied of its authentic meaning.
Click to expand...
… is being allowed to happen in his diocese?
 
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