The Vatican Condemned Halloween Last Year

[Vico]

usatoday last time I checked is not the Vatican, nor is this link the Vatican website, nor is the body quoted in the article the Vatican. non-issue.

Thats right, Padre Juan Mª Canals Casas, of Madrid, is a liturgical expert and the Technical Secretary of the La Comisión Episcopal de Liturgia de la Conferencia Episcopal Española who was quoted by the Vatican Newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.

conferenciaepiscopal.es/liturgia/default.htm

dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/autor?codigo=2137299

On All Saints Day:
catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0199.html

 

[MerryCatholic]

i like to see the little ones come to the door every year and some of them say how hard they worked on their costumes with mom and dad. its kinda cute. i don’t have an issue with halloween. kids get a chance to dress up, have fun, it only comes once a year. so let them have fun i don’t mind adults either dressing up and going out and having fun so long as it is scandal free. so long as they keep in mind not to cause an occasion for sin. if they respect that, then why can’t they have fun? as long as they are modestly dressed, why not have a bit of fun? invite some friends over, watch a show and listen to monster mash. halloween only comes once a year, and it can be fun for all. as long as we go to Mass for All Saints, respect our faith, there is no reason why we cannot have fun. put out the pumpkin, have fun carving it with your kids, if you have no kids, have fun carving it with your spouse! i think it is for all ages. evne seniors can have fun on halloween!

 

[Vico]

usatoday last time I checked is not the Vatican, nor is this link the Vatican website, nor is the body quoted in the article the Vatican. non-issue.

Thats right, Padre Juan Maria Canals Casas, of Madrid, is a liturgical expert and the Technical Secretary of the La Comisión Episcopal de Liturgia de la Conferencia Episcopal Española who was quoted by the Vatican Newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.

conferenciaepiscopal.es/liturgia/default.htm

dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/autor?codigo=2137299

On All Saints Day:
catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0199.html

 

[JohnCS]

Yeah, and I remember reading about others at the Vatican saying, If children wish to dress as pirates and ghouls as a game, there’s no harm in that, for this year a night. I believe it was in fact father Amorth who said that.

Jeez, people get all psyched up for nothing. WE ain’t evangelical protestants; We don’t need to worry about satan hanging around in our candy corn for pete’s sake. I for one plan on enjoying my haunted backyard decorating and costume making

Just curious… as a Catholic, are we not supposed to believe that satan exists and that he can effect things in this world?

 

[FaustinaClare]

When I was in college the goal for halloween was to see how slutty you could dress. At least for females. Most girls went to lingerie shops for their costumes. Even if it was freezing cold. I am so glad I am out of that scene. I plan on dressing up as a 1920s flapper, modestly of course, the dress comes past the knees, and pass out candy. We have a lot of young children in our neighborhood and I’m actually looking forward to being the grown up for once

I do have neighbors who refuse to celebrate halloween b/c they feel it is too secular/pagan and takes away from the holiday the next day. Kind of like presents for Christmas and the Easter bunny instead of Christ.

I personally don’t see too much harm in having festivals/candy etc as long as you don’t focus on the occult.

 

[At_Trent]

I was at a friends house a few years ago, and he told me his 15 yo son was into Satanism. He said the boys mother had found a copy of the Satanic Bible in his room. Anyhow, a few minutes later, the boy walks in, and his father confronts him.

Guess what he says ?

“What is the big deal ? You and mom used to dress me up as the devil and my sister as a witch on Halloween”

 

[Ockham]

Wouldn’t it be a good idea to recover our own culture and identity instead of promoting the secular world’s?

How many people visit a grave yard on All Soul’s Day? How many people go to Mass on All Saint’s Day? Litany of the Saints? Anything?

Halloween: fisheaters.com/customstimeafterpentecost12aa.html

All Saints Day: fisheaters.com/customstimeafterpentecost12.html

"*This is a Holy Day of Obligation on which we celebrate the Church Triumphant – all the Saints in Heaven, canonized or unknown.

After Noon today, and until Midnight tomorrow, a person who has been to confession and Communion can gain a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, for the poor souls in Purgatory (who will be commemorated tomorrow) each time he visits a church or public oratory and recites the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory be to the Father six times. This is a special exception to the ordinary law of the Church according to which a plenary indulgence for the same work can be gained only once a day. Some of the grave-visiting customs described on the entry for All Souls Day, then, may begin today in some places.

In anticipation of All Souls’ Day tomorrow, when night comes on this day, we darken the room, light a candle blessed at Candlemas, and pray the Rosary for our dead. Praying the 129th Psalm (the De Profundis) and/or the Litany of the Saints would also be lovely. You can download the Litany, in Microsoft Word .doc format, in English or in Latin".*

 

[Gregorian_Rite]

As vulnerable as children are, it would seem that a Christian would not let a child dress as a witch or devil. With all the pagan sites on the internet, it could indirectly fuel their curiosity.

A local parish has a halloween party at the church hall,and the children are allowed to dress as their favorite saint It’s packed every year.

 

[Vico]

usatoday last time I checked is not the Vatican, nor is this link the Vatican website, nor is the body quoted in the article the Vatican. non-issue.

Thats right, Padre Juan Mª Canals Casas, of Madrid, is a liturgical expert and the Technical Secretary of the La Comisión Episcopal de Liturgia de la Conferencia Episcopal Española who was quoted by the Vatican Newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.

La Comisión Episcopal de Liturgia :
conferenciaepiscopal.es/liturgia/default.htm

Publications of Padre Juan Mª Canals Casas:
dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/autor?codigo=2137299

Catholic Education About All Saints Day:
catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0199.html

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

I condemn it every year. Absolute despise the “holiday”

 

[PatriceA]

With as few trick-or-treaters as come around my neighborhood, I give to any kid, regardless of age, who knocks on Halloween. And, even then, I still wind up having to take a lot of it to work for the breakroom.

I even give to the parents or adults walking around with their kids. Doesn’t bother me a bit what age the trick or treaters are. Its just fun to see the different costumes.

 

[At_Trent]

I was at a friends house a few years ago, and he told me his 15 yo son was into Satanism. He said the boys mother had found a copy of the Satanic Bible in his room. Anyhow, a few minutes later, the boy walks in, and his father confronts him.

Guess what he says ?

“What is the big deal ? You and mom used to dress me up as the devil and my sister as a witch on Halloween”

My re-post was due to a forum glitch. I see it’s fixed now

 

[At_Trent]

I condemn it every year. Absolute despise the “holiday”

And you should !

Feast of the Dead
It is believed that the borders between the world of the living and the dead is thinner on this night - also known as ‘Ancestor night’ - so souls of the dead can enter the land of the living. Spirits roam free to revisit their earthly homes. The Celts looked to their ancestors to bring them guidance for the coming year and hoped to commune with the spirits at Samhain.
Samhain is considered a celebration of life over death, and a time to remember those who have left the world of the living. Candles would be lit at the graves of loved ones. In Mexico family members light many candles around the graves of their loved ones and lay out special feast foods for the spirits, and remain there all night.

Halloween originates from the ancient Celts’ celebrations and is based on their ‘Feast of Samhain’. The Catholic church attempted to replace the Pagan festival with All Saints’ or All Hallows’ day, followed by All Souls’ Day, on November 2nd.
The eve became known as: All Saints’ Eve, All Hallows’ Eve, or Hallowe’en. All Saints’ Day is said to be the day when souls walked the Earth. In early Christian tradition souls were released from purgatory on All Hallow’s Eve for 48 hours.

In order to protect themselves from any roaming evil spirits the Celts would appease them by offering them treats. The custom of wearing costumes on Halloween is thought to derive from the Celts disguising themselves at Samhain, so the spirits would think that they belonged to their own company. They could then communicate with the spirit world, known as ‘souling’.
new-age.co.uk/celtic-festivals-samhain.htm

Any Roman Catholic who is made aware of this, can’t in good conscience, defend the celebration of it.

 

[At_Trent]

The Roman Catholic recognition is far from the origin.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Forget Iron Man. I’m sticking with the Eddie, the Iron Maiden heavy metal mascot costume!

My very orthodox priest has a wonderful homily about this. He says what is condemned is the glorification of death, like vampire and undead costumes. Its not saying we cannot celebrate, but let us celebrate life. The reason the Church celebrates All Saints and All Souls around Halloween is that the Church wants to celebrate Eternal Life for those who passed away.

It was never said we cannot wear costumes and give out or receive candy. Lets just not glorify death.

Go dressed as Ironman or something

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

“What’s the big deal ? You and mom dressed me up as the devil and dressed my sister up as a witch. So what is the problem ? If it wasn’t for that, I may never have gotten interested in it.”

I guess then we should condemn those other young idiots who got into European paganism after reading Lord of the Rings.

Rather sad how kids these days are so stupid to believe they can mix fantasy with real life.

The Roman Catholic recognition is far from the origin.

So is the modern version. Do you think the ‘spirits of the dead’ are gonna be fooled by this?

How about the trendy new Asian version of it? What was it called? Oh yeah: Cosplay.

Okay I know cosplay isn’t just a Halloween thing but I gotta say, if my family actually manages to successfully move to the States and we celebrate halloween, expect all my reservations to cosplay to temporarily weaken. As in, weaken to the point that I’d actually wanna wear something like this.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
Teh hood… me wants it!! >.<

On a more serious note though, I’ve found it common nowadays for Catholics to bemoan at how the secularization of Christmas has distorted it since it was now a far cry from what they supposed Christmas was supposed to be (not that we don’t have a point to an extent since people do still tend to forgot that it’s a season of warmth, charity, and whatnot >.

With that in mind however, wouldn’t the same thing apply to Halloween? I mean since the original spirit and intention of Samhain is also lost in the commercialization just as what happened with Christmas, wouldn’t that actually be a good thing?

 

[Timothysis]

I’d hate to know what some of you think about the Easter Bunny.

 

[Lamafacaja]

So is the modern version. Do you think the ‘spirits of the dead’ are gonna be fooled by this?

 

[Vico]

The antidote for the beasties P139:

Cá háit a rachaidh mé ó do spiorad?
ná cá háit a dteithfidh mé ó do láthair?
Má ghabhaim in airde neimhe beidh tú ann romham;
má luím san uaigh, beidh tú ansin romham freisin.
Má ghabhaim umam sciatháin na maidine,
agus cónaí i gcríocha imchiana na farraige,
ansin féin beidh do lámh do mo sheoladh;
agus béarfaidh tú orm le do dheasláimh.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea,even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand hold me fast.

 

[Julianna]

And you should !

Any Roman Catholic who is made aware of this, can’t in good conscience, defend the celebration of it.

Your last line made me think…

I grew up in Western MA. My neighborhood of well over 250 homes and 95% Catholic. The 10 houses on my block…all were Catholic. Halloween was a big deal…everyone dressed up…and everyone was out. The dads walked us around while the moms handed out candy. Before you think this was yesterday…the years were 1963-1970.

Fast forward…1975…my family moved to SC. Of the 250 houses in the neighborhood…95% were Protestant. Of that 95%, 70% were Baptist, 15% were Pentacostal, 5% were Methodist and the other 5% were Episcopalian. Needless to say, Halloween was a bust. The Methodists and the Episcopalians went out along with the 3% Catholics and 2% ?

How ironic? And you know what? It is still true today. I live in NC now…and the Baptists and Pentacostals go to Church on Halloween night. After prayer service, they have a “Trunk or Treat” party in the Church hall.

Where were my kids? Out Trick or Treating around the neighborhood with the Episcopalians, Methodists, a few Presbyterians and ?

My Baptist cousins never went out on Halloween, my Pentacostal cousins never went out on Halloween… When we would visit in the summer, they would love to hear what my siblings and I were going to be for Halloween and what was our favorite candy. As a child I thought it was “odd” that they never went out on Halloween. At that time I thought…wow…I am so glad I’m Catholic.

When I got older…my cousins would like to listen to the stories about Catholic wedding receptions, and bridal showers. They couldn’t get over that we had a sit down dinner, dressed up in long gown type dresses and tux’s for the guys…Champagne fountains…a live band…everyone dancing until the wee hours, open bar, bouquet and garter toss. Again, I remember thinking…wow…I am so glad I’m Catholic.

After reading your post and the title of this one…I thought I might have been living in a parallel universe.