Memento Mori: Celebration, Reflection, & Prayer on Allhallowtide

Memento Mori: Celebration, Reflection, & Prayer on Allhallowtide

By Rietta Parker, Contributing Writer

Header art: Vanitas with Sunflower and Jewelry Box by Maria van Oosterwijck (c. 1665) via christies.com

Halloween. All Hallow’s Eve. Hallow meaning holy. The night before All Saints’ Day, when we celebrate, honor, and aspire to become all the souls that have gone before us in death and have achieved the ultimate goal in life: to be united as saints with Christ in heaven. A very Catholic holiday. 

So, why do many people believe Halloween to be a paganistic or Satanistic holiday that should be banned in the Catholic Church? 

As with many widespread holidays which are technically Catholic (St. Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Christmas, etc.), the secular world grabs hold of it, commercializes it, and warps its traditions into something that, quite frankly, they never were. So, how can we as Catholics, especially those of us who are Catholic parents, keep the beauty, imagination, fun, and sacredness of this holiday alive while also protecting our kids from some of its corrupt Westernization? Here are some tips and tricks (and treats!) for you as you enter into this beautiful and sacred weekend of faith and fun.  

Halloween

Wearing costumes: 
From a Catholic perspective, wearing costumes is anchored in medieval or Celtic traditions of either dressing up as someone you aspire to be (such as a saint) or dressing up as something frightening in order to ward off and mock evil spirits. Chances are, everyone dressing up today can fit their costume choice into one of these two categories: inspiring or frightening. 

As Catholics, I think it’s our duty to look in the mirror in these costumes and ask ourselves some important questions. Did we choose this costume because we love what it represents? If so, does what it represents align with our faith? Did we choose this costume to be frightening? If so, are we intentionally or unintentionally glamorizing demonic creatures/influences? Kids usually choose costumes because the persona is someone they love or admire in some way. I encourage parents to have a conversation with their kids this year about their costume. What do you love about this person? For example, if it’s a princess or superhero, what are some virtues that character illustrates that we could strive toward exhibiting ourselves? Even if your toddler is dressing up as an animal, I’m sure that animal is associated with some hefty virtues and could even be tied biblically to a Catholic lesson or two. 

Trick-or-treating:
“Souling” derives from a medieval practice of going door to door and asking for sweets, or “soul cakes,” in exchange for prayers for that household’s deceased loved ones. As Catholics, it is important to establish a routine of praying for the souls in purgatory. So, after trick-or-treating, or after that Halloween party, pray for the souls of the deceased loved ones of every person you encountered. Pray for your own deceased loved ones as well. If you’re a parent, in your kids’ routine bedtime prayers, pray for the members of every household they went to while trick or treating—both the living and the dead.

It is vital that children learn from you, their first spiritual guide, the power of prayer and what it means to pray for someone as a Catholic and to continue praying long after that someone is dead. 

All Saints’ Day 

All Saints’ Day should be an extension of the joy and festivity of Halloween. Go to Mass. Eat your sweets from last night. Discuss your favorite saints. Host a party where guests have an opportunity to dress up as their favorite saint. Watch your favorite saint-centered movie. Include your favorite saints in the feast day, literally, by praying to them.

For some saint-centered film recommendations, visit our blogs below!
Why Every Catholic Should See Triumph of the Heart
Film Review: The Story of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Roadmap to Reality: Blessed Carlo Acutis
Mary: A Film Review

If you’re a parent, today is an especially great day to help teach your kids that the earth is “thy ship and not thy home” and that above all other goals in life, our goal is to become a saint. Make sure your child understands that “the saints” are not just the famous canonized people, but any soul that has gone straight to heaven to be united eternally with the body of Christ. If you haven’t already taught them extensively about the saints, and in particular their own confirmation saint and/or your family’s patron saints, today is a great day to come up with fun activities that help them establish these saint relationships. If you’re the type of person that finds this kind of thing exhausting and don’t know where to begin, there are plenty of small Catholic businesses that create All Saints’ Day curriculum, activities, party planning ideas, etc. Go do some All Saints’ Day Pinterest-ing! 

All Souls’ Day

Our merriment slows down on All Souls’ Day as we take time to reflect on the reality of the spiritual warfare that is all around us. We took a couple days to bask in the hope of the resurrection and the home Jesus has gone to prepare for us, but now, we must come back down to earth and recognize that even though Jesus has won the war, our personal battle is long from over. Over the next seven days, we can take time to arm ourselves for battle by going to confession, going to daily Mass, and/or going to adoration. Take time to refocus on Christ. Go to a cemetery and pray for your loved ones’ souls. Make sure you haven’t forgotten their very real possible need for your continued prayers. If you do any of these things this week of Allhallowtide, in a state of grace in conjunction with certain prayers, you can achieve a plenary indulgence freeing a soul from purgatory. Click here for more information: How You Can Offer a Plenary Indulgence for the Souls in Purgatory

If you’re a parent, all of these activities are great to do with your kids. Bring flowers to the cemetery after Mass. It doesn’t all have to be sad and gloomy. You can very well tell stories of your deceased loved ones and laugh and remember wonderful times with them. But also pray for them, and remind your kids that spiritual warfare takes many forms. Equip them with the tools necessary to be a light in the darkness, to recognize the glamor and gleam of the enemy’s work and not be fooled by it. 

Memento Mori: Remember That You Die 

Allhallowtide serves as a stark reminder of the reality of what is to come for each and every soul:

Death, Judgement.
Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell.

Through our calling to be lights of the world, living in the hope and security of Jesus’ resurrection, we must continuously and tirelessly work toward our greatest goal: achieving heaven for ourselves and for others through Christ. As we celebrate, reflect, and pray this weekend, we should keep one vision in mind: the potential lineup of souls greeting us at the gates to say, “Thank you for praying for me.” 

The Fatima Prayer: 
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.

The Requiem Prayer: 
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 

Have a safe, fun, faith-filled holiday from everyone at Paloma & Fig!

---

Rietta Parker holds a BS in secondary English education and an MA in English-Creative Writing from Auburn University. She writes fiction, poetry, reflections, and prayers. Her work has been published in Bridge: Bluffton University’s Literary Journal, Quiet Lightning, and Poet’s Choice. In 2020, her reflection on being at home in the Church was featured in The Catholic Woman’s “Portrait of a Catholic Woman” social media campaign. She’s a member of the Catholic Writers Guild where she serves as an anthology and blog editor. When she isn’t teaching or writing, she loves to sing, dance, and act.