Greetings to you! How are you? Hopefully this e Newsletter finds you doing well and glorifying the Lord by your life. Looking at the calendar it seems like next week will be quite the medley of cultural and theological celebrations:
- Wednesday, October 31st will be the celebration of All Hallows’ Eve, or the day before All Saints Day, or Halloween as it is popularly known.
- Thursday, November 1st will be the Solemnity of All Saints Day.
- Friday, November 2nd will be the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed or All Souls Day. In Mexico the day is called Día de los Muertos or “Day of the Dead.”
When I was much younger the most significant celebration of next week would have been Halloween, because that was a day in which I could dress up like a Ninja Turtle for a couple of hours and trick-or-treat my way to huge quantities of candy. As I’ve gotten older it’s still fun to see my nephews and nieces enjoying the costumes and tasty goodies of Halloween but my own attention has shifted to the inspiring lives of the saints and praying for the decease
d.
The words of St. Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians come to mind,
“
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things
”
(13:11). While it’s true that I still enjoy a delicious Whatchamacallit every now and again, and occasionally I’ll watch an episode of the classic Ninja Turtles cartoon, my attention has largely focused on growing in holiness and praying for those who have left this world.
As for next week, we’ll have plenty of spiritual treats to nourish our souls and with God’s Grace, not a single trick to worry about. Until then take care and have a wonderful weekend!
