All Saints Day and All Souls Day

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Days now passed by too fast! Without you knowing it, important holidays on the -Ber months are coming. One of the events that really get into me is the celebration of all Souls’ Day in the month of November. The common activity being held for this event alone in our city is the Trick- or-Treat, where a parade of costumes highlighted the event for the kids, and  horror booth exhibits and Halloween concert for the teens.  Filipinos now adopt the western culture of other countries in celebrating this event. 

While the Feast of All Saints is a day to remember the glories of Heaven and those there, the Feast of All Souls reminds us of our obligations to live holy lives and that there will be purification of souls destined for Heaven. However, most of the time, the real essence of this occasion is often ignored. People merely focus on the commercial side, like the beautification of their loved one’s tombs or mausoleums or buying expensive flowers, lighting of scented candles, bringing lots of food and drinks and other commercially-adopted practices which I think defeat the real purpose of this occasion.

I am not against those practices because I myself want to give my departed loved one a decent place where they will be remembered. What I’m trying to point out here is that the true value of the occasion should be given more importance. Upon death, it is believed that souls have not yet been cleansed of sin.

Praying for souls of loved ones helps to remove the stain of sin, and allow the souls to enter the pearly gates of heaven. That is the most precious gift that we can give to them on their journey to heaven. Need a handful of it when the time comes. Happy Halloween!