It amazes me that Halloween is such a worldwide phenomenon that people celebrate without truly understanding the meaning behind it; much like Christmas. Both events have lost their true meaning to commercialism and are now simply means of making more money, or reasons to throw a party.
Halloween or All Hallows' Eve (the eve of the all holy) is thought to have its roots in a harvest festival or a pagan feast for the dead. More importantly it is also the precursor to the joyous feast day of All Saints' Day, a feast to celebrate the holiness of humanity as seen in the saints who have gone before us and are among us today.
Ironically All Saints' Day is not as celebrated as its eve although it is an occasion for much rejoicing as the holiness of ordinary men and women reminds us we ourselves can be holy and we have a multitude of role models to choose from to emulate.
Do we restore dignity to the poor like Saint Vincent de Paul or Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta?
Do we use education as a way out of poverty for the masses like Blessed Nicholas Barre or Saint Jean-Baptiste De La Salle?
Can we be the voice of the poor like Dorothy Day in the United States, and of the oppressed like Servant of God Oscar Romero in El Salvador?
Can we humble ourselves and find the little ways of love like cloistered Saint Thérèse of Lisieux?
Can we use our own brokenness and inspire many lives like much-loved writer Henri Nouwen?
Last evening Father Romeo reminded us that we can all be saints. All it takes is the desire and the subsequent decision to act like one. Whilst most of us won't have the temerity to call ourselves holy or saints, we can still aim for holiness and sainthood.
So be a saint!
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