YOU HAD ME AT BOOOooooo

By Juan Rodriguez:

When I was a ka into the building elevator and upon exiting it, I saw a pool of blood on the Hallway floor. My brother said to me, “Ooooh, they must have killed someone.” Now picture that - a kid, looking at blood on the hallway floor, and thinking that someone was taken. I could not tell if this was real or fake. I can recall going home that no police was called, so I let it slide, putting the memory in my “Case Closed” pocket of my brain.

Fact is, every young person may have had this experience or a different experience of Halloween, and can recall that moment of fright. That was then, now looking at this and studying about Halloween, I have come to the conclusion, “we’ve been duped.”

You bring it up to family members or friends that “Halloween is a Holy Day of the Church” - you get the impression, “you’re buggin”.

Bring it up to Christians who are uninformed of the Holy Day and you get “tu ta loco, that’s the day of Brujas (witches)”, or killing, sacrifices and mysterious monsters that lurk in the shadows.

Man, the list can go on. Another fact, when we’ve been poorly catechized, when we’ve lost interest in Christian Faith and history, people get “funky” about the Holy Day that it stops being celebrated.

Even the word “Hallow” has lost its meaning - just say the Our Father... the words, “Hallow be thy Name”, and watch yourself fall into deep thought.

“Hallow “ - What does that even mean? And why say it? Why pray to Our Father, and not know its meaning?

A Faithful Christian knows that the word means “Holy”. Now imagine, if we believe God’s Name is “Holy”, then why think that Halloween (The Holy Evening of the Saints) is for the Devil? Have you been duped? Did you get caught out there? Yep, we all bought into a lie, and you can’t make it up - we can only say “Lord, have mercy.”

Let the word sit with you - “Hallow”, means “Holy” - how can His Name mean “evil”?

Reminds me of the first scene of “Lord of the Rings - Fellowship of the Ring”, where the Elf Maiden Galadriel says, “And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge.” Isn’t that what’s happening to Halloween? Is Halloween passing out of knowledge?

Forget the Feast, and you will forget the Saints, and the reason for the journey to Sainthood. It’s a simple “Trick”, and we’ve been fed a “Treat” of lies.

The word “Holy” means to be dedicated or consecrated to God. That day was on our Baptism - we were blessed to be covered in His protection, and be a light in our world - in its darkest hour. Halloween reminds us “get back to the journey towards Holiness!”

So how do we take Halloween Back.

1. Be Holy - His Name is Holy, and He made you and blessed you to be Holy! This is our First Vocation.

2. Reflect on His Name. Meditate on His Name. Call His Name. Speak His Name daily! The only way to appreciate His Holy Name is if you talk with Him.

3. Read the lives of the Saints, start with your name, or find the Saint who has your name. Even better, look up your Baptism or Confirmation Saint Name and read about the Saint. I even dare you to talk with this Saint. They’ve been praying for you! Stop making “rain checks” or “excuses” to find time to chat. We make time for everything, but for God and the Saints - that’s put off for a later time. You’ll get a reality check when you pick up your cell for a call or text.

It’s not easy to shake off the “Halloween” idea of being Holy over the misconception of it being “evil”- time, patience, study, and prayer to God can slowly remove the FEAR and FRIGHT fest our minds encounter when the word “Halloween” is mentioned. Don’t be fooled!