The Catholic Origins of Halloween

Gloria Romanorum ^ | October 25, 3017 | Florentius

[kaehurowing]

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/exclusive-interview-with-exorcist-fr-vincent-lampert

Church Militant: Halloween is soon coming up. What is your opinion as an exorcist on Halloween?

“Father Vincent Lampert: The danger with Halloween is that it glorifies evil. I believe it is one of the devil’s traps to lure people into darkness and sin. I don’t see anything wrong with a child dressing up as a princess or cowboy and going out trick or treating. It’s when the focus is on demons, ghosts, vampires, etc. that we have crossed the fine line over into the devil’s playing field.”

[Antoninus]

The catholic doctrine of there being a superclass of believers who are elevated to “saints” runs contrary to the entire new testament.

It really doesn't at all. In fact, it sounds to me as if you never really learned what the Catholic Church teaches about the communion of saints, who is part of it, and who isn't. I don't fault you for that -- I wasn't taught it either despite a decade plus of Catholic schooling in the 70s and 80s and had to find out for myself.

Go here and read this excellent history of the belief from the old Catholic Encyclopedia.

[Boogieman]

Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had been appointed the Universal Judge of What’s Funny.

[Antoninus]

Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had been appointed the Universal Judge of What’s Funny.

It's a general axiom that if you have to explain why something's funny, it's probably not. #justsayin

[winslow]

Thanks for the article. Honestly, I’ve skimmed it and some of it is alright, but my question is, if the church recognises that all Christians are saints in as much as we are called by God and “set apart” for his holy purpose, then what is the point of “canonisation” and why are saints venerated?

I recognise that scripture does encourage us to imitate the lives of the faithful before us and draw inspiration from their faith, courage and commitment to God. In this respect I am always blown away by Hebrews chapter 11 where the greatest heroes of the faith are chronicled for us already.

[Boogieman]

It’s a general axiom that if you need someone to explain the joke to you, you have a bad sense of humor. #justsayin

[Antoninus]

It’s a general axiom that if you need someone to explain the joke to you, you have a bad sense of humor. #justsayin

Sorry, but you'll need to explain that one to me as well. #Dontgetit ;-)

[Mom MD]

Amen. Preach it

[Claud]

Fine, but not true. Halloween is a pagan celebration of death and demons.

Absolutely wrong. Halloween was a Christian holiday..the vigil of All Hallows/All Saints. Then the Reformation came along, and people didn't want to honor the saints anymore. They called it "pagan" and outlawed it. So now the pagans came along and said "Mmmm...ok. Must be ours then, We'll take it over."

If it's pagan now, it's because pagans stole it right from under your noses. But it never was before.

[Claud]

Yawn...yeah we know you don’t like the Catholic view of saints. Tell us something new.

The point of this thread is that Halloween was *NEVER* pagan, and in fact it was early Protestant kings like Henry VIII and Elizabeth who *deChristianized* it, secularized it, and ultimately allowed the pagans to take it over and claim it as theirs.

So good job giving this one to the Enemy. He’s done good work with it. /sarc

[kaehurowing]

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/exclusive-interview-with-exorcist-fr-vincent-lampert

Church Militant: Halloween is soon coming up. What is your opinion as an exorcist on Halloween?

Father Vincent Lampert: The danger with Halloween is that it glorifies evil. I believe it is one of the devil’s traps to lure people into darkness and sin. I don’t see anything wrong with a child dressing up as a princess or cowboy and going out trick or treating. It’s when the focus is on demons, ghosts, vampires, etc. that we have crossed the fine line over into the devil’s playing field.

[Antoninus]

If it's pagan now, it's because pagans stole it right from under your noses. But it never was before.

Excellent summary.

[Claud]

One of these geniuses needs to explain why a supposed Celtic and Pagan festival has an obviously Germanic and Christian name. "All Hallows"/"Alle Heiligen" = "All the saints".

Oh but some long-haired Dungeon-Master neoDruid "priest" said it, and Pastor Billy Bob of the First Reformed Church of Puritania thinks them thar Catlicks wear funny hats, so it MUST be of pagan origins, right?

[Antoninus]

The danger with Halloween is that it glorifies evil.

Fr. Lampert is talking about how Halloween is celebrated in contemporary America. And he's right. He's not talking about how Catholics have traditionally celebrated All Saints Day and its vigil--which is what this article is about.

[Antoninus]

One of these geniuses needs to explain why a supposed Celtic and Pagan festival has an obviously Germanic and Christian name.

Well, because the semi-Christianized ancient druids read the omens and knew that Christianity was coming, so they pre-emptively changed the name of their demon-worshiping feast days to All Hallows Eve so as to better keep it hidden.

Or something.

[Claud]

I respect Fr. Lampert and have enjoyed his talks. He is eminently sensible and I agree with what he said.

But I’m not sure if even Father Lampert knows that prior to 1955, Halloween was a *liturgical vigil* in the Church, with its own propers in the Mass and the Divine Office.

https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2019/09/all-hallows-eve-halloween-in.html

For a thousand years we’ve been celebrating it, so enough with this “it’s an evil holiday” business. If the devil has taken it over, then stuff him and his little minions, let’s take it back.

[ealgeone]

So this is something not witnessed in the early church.

[Claud]

LOL..exactly.

People act like they have translated all the relevant primary sources themselves.

[Claud]

Fr. Lampert is talking about how Halloween is celebrated in contemporary America. And he's right. He's not talking about how Catholics have traditionally celebrated All Saints Day and its vigil--which is what this article is about.

Bingo.

[Claud]

Don’t play this “early Church” game. You’ll lose. Badly.