Remember, Remember for its Almost November

“The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.” - Cicero

Across the Catholic world there are three consecutive days of feasts at the end of October and beginning of November. In English they are called Halloween (10/31), All Saints Day (11/1), and All Souls Day (11/2). Halloween may be better translated as All Hallow’s Eve – the night before the holy. It was a time to prepare yourself before the holy feast of All Saints. Halloween has also been construed as a time when demons are allowed free reign (since it’s the night before the holy feast). Others see it as a time when humans can mock the demonic (i.e. dressing up in costumes) because the next day is the triumphant of the holy.

All Saints Day is to celebrate all the people in heaven – both the known and unknown saints. All Souls day celebrates the memory of all the departed.

Many Catholic churches in the United States keep a book of remembrance in the back where parishioners write the names of deceased loved ones. The rest of the month of November the church prays for the names written in the book.

It always struck me as interesting that the Catholic Church chose November for its month of remembrance. At first glance March or April would seem better choices as it coincides with their celebration of Easter and the resurrection. On the other hand, in many parts of the Northern hemisphere, November is when the days are getting shorter and colder, the leaves have fallen off the trees, the ground is barren with the harvest already gathered. In this bleak environment, it is natural for people to turn their thoughts towards what they’ve lost in life.

Of course the remembrance of the departed is one of the unifying factors of our humanity. In Asia, some cultures erect shrines to their ancestors creating a physical place to go and remember the family that came before, sometimes they may ask for intercession from ancestors. In many African and Native American cultures, it is believed that ancestors live on in the peoples’ memories. The people will then tell stories to remember the lives of the departed.

However you chose to remember your ancestors, I encourage you to take some time to do so. Remember the stories you heard and the lessons they imparted. Remember so we don’t forget.

#Loss #Teaching #Change