Celebrate Halloween as it was meant to be

Published Oct. 23, 2008
By Chaplain (Capt.) LARRY KITTLE
56th Fighter Wing Chaplain

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- All Saints Day, an important day on the Christian calendar, is coming up Nov. 1. It was instituted by the early church to honor all saints, known and unknown, and according to Pope Urban IV, gave an opportunity to the faithful to make up any deficiencies in their celebration of particular saints' feast days during the year.

As a normal part of the celebration of feast days, the evening before All Hallows Eve was set aside for a vigil. This became Hallowe (holy, saints) 'en (evening) or Halloween. The vigil centers on readings from, and celebration of, the lives of the saints and a universal call to holiness and prayer.

Oct. 31 is also Reformation Day in the Protestant church. On this day in 1517, Martin Luther posted a proposal at the doors of a church in Wittenberg, Germany, debating the doctrine and practice of indulgences. It was meant to bring about reform in the Catholic Church, but instead brought about the Protestant movement. So you could say it's a day of celebrating Protestant saints as well.