I was about 8 years old when my parents started "acting crazy!" At least I am sure that is what everyone around us was thinking. They began bringing the liturgical year to life in our home; allowing some of the American traditions that did not compromise the purity of our Catholic heritage to stick around!
They still let us trick-or-treat, but the night was only just beginning...
After we went out, usually dressed as Saints or angels, to do some "soul-caking" or "trick-or-treating," we packed up the car and headed out to the Catholic cemetery. Often times friends and family came with us!
Yea... you remember!!! Bonfires, potlucks, and hayrides out to a country graveyard?! My dad would dress up as a "poor soul" who needed our prayers and call out to us as we waited. Kind of creepy. Kind of cool. Then we would recite the De Profundis or 129th Psalm for all the souls who were still suffering in Purgatory. My parents were pretty awesome. Not gonna lie. WHO DOES THIS STUFF?!?!?
... Oh, we're doing it with our kids too! Got to wait a few more years! You all are invited!
Talk about uniting Church Militant (those of us on earth), Church Suffering (those in Purgatory),
and Church Triumphant (those in Heaven)!!!
It was ALL HALLOWS' EVE. Not Halloween. It was the EVE of the Feast of All Saints!
November 1st - Feast of All Saints. All you holy men and women, pray for us!
This feast is followed by the Feast of All Souls on November 2nd.
These days are for prayer, fasting, feasting, gathering, and remembering our purpose here in this world.
Jesus came to save us - and we are all called to be His saints in Heaven! Until we reach our eternal reward, we can pray for those who have gone before us and remind our children to keep their eyes set on eternity.
Here's what's going on in our household right now!
All Hallows' Eve
Soul-caking + pumpkin carving + feasting
Feast of All Saints
Mass as a family + coloring pages of saints + litany of saints
Here is a link for a beautiful arrangement of The Litany of Saints
& I'll share the lyrics I typed up for our family prayer time tonight!
||: LORD, have mercy :|| ||: CHRIST, have mercy :|| ||: LORD, have mercy :||
MARY AND JOSEPH, PRAY FOR US.
MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS, PRAY FOR US.
ANNE, JOACHIM, ELIZABETH, PRAY FOR US.
ELIJAH, MOSES, JOHN THE BAPTIST, PRAY FOR US.
ISAAC, SARAH, ABRAHAM, PRAY FOR US.
JACOB, JOSEPH, SAMUEL, PRAY FOR US.
RUTH, DAVID, SOLOMON, PRAY FOR US.
ISAIAH, JEREMIAH. PRAY FOR US.
ALL YOU HOLY MEN AND WOMEN, PRAY FOR US.
PETER, PAUL, ANDREW, PRAY FOR US.
JAMES, JOHN AND ALL APOSTLES, PRAY FOR US.
MARY MAGDALENE, VERONICA, PRAY FOR US.
BARNABAS, MATTHIAS, PRAY FOR US.
STEPHEN, PHILIP, AND CORNELIUS, PRAY FOR US.
PRISCA AND AQUILA, PRAY FOR US.
TIMOTHY AND TITUS, PRAY FOR US.
LINUS, CLETUS, AND CLEMENT, PRAY FOR US.
ALL YOU HOLY MEN AND WOMEN, PRAY FOR US.
LAWRENCE AND CHRYSOGONUS, PRAY FOR US.
INNOCENT AND BONIFACE, PRAY FOR US.
HIPPOLYTUS AND ORIGEN, PRAY FOR US.
ATHANASIUS AND BASIL, PRAY FOR US.
FELICITY , PERPETUA, PRAY FOR US.
COSMOS AND DAMIAN, PRAY FOR US.
JOHN CHRYSOSTOM AND JUSTIN, PRAY FOR US.
LUCY, AGATHA AND AGNES, PRAY FOR US.
ALL YOU HOLY MEN AND WOMEN, PRAY FOR US.
JEROME AND EUSEBIUS, PRAY FOR US.
SCHOLASTICA AND BENEDICT, PRAY FOR US.
AMBROSE, MONICA, AUGUSTINE, PRAY FOR US.
MARTIN AND GREGORY, PRAY FOR US.
CLARE, FRANCIS, AND DOMINIC, PRAY FOR US.
FRANCIS XAVIER, IGNATIUS, PRAY FOR US.
ELIZABETH AND CATHERINE, PRAY FOR US.
LOUIS AND WENCELAUS, PRAY FOR US.
ALL YOU HOLY MEN AND WOMEN, PRAY FOR US.
LORD BE MERCIFUL - SAVE YOUR PEOPLE.
FROM ALL EVIL - SAVE YOUR PEOPLE.
FROM EVERY SIN - SAVE YOUR PEOPLE.
FROM EVERLASTING DEATH – SAVE YOUR PEOPLE
BY YOUR INCARNATION – SAVE YOUR PEOPLE
BY YOUR DEATH AND RESURRECTION – SAVE YOUR PEOPLE
BY YOUR GIFT OF THE SPIRIT – SAVE YOUR PEOPLE
HAVE MERCY ON US SAVIOR – SAVE YOUR PEOPLE
CHRIST HEAR US – LORD JESUS HEAR OUR PRAYER
LORD GIVE NEW LIFE – HEAR OUR PRAYER
TO THESE CHOSEN – HEAR OUR PRAYER
BY THE GRACE OF BAPTISM – HEAR OUR PRAYER
OH JESUS SON OF THE LIVING GOD – HEAR OUR PRAYER
SEND YOUR SPIRIT – HEAR OUR PRAYER
IN ITS FULLNESS – HEAR OUR PRAYER
ON ALL WHO DOUBT YOU – HEAR OUR PRAYER
WHO BELIEVE AND PROFESS YOU – HEAR OUR PRAYER
CHRIST HEAR US – LORD JESUS HEAR OUR PRAYER
Feast of All Souls
We have a prayer card with all our friends and family members who have passed away in the past 10 years.
We are lifting them up, by name, to the Father - remembering and praying for their souls - hoping to meet them again in Paradise.
Catholic culture is not dead. We are still breathing with the Church. I am determined to give my children and grandchildren the same heritage that I grew up with. THIS is the faith that was handed to us from Jesus Christ. THIS is the faith of our fathers. THIS is the faith being lived out in our home.
Wishing you all wonderful, holy feast days!
Hi Brittany! I just wanted to let you know that even though I was only 3 years old, I still remember that great Halloween celebration you guys threw, and praying! I'l admit I didn't understand everything going on, but I still remember praying and the activities. This stuck with me especially as I saw more of the American Halloween,as I was in school and became more aware of my surroundings. I still think it was the best way ever to celebrate Halloween, and the most joyful one. Don't ever cease this great celebration. Barbara
ReplyDeleteHey Barbara! That's awesome! Thanks for the shout out here! I hope that you carry these traditions with you for all your life <3
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