The day before a significant feast is known as a vigil or eve. Such days have historically been a time for spiritual preparation, reflection, and occasionally fasting and penance prior to the feast’s celebration.
October 31 is the eve of All Saints’ Day, making it an ideal moment to prepare for the celebration of the saints who are enjoying everlasting happiness in heaven. Part of that celebration consists of seeking their intercession in the hope of joining them later in heaven.
However, the modern celebration of this day, commonly known as Halloween, has little to do with the saints. Instead, Halloween and the practice of Trick-or-Treating appear to glorify not saints but even demons.
Here are five reasons why faithful Catholic should not participate in this glorification of the demonic and macabre.
1. A Dark Admiration for the Macabre
The first reason addresses the object of one’s admiration. Throughout history, beauty and goodness have been celebrated, sought after, and admired, while anything evil, ugly, and repugnant has been shunned and detested.
Things that embody beauty and goodness reflect God, who contains all beauty and goodness within Himself. In contrast, that which is ugly and repugnant reflects the father of ugliness and repugnance—the devil.
On Halloween, however, this natural order is reversed. Ugliness takes to the streets and revels in being as grotesque as possible. The most horrifying images imaginable—disembodied heads with hatchets embedded in them, scenes of torture and starvation—are accepted and welcomed.
Such representations impact souls. They admire and encourage the macabre. When people dress up as devils, it ends up glorifying all that is demonic.
2. People Become Used to Hell and Damnation
The second reason is that it trivializes a very serious matter. When people view ugliness as “funny” and consider imitating demons “a joke,” they turn their potential damnation and eternal suffering in Hell into a trivial matter.
Hell is a serious issue that requires the utmost effort to avoid. Desensitizing individuals—particularly children—to the horrors of Hell significantly increases the likelihood of eternal damnation.
3. Perverting the Innocence of Children
Another reason to avoid the celebration of Halloween comes from the words of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, who said, “Whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it would be better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck and he were cast into the sea.”
These words apply to those who distort the child’s sense of right and wrong; beauty and ugliness, truth and error. When Halloween presents ugly things as attractive and portrays evil as something to be imitated, it destroys the criteria children need to live virtuous lives.
Children are naturally repulsed by things that are ugly and drawn to what is beautiful. They do not need to be told what is beautiful or ugly; this understanding is a part of their natural reason, a gift from God.
However, this sense needs to be constantly reinforced, lest children lose this natural rejection of evil and embrace evil instead. This “scandalizing of little ones” explains Our Lord’s warning to those who break the innocence of children.
4. What the Devil’s Cohorts Say About Halloween
If the points mentioned above do not convince someone to avoid celebrating Halloween, the following testimony from a Satanist should serve as a sufficient deterrent.
According to a letter posted on the Church of Satan’s website1,
“Halloween is traditionally a time when the obscure portal into the realms of darkness, death, and the supernatural is thrown open. Demons and spirits have free rein for one night…
They have a chance to dance with the Devil…sharing in the sensual excesses and fright of others on this magical, unholy night.”
Further on,
“I see Satanists all over the world meeting in small groups this night… to raise a glass to the Infernal Hosts, the revolutionaries, myth-makers, infidels and reprobates…”
If Satanists see Halloween as a glorification of Hell, how can Catholics join their celebration in good conscience?
5. It’s a Joke!
Finally, some reply to these common objections saying that “It’s just a joke!” or “It’s a fun-loving holiday centered around candy…” Additionally, some might say that those who oppose Halloween are “fanatical Christians.”
These objections can easily be countered by recognizing that joking about serious matters can be a serious sin. The concept of being condemned to Hell for all eternity is indeed a serious issue. Our Lord was very serious when he warned against scandalizing little ones.
Therefore, Catholics must consider the demonic and macabre influence surrounding the celebration of Halloween and the practice of Trick-or-Treating. The five reasons above explain why Catholics should avoid these activities at all costs.
First published on TFP.org.
Photo Credit: © Dark Illusion – stock.adobe.com