(Rome) Diocese prohibits Halloween Party at Castle Church in its possession. "The Feast of All Saints must in no way be replaced by Halloween," says the diocese. "Halloween is a mixture of heathenism and commercialism that is rejected in both components equally." Children are done no good with the illusory world of "ghosts, monsters, witches and vampires without Christ." The view needs to be focused on the Christian feast of All Saints and All Souls, who are the heralds of the real world.
At Castle Rossena, which is owned by the Diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla, a Halloween party was to take place. The event was planned by a youth branch of Catholic Action. After the protest by Pastor Ennio Munari Roncina, Bishop Massimo Camisasca stepped in and canceled the festival. The bishop then published a statement in which he condemned Halloween.
The bishop recalled the importance of the Christian Feast of All Saints and All Souls Day on the 1st and 2nd of November. The Solemnity of All Saints' Day is a celebration of joy and light, said the Bishop. The feast of all the brothers and sisters who have been brought to heaven throughout history, where they can see God face to face in eternal bliss and are our role models. With the Feast of All Souls we remember all our deceased. It reminds us that all is not with death, but there is a life after death. A knowledge that should govern our lives till death.
These festivals should in no way be replaced by Halloween. The spread of this Pagan spectacle is an indication for the loss of the right understanding of Christian festivals and too little devotion, to intoxicating escapism into a world of illusion, which is also supported primarily by commercial interests. In contrast, the Christian Feast of All Saints and All Souls is the real world and real people and their lives, says the Bishop.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Wikicommons / Diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla (assembly)
Image: Wikicommons / Diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla (assembly)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMGD
This bishop is courageous. But he would be more courageous to condemn the even more pagan and outrageous celebration of Fat Tuesday (Martedi di Grasso) celebrated in every town of Italy. It is easy to condemn things which are popular in other countries, but much harder to condemn things which are popular in oneì's own city.
ReplyDeleteFat Tuesday has not the world-wide popularity of Halloween.
Delete@Anonymous at 3:27 AM,
DeleteWhy is Fat Tuesday, also known as Pancake Tuesday, a pagan and outrageous celebration? I was taught that it was the day when, in anticipation of Lent, Catholics used up all the foods that they would not be eating in Lent, such as milk, cream, eggs and so forth.
One advantage is that he's criticizing something perceived in certain parts of that area as American Cultural Imperialism.
ReplyDeleteTrue enough. In my travels in Europe in the 1970s very few people even heard of the American version of Halloween, let alone celebrated it. But if you travel there now the Halloween junk has become ubiquitous thanks to the baleful influence of US culture, movies, etc. combined with, of course, a general losing of faith among European populations.
DeleteYes, When I was in Rome in 1973 children dressed up as saints on Halloween. I even saw a few popes around.
ReplyDeleteLet us not forget that Halloween is a contraction of 'All Hallows Eve' = The eve, or vigil, of All Saints.
ReplyDelete