BY LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO
Instead of being scared due to Western-influenced tradition, a Catholic prelate has asked the faithful to focus on being “holy” during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2.
Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos said in a pastoral letter dated October 20 said: “We should not make the eve of Nov. 1 scary nor should we make ourselves look scary.”
He said all should aspire to be saints while we are still here on earth.
Santos said: “We must work not only to enter heaven but much more to be saints of God. Therefore, our life must always be in conformity, not in contradiction, to the will of God.”
In the past, Father Roy Bellen of the Archdiocese of Manila Office of Communications said the Church have been trying to do away with the Western-influenced tradition of scary pranks and bizarre costumes many Filipinos are used to seeing during Halloween with its focus on the “paranormal” and reemphasize the message of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino)
