“All Hallows Eve”

“All Hallows Eve” Halloween

Halloween is a favorite holiday, a fun time for celebration – Pumpkins, Carmel Apples, Sweets and Treats, and the  ’costumes’.  Enjoyed by kids and adults, Halloween brings the mysterious and the fun in one day!

Cute "Baby Pumpkin"

Halloween’s history goes back to the ancient festival of Celts celebrating a new year, and out of medieval prayer rituals of Europeans.  In the U.S. we celebrate Halloween as an innocent night of entreating and fun. We who believe in the light of the world can use it to celebrate the Light.  Hallows Eve - “Hallow” means holy and the word Halloween refers to the night before the feast of all holies, or All Saints Day.

We can emphasize all things good, joyful and pure during this time.  Halloween parties and dressing up is such fun, costumes some scary and some not so much; in my younger years my favorite costumes were Tinker Bell and Casper the friendly ghost!   So trick-or-treating, visiting “baby-pumpkin” patches, Halloween parades, or pumpkin carving events for the children, brings much enjoyment to everyone.

Halloween (Oct 31) “Hallows Eve”  -  All Saints Day (Nov 1) - All Souls Day or All the Faithful Departed (Nov 2)

Celebrations in Mexico, Latin America, and Spain observe All Saints Day and All Souls Day with a three day celebration starting on the evening of October 31, through November 2. It’s celebrated different depending on where you go.  In most areas of Mexico, shops are filled with filled with decorations, flowers, toys made like skeletons, and bakeries have pastries, and candies shaped like bones and skulls in preparation for the festivities.

“Day of the Dead”, spirits of relatives are supposed to visit their families. In the homes an altar is made decorated with flowers, favorite foods, candies and pastries like candied pumpkins, sugar skulls inscribed with their name, and ‘pan de muertos’ (bread of the dead).

Offerings

Pan de Muertos

Some areas have fireworks and celebrate a mass, the most solemn time of the Day.  There is music, sometimes Mariachis bands,  flowers and favorite foods for the celebrations.  Many customs vary depending on the particular city, town, or culture.  All over Latin American, and Spain, the Day of the Dead is considered a celebration of the departed loved ones.

Either way, either day- let us celebrate in joy the nite and in moonlite!

Hey ho for Halloween
When the fairies all are seen;
Some black and some green,
Hey ho for Halloween!

…Traditional Irish Rhyme

Angel Blessings,

Linda

*Cute Baby Pumpkin pic, Aidrick – used with permission.

Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi- The Grotto, Portland, Oregon

Francis of Assisi, (Francisco d’ Assisi) 1181-1226. Born in the town of Assisi, Italy, great mystic, is known as the patron saint of animals, because of his love for animals and all nature. Feast day is October 4th.   St. Francis of Assisi is the founder of the Order of the Franciscan Friars.

Francis, a cheeful and joyful friar who preached in the marketplace, was born the son of a successful and wealthy merchant family. Francis grew to love the teachings of Christ and gave up family and fortune to devote his life to God and the poor.   During his pilgrimage before he had any followers, Francis would tend to those who suffered from leprosy. Francis said he would not be ordained a priest, his only mission was to lead a life of poverty and teach his brothers, the friars -  love, respect and peace toward others.  To Francis  love was the truest of all  truths,  hence his deep sense of personal responsibility towards his fellows. The love of Christ permeated the whole life and character of Francis.

Francis found happiness in offering songs and poems;  he identified with elements of the Universe and found in all created things some reflection of the Divine perfection, and loved to admire in them the beauty, power and wisdom and goodness of the creator.   During a forty day fast in preparation for Michaelmas Day, Sept 29, Francis had a vision as a result of which he received the stigmata, (wounds of Christ).  In later years, being already very ill, and in one of his last visits to St. Clare of Assisi, he composed the ”Canticle to the Sun.”

Francis always yearned to be both a knight and a troubadour (poet-singer) – to do battle for God and at the same time to amuse with a song.  Saint Francis is remembered during the month of October.  The good work of Saint Francis, his genius writings, his gentle charity and compassion, his loving heart and virtuous humility, are reminded to us through his powerful prayer:

Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

…read full prayer under Prayers category.

Guardian Angel

Angel in Mist of Woods

A Guardian Angel is entrusted to a person to guide and to protect them through this life and to lead them safely to the next.

The duties of angels are to defend, to warn, to unite, to console and to inspire us.  Feast of Holy Angels: Oct 2nd

Angels are pure beings of light and are emissaries of God, a divine bridge between God and humanity.  The Guardian Angel is with us at every moment, they do not leave our side, each one of us have a unique and exclusive guardian angel.

Your Angel knows you well, and looks out for your wellbeing and highest good. Your Guardian Angel is always with you, to guard you and lovingly guide you.

You may have more than one guardian angel, but know that their only purpose is to respond to your requests and keep you safe within the loving presence of their light.

You may have more than one guardian angel, but know that their only purpose is to respond to your requests and keep you safe within the loving presence of their light. The angels can call upon other angels as the Archangels who are the healers when they see or feel something is not in divine order within your life.

The duties of Angels are to defend, to warn, to unite, to console and to inspire us.

We need not forget that we have free will and choice and angels will not interfere in our life without our consent, unless if there is a life threatening situation they step right in without our permission.

Read next post for the Guardian Angel Blessing…

Angel Blessings,

Linda

Bendición del Ángel de la Guarda

Querido Ángel de la Guarda,

Bendíceme con paz, fortaleza y valor. Llena mi corazón, mente y cuerpo con la entereza y refugio de Dios.  Estoy en agradecimiento por la bendición de tu presencia y compasión amorosa en cada momento, sé que por tu amor angelical, la sabiduría sagrada de Dios se mueve dentro de mí rodeando mi ser como rayos del sol sobre toda la Tierra. Ayúdame a aprender a tener paciencia y tolerancia, permitiendo abrigar armonía y balance y verdadera felicidad en la vida.  Gracias por custodiar con amor mi existencia asegurando siempre mi mayor bienestar.  Amen

Angels Are Near Us

Linda F. Torres