All Hallows Eve-Haloween -31st October

All saints is our family Feast day when we honor all those who have died, marked with the sign of faith, and gone on before us to be with the Lord. They now beckon all of us into the fullness of the communion of love. The vigil of the Feast (the eve) has come, in the English speaking world, to be known as “All Hallows Eve” or Halloween. While some consider Halloween to be “pagan” in origin it is actually the eve of the great Christian Feast of All Saints. Many of the customs which surround it reflect the Christian confidence in our triumph over death in Christ and our bold rejection of the claim that evil has any more power over us. All Hallows’ Eve—the “eve” before All Saints Day, or “all hallows.” That term, “hallowed,” means “holy”—as in in the English translation of the Our Father prayer, in which we declare God’s name to be “hallowed.” October 31st marks the beginning of “Allhallowtide” which concludes with November 2nd, the feast of All Souls. 

All Hallows’ Eve (October 31) — also known as the Vigil of All Saints — is the evening before All Saints’ Day (November 1) in the Catholic Church.

Here’s a concise Catholic overview of its meaning and significance:

Meaning of “All Hallows’ Eve”

  • The word “hallow” means holy or saint.
  • “All Hallows’ Eve” literally means “the evening before All Saints’ Day.”
  • It is a Catholic vigil that prepares the faithful to honor all the saints in Heaven, both known and unknown.

Catholic Origin

  • All Hallows’ Eve began as part of the liturgical celebration of All Saints’ Day (originally observed on November 1 since the 8th century).
  • The evening before the feast was a time of prayer, fasting, and vigil, helping Christians spiritually prepare to celebrate the victory of the saints.
  • It reminds believers of the Communion of Saints — the unity of the Church on earth, in purgatory, and in heaven.

Spiritual Focus

  • Reflect on holiness: Catholics are called to imitate the saints.
  • Pray for the faithful departed: anticipating All Souls’ Day (November 2).
  • Reject superstition and fear: The night belongs to God’s light, not darkness. Christians are reminded of Christ’s triumph over death and evil.

Modern Connections

  • Many Halloween customs (carving pumpkins, costumes, etc.) have ancient Christian roots that were later secularized.
    • For example: “souling” — children went door-to-door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food.
  • Catholics can reclaim this night by celebrating holy themes, such as:
    • Dressing as saints or angels.
    • Attending a Vigil Mass or Eucharistic Adoration.
    • Praying the Rosary or Litany of the Saints.

In summary

All Hallows’ Eve is not a night of fear — it’s a holy vigil of hope, preparing for the celebration of all who live in God’s glory.
It reminds us that light conquers darkness, grace conquers sin, and life conquers death.

All Hallows’ Eve

QUOTES:

“The light of Christ scatters every darkness and gives us hope in eternal life.”

“All Hallows’ Eve is such a vigil, preparing us for the glory of All Saints’ Day.”

“The Eve of All Hallows, is a Christian festival, rooted in the hope of eternal life with the saints.

“All Hallows’ Eve calls us to reflect on our own call to holiness”

Prayer: 

“God, we thank you for life. We thank you for those who have lived with us and now because of your goodness live in a new way in a new place. This is a season of grief and remembrance and sadness. But because of the victory of Jesus over death, it is not a season for fear or despair. We have hope, because https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/prayerplainandsimple/2009/10/a-prayer-for-all-hallows-eve.html of Jesus’ resurrection that we too will live forever. That fact of faith allows us to rest here and now and enjoy our moments with you here while we have them here. After all, we have forever to enjoy the rest! Remove fear of death in our lives and lead us to trust you for every moment. Thank you God for a Holy All Hallows Eve.” 

Prayer Against Every Evil 

Spirit of our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Most Holy Trinity, Immaculate Virgin Mary, angels, archangels, and saints of heaven, descend upon me. Please purify me, Lord, mold me, fill me with yourself, use me. Banish all the forces of evil from me, destroy them, defeat them, so that I can be healthy and do good deeds.

Banish from me all spells, witchcraft, black magic, evil spells, ties, curses, and the evil eye; diabolic infestations, oppressions, possessions; all that is evil and sinful, jealousy, deceitfulness, envy; physical, psychological, moral, spiritual and diabolical ailments.

Burn all these evils in hell, that they may never again touch me or any other creature in the entire world. I command and bid all the powers who molest me—by the power of God all-powerful, in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Through the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary–to leave me forever, and to be consigned into the everlasting hell where they will be bound by Saint Michael the archangel, Saint Gabriel, Saint Raphael, our guardian angels, and where they will be crushed under the heel of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.

A Prayer to Defeat the Work of Satan 

O Divine Eternal Father, in union with your Divine Son and the Holy Spirit, and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg You to destroy the Power of your greatest enemy – the evil spirits.
Cast them into the deepest recesses of hell and chain them there forever! Take possession of your Kingdom which You have created and which is rightfully yours.
Heavenly Father, give us the reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
I repeat this prayer out of pure love for You with every beat of my heart and with every breath I take.
Amen.