Rev. John Baver

Halloween, All Hallows' Eve or the Vigil of All Saints' Day, is literally linked with All Saints' Day.

But while Halloween has been thoroughly secularized and today is mostly known for candy and costumes, All Saints' Day remains a religious holiday.

The Rev. John Baver, senior parochial vicar of All Saints Parish containing the Roman Catholic churches of St. Andrews, St. Paul, St. Peter, St. Michael the Archangel and St. Conrad, said All Saints' Day is always observed on Nov. 1.

“It commemorates all the saints in heaven,” said Baver.

“Initially, it goes back to the 4th century. It's to honor all the saints we are 'unaware of who are in heaven,'” said Baver.

“God wants all people in heaven. It's for all the saints in heaven who are not formally canonized,” he said.

There will be a Mass at 8 a.m. Nov. 1 at St. Paul in honor of All Saints' Day that will be televised.

Baver pointed out that All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are two separate observances.

All Souls' Day is always observed on Nov. 2, said Baver.

“All Souls' Day is remembering the souls who are in purgatory,” he said. “There will be an 8 a.m. Mass that day at St. Paul and a 12:05 p.m. Mass at St. Michael the Archangel to pray for the souls in purgatory, remembering our beloved dead.”

There is no theological implication in Oct. 31's Halloween, however.

“All Hallows' Eve, Oct. 31 means that Halloween is the eve before All Saints' Day,” he said. “There's nothing objectionable about it: dressing up and getting candy.”