‘Undas’ is time for holiness, not horror, bishop says
- biblelightspromotion
- 14 hours ago
- 2 min read
From the Website of CBCP
‘Undas’ is time for holiness, not horror, bishop says
A Catholic bishop has called on Filipinos to rediscover the true Christian meaning of “Undas” and “Halloween,” urging them to reject secular distortions and return to prayerful observance.
Bishop Renato Mayugba, who chairs the CBCP Office for the Postulation of the Causes of Saints, said the occasion should be rooted in the Church’s faith in the communion of saints.
He stressed that All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days are not about fear or fantasy but about holiness, remembrance, and unity with those who have gone before us.
“It is imperative that we recover the origin of the Vespers of All Saints Day – an evening, not of ghosts and devils, but an evening of prayer and remembrance of all saints,” Mayugba said.
The Laoag bishop lamented that modern society has turned Halloween into a celebration of darkness, losing sight of its original intent as the “holy evening” or the vigil for All Saints’ Day.
He reminded Catholics that November is a time to reflect on the universal call to holiness taught by the Second Vatican Council’s Lumen Gentium, which calls all to sanctity.
“We may all ground our Undas practices on the beautiful profession of our faith on our universal call to holiness ,” Mayugba said.
He said the faithful express this call by offering Masses and prayers for the dead, acts that affirm belief in eternal life and the Church’s solidarity across time.
Mayugba also highlighted the value of visiting cemeteries, describing them as “holy grounds of saints,” where candles symbolize baptismal light and Christ’s victory over sin and death. He urged Catholics to obtain indulgences for departed loved ones from November 1 to 8 by visiting cemeteries or praying for the dead in parish churches.
CBCP Website
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