DANBURY – Trick-or-treats, costumes and candy may be on the minds of many today but the true meaning of Halloween is found in its name, Diocese of Bridgeport Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said at a Mass he celebrated at St. Gregory the Great School as part of the Greater Danbury Eucharistic Procession.
“Halloween is meant to be a day of fun and entertainment and to celebrate something very special that happens the next day,” said Bishop Caggiano after asking the schoolchildren what they were most excited about on Halloween which included responses of dressing up in costumes such as a ghost or soccer or basketball player and trick-or-treating.
“How we celebrate Halloween today is not how it started,” Bishop Caggiano said and explained that Halloween is a contraction for All Hallows Eve. To help the students better understand the meaning of the words he led them in the Lord’s Prayer and stopped after ‘hallowed be thy name,’ again asking the children for the meaning of hallowed for which they correctly answered holy.
“Hallow is old English for holy,” Bishop Caggiano said. “It’s all holy eve,” he added noting that the next day is the Feast of All Saints, those who are holy and live in the presence of God.
“There was a time in the Church’s life when people dressed up but not as ghouls and goblins and all the rest, but they dressed up as saints, so that they could remind themselves of what the next day they would be celebrating, in the hope that one day they too, would be remembered as a saint,” Bishop Caggiano said.
Bishop Caggiano asked the students what they need to do to lead a holy life. The children suggested several things including telling everyone about Jesus, being kind and respectful, doing good deeds and praying.
Bishop Caggiano said those are all good ways to becoming holy and added another.
“One of the principal ways you and I grow in holiness is to receive the Holy Eucharist every Sunday and every opportunity we have to receive Him,” Bishop Caggiano said.
The Diocese of Bridgeport is bringing that opportunity to the Greater Danbury area through the Greater Danbury Eucharistic Procession which is in its third day of a five-day procession that includes Newtown, Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury and New Fairfield. The Blessed Sacrament will visit all 12 parishes, all six Catholic schools, one university and one Catholic cemetery.
“Today, Jesus is visiting Danbury. He is coming to all the churches of Danbury and He is coming as the Eucharistic Lord to remind all the people of this good city that they are called to be holy and we cannot be holy without Him and when we receive Him, He gives us the grace we need to be able to be obedient, do good works, live charity and pray,” Bishop Caggiano said.
Bishop Caggiano encouraged the students to enjoy their Halloween celebrations but to also remember the real reason for Halloween.
“The real reason for Halloween is on this altar; for our hope is to grow in holiness, receiving the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist and one day going to a place where there is joy, happiness love and peace forever and that place is called, Heaven,” Bishop Caggiano said.
Following the Mass, the students processed around the school and parish campus reciting the Rosary and singing religious songs. The procession of the Blessed Sacrament paused for silent prayer and Adoration at an outdoor monument of the Holy Family.
The public Eucharistic Procession is, “to remind ourselves, and everyone who sees us that to be holy, doesn’t only happen in this place (the church), but happens everywhere in our life,” Bishop Caggiano said.
The faithful processed back into the church for another moment of silent prayer and Bishop Caggiano encouraged them to ask God for what they need to grow in holiness in life and to ask God for that gift.
For some students the Eucharistic procession, which celebrates a journey towards Eucharistic Renewal, was a way to be closer to Christ.
“I was very honored,” said eighth-grader Lucas Worwood, who helped carry the canopy over the monstrance during the Eucharistic procession. “I felt so good to give up some time to help Jesus.”
His classmate Andrew Robinson, who also helped carry the canopy, said it was a very memorable experience.
“I got to be right next to the Eucharist,” Robinson said. “I felt his presence and I felt He was right next to me.”
