door Father Ron Geilen
AS WE transition from October into November, a fascinating trifecta of spiritual observances unfolds: Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day. These three days invite us to embrace life, honor the saints who have paved the spiritual path before us, and lovingly remember those who have departed. Together, they offer a time to reflect on the deeper mysteries of life, death, and the unseen connections that shape our spiritual lives.
Expanding on Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day as a spiritual journey allows us to reflect on their layered meanings. Each of these days provides a unique lens on our relationship with the spiritual world, connecting us to ancient traditions, the power of holiness, and the love that extends beyond life itself.
Halloween, often seen as a time for costumes, candy, and spooky stories, is rooted in ancient Celtic spirituality. The Celts celebrated Samhain (pronounced “sow-en”) as a liminal time when the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds was thinnest. They believed that on October 31st, spirits of the dead and otherworldly beings could walk among the living. In this context, Halloween isn’t about fear; it’s about embracing the mystery of the unknown.
FOR THE spiritual seeker, Halloween serves as an invitation to confront our fears, both literal and symbolic. It’s a time to look inward, explore our inner shadows, and reflect on our connection to those who have passed beyond the physical world. Instead of perceiving Halloween as a secular holiday, we can see it as a sacred opportunity to open ourselves to mystery, acknowledge our fears, and honor the thin veil that connects us to the spiritual.
November 1st marks All Saints’ Day, a celebration that, in Christianity, honors all saints — both known and unknown — who have led lives of virtue, compassion, and unwavering faith. The saints are often seen as spiritual companions, offering guidance, wisdom, and inspiration to those who seek to follow in their footsteps.
In Christian tradition, the saints remind us that holiness is accessible to all, that it’s not perfection but rather a life of love, humility, and selfless service that marks the path to the divine. This day encourages us to recognize the “saints” in our lives, those who have walked beside us, guided us through difficult times, or inspired us with their courage and compassion. Whether they are canonized saints or ordinary, everyday people who embody love and selflessness, they serve as reminders of our potential to live spiritually fulfilled lives.
On November 2nd, All Souls’ Day invites us to pray for the departed souls of our loved ones. This day is dedicated to remembering those who have journeyed beyond this life, lifting them in prayer, and, for many, envisioning their journey toward greater peace and rest. In many cultures, this day is celebrated with rituals and traditions that create a bridge between the living and the dead. In Mexico, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) involves building altars adorned with flowers, candles, and photos of deceased loved ones, celebrating life and death vibrantly and communally. In Christianity we remember also the loved ones that have crossed over by lighting candles and calling their names. Especially, those that have crossed over the past year.
FROM A spiritual perspective, All Souls’ Day reminds us of the interconnectedness of all souls, alive and departed. It offers a space to honor the love that never dies, the memories that continue to shape us, and the faith that sustains us in the face of loss. Through prayer, ritual, or silent remembrance, this day invites us to reaffirm our spiritual bonds with those who have passed on, honoring their journey while also embracing our own.
Together, these three days form a spiritual journey that reflects the life-death cycle present in nature and, perhaps, in the spirit as well. Halloween leads us to face the unknown; All Saints’ Day offers hope through the example of the holy; and All Souls’ Day reminds us that love transcends even the grave. In honoring this sacred trilogy, we engage in an ancient ritual of remembrance, letting go, and, ultimately, hope. This season, we can take time to remember our spiritual connections to the past and the present, to celebrate life in all its mystery, and to acknowledge the love that never dies.
In this way, Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day form not just a string of holidays, but a deep invitation to journey through our own sacred relationship with life, death, and the eternal. Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day together form a journey that bridges the earthly and spiritual realms. Halloween opens us to mystery, inviting us to face what we fear; All Saints’ Day reminds us of our potential to live lives of love, purpose, and connection; and All Souls’ Day helps us honor the eternal bonds that unite us with those who have crossed over.
By honoring these days, we engage in a tradition that acknowledges the full spectrum of human experience. This season calls us to cherish the preciousness of life, to seek inspiration in those who lived with love and purpose, and to honor the connections that transcend death. It is a beautiful reminder that we are part of something greater than ourselves, held within the sacred cycles of life, death, and remembrance.
* Ron Geilen from Geleen, the Netherlands is vicar/priest at All Saints & Sinners Anglican Mission in Fulton and St. Charles, Missouri.
