jerrysummers.com

One does well to honor the martyrs, though for remembering it helps to be Catholic or to belong to congregation that knows and practices the liturgical calendar. Others may know only that it’s time for candy and trick-or-treaters. Or for the great autumnal brouhaha so Mardis Gras-like when to taunt, or at least to wink at, death, costumed folk looking-not-at-all-like-themselves (for that is the point!) play the ghoul or ghost or goblin. Paint the face, pouf the hair, take the promenade with others of like purpose and posture!
So! Maybe we’re neither Catholic nor necessarily religious, but All Hallows’ Eve catches everyone, if only for a moment. My church does “Trunk-a-Treat” as an alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treatin’ and kids and families love it. Visiting last weekend in West Hollywood Cal-i-for-ni-a, I found the gay folk prepping energetically for the “drag” races. My university campus hosts local kids for a haunted dorm candy-fest that has been a community favorite for many years. And what about the church and community haunted houses? Alert: watch for excess candy appearing spontaneously around the office.
Soon it will be past, and retailers’ Halloween themes will turn in a day to Thanksgiving and Christmas themes, so we know that the “Holiday” Season (there we go again! Should I say “Holy-Day”?) approaches.

I need, we need, to remember the martyrs, dead or alive, whose numbers increase daily worldwide. I do not question the perfection or imperfections of their understanding or their conduct, but feel obligated to honor their confessions and their cross-bearing. November 1 is All Saints Day, November 3 is All Souls Day.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 31st, 2006 at 7:53 am and is filed under Where/How We Live. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.