CBCP official urges faithful to rediscover the true meaning of ‘Undas’

A Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) official has urged Filipinos to return to the true spirit of "Undas" by focusing on prayer and the call to holiness rather than on secular Halloween traditions that highlight images of "evil, devils, and lost souls.

- By ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

In a circular letter titled "Llamados a Ser Santos" (Called to Be Saints), Laoag Bishop Renato P. Mayugba, who chairs the CBCP Office for the Postulation of the Causes of Saints, reminded Catholics that All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are rooted in the Church's belief in the "communion of saints."

"I wish us all to support the right and proper way of celebrating 'Halloween,' which is old English for 'holy evening' or the vigil for November 1. It is unfortunate that over time, when people have lost an understanding of the original import of the Vespers of All Saints' Day, that instead of preparing for the celebration of saints, the presentation of evil-devils and lost souls-have been popularized by a very secular society," he said.