Christians invited to reclaim Halloween

Halloween is the biggest commercial festival in the UK after Christmas and Easter. For most people, the name conjures up macabre images of witches and monsters, spooky hobgoblins and ghosts - a far cry from the original meaning of the day. 'All Hallows Eve', the evening of 31 October, began as the vigil of All Saints Day - the feast in which the Church celebrates the glory of God in His saints - the victory of light over darkness in the lives of God's holy ones in heaven. Jesus is the 'Light of the World'. The saints lived by that light, and became a beacon in their own generation. We too are called by Jesus to live out this vocation - to be the 'Light of the world' today.

Christians across the UK are being invited to place a light in their window on 31 October as a sign to passers-by that they are followers of Jesus Christ The Night of Light initiative is the inspiration of Damian Stayne, the founder of the Catholic community, Cor et Lumen Christi. Damian said it seemed to him as if "the Devil has hidden the glory of God's Saints on the Feast of Halloween by making it a celebration of darkness and death and horror".

He explained: "The Night of Light is an international initiative to reclaim Halloween as a joyful Christian celebration. In many countries around the world children's celebrations are being organised, as are prayer gatherings, with people putting a light in their window to visibly witness to neighbours and friends."

For more information see: www.nightoflight.org/index.php

Watch Damian Stayne's new film on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/damian.stayne