Calling the Saints to Remembrance: Turn Grief into Joy!
Halloweekend and All the Saints
The ancient Celts over two millennia ago celebrated their New Year, Samhain, on November 1st, which meant that “All Hallow’s Eve” started the night before. When the harvest was done, community bonfires were lit and the partying went on for three days, or in some cases for a whole week. Since it was believed that the world of the dead could open up to the living during this time, offerings were left out for ancestors. People dressed up as beasts and monsters to ward off ghosts and evil spirits.
In the 7th century, the Pope established the first Sunday after Pentecost as a day to commemorate Christian martyrs; about 200 years later, Pope Gregory III decided to add in all the saints, moving the feast day to November 1st so as to line up with the Celtic holiday — calling it All Saints’ Day. Later, November 2nd was designated All Souls’ Day, to honor all the dead.
In the 19th century, when America welcomed many Irish immigrants, of course they brought their traditions with them, and the Halloween we know started to take hold in the United States. This year, with Halloween falling on a Thursday, we’ve had the opportunity to celebrate from Thursday to Sunday, just like the Irish ancients, culminating with All Saints’ Sunday services — which many Catholics and Protestants will participate in on November 3rd. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
It’s no surprise then, that when Spaniards came into Mexico and Central America in the 16th century, they brought their version of All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day with them — and the Aztecs and other Mesoamericans soon conjured from their 3000-year-old culture El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead).
The Academy Award–winning Disney Pixar film Coco contains a marvelous portrayal of contemporary Mexico’s rich customs surrounding this dazzling holiday. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened so that the spirits of the dead can reunite with their loved ones for 24 hours. In the film, young Miguel takes a spectacular journey to the magical land of his ancestors, where he discovers a secret about his family that changes everything. If you haven’t seen it, I won’t spoil it for you; just watch it. I guarantee: This inspirational movie will become an annual ritual.
Blessings that Conquer Death
At this time of year, when colder temperatures are creeping in and the days are growing shorter, it’s no wonder that, whatever culture we may be a part of, we all take time in some fashion to confront our fears about death, and to remember those we love who are no longer with us. Confronting the darkness of mortal existence, it’s heartening to celebrate life, rather than to dread its ending.
A few weeks ago my mentor passed on. The spiritual healing class I took from her transformed my life. We’d been in touch at least once a year since 1995 when I attended — sometimes several times a year. I hadn’t seen her in person since 2011, which means my memory of her will live on from that point. About a year ago, one of my closest friends as well as my beloved cat both passed in the same week.
Losses like this, which all of us have to face sooner or later, bring us to personal moments of profound grief, where we soon must take stock in what gives life meaning.
Over 2000 years ago, Rabbi Jesus (Yeshuah) of Nazareth offered us an alternative to the view that mortal life is all there is. He healed many folks of chronic diseases and even raised his friend Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1–44); he taught his followers to do the same. When he fell victim to crucifixion — the Roman Empire’s brutal form of capital punishment back then, he rose from the dead himself!
How did he do it? The Bible says that everywhere Jesus went, he always dealt with everyone he met with deep compassion, because “they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34).
Science and Health author Mary Baker Eddy explains that Jesus was actually seeing each individual as “the perfect man” rather than as a vulnerable human being. Holding firmly to this spiritual view of our existence, “[i]n this perfect man the Saviour saw God’s own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick. Thus Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is intact, universal, and that man is pure and holy. Man is not a material habitation for Soul; he is himself spiritual” (p. 476–477).
The insight that we are fully spiritual rather than material is profound; understood and practiced, it can bring healing to any situation. I learned this startling concept from my teacher back in 1995, and I’ve been able to prove it countless times over the years.
There is so much yet for us to learn. Truly, we’re just now waking up as a species to the infinite possibilities of existence. The ever-mounting stories of near-death experiences (NDEs), first-person accounts shared by those who have nearly or clinically died and have come back to life and health — Proof of Heaven, Dying to be Me, and To Heaven and Back to name just a few — bring up all sorts of questions about the nature of reality.
Life Itself, Being Itself — God — affords us unlimited potential. Our responsibility is to shine the light we’ve been given, to keep an open mind, to remain curious, to express lovingkindness, and like Jesus, to be a compassionate healing presence wherever we go. Each of us is called to live our life with this holy outlook. That’s what it means to be a saint.
It is difficult to deal with the great sadness we feel when people we love seem to disappear forever. But just because we can’t perceive them in one particular realm doesn’t mean life can’t exist in some other way, shape, or form. And why not? When a ship sails over the horizon, just because we can’t see it anymore doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist; for the passengers, everything continues on.
Soon after my mother passed, she came to me by way of a song in a dream — lyrics that spoke specifically to me. In years since, she has visited in dreams several other times — always with simple messages of encouragement, reassurance, and sheer joy.
Working through the grief over the recent passing of my teacher, I found myself going back to the day in class when her profile suddenly reminded me of an owl, and then I realized I’d dreamed of her vividly years before: I was walking in an enchanted forest in a hushed atmosphere, when I came upon a woman made of birds. The brilliant colors of the many different birds’ feathers were indescribably beautiful; they moved in unison, embodying the woman. Without speaking, she conveyed a palpable sensation of great wisdom.
I knew I was in the right place.
Life is everlasting. Life is always just getting started. How will you bring to remembrance those you love who have passed? When you do, expect miracles. As the Psalmist prayed (Psalm 30:11), “You have turned my mourning into dancing”!
©2019 Janis Hunt Johnson and CS Renewal Ministries. All rights reserved.
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A spiritual author/editor/prayer coach/healer, an interfaith advocate and spiritual activist, my mission is to teach, preach, and heal — following Jesus’ example. If you like this piece, please support my work by clapping for it, and please kindly pass it on, follow me and subscribe, too!
This article is the 21st installment of my Medium series, “Christian Science Redux.” Find out more about how to be a better witness for good in the world: Read my first book, Five Smooth Stones: Our Power to Heal Without Medicine Through the Science of Prayer, which won Finalist, Spirituality category, in the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards.
Read a sample from my upcoming second book, tentatively titled Seven Words to Freedom, Eight Days a Week: The Healing Power of Living Prayer, in which I take a deep dive into the original Hebrew of the Shema and demonstrate its power to heal.
For humor and newstalgia,* read my “60-Something” musings. Connect with me on Goodreads, on Twitter @CSRenewal, on Facebook, on Pinterest @CSRenewalMinistries and across cyberspace. #deconstruction #LivingPrayer #EveryDayIsAHoliday
*newstalgia: My word for loving the past with an eye toward a hope-filled future.
