All Hallow's Eve

Yesterday was All Hallow's Eve, aka Halloween. Normally I really enjoy the whole process of carefully selecting costumes, filling treat bags and carving pumpkins. But this year I was just too tired to really get into the whole thing. No matter to the children though. They gleefully decorated, filled goody bags, and carved our one pumpkin (there were none to be had for love or money this week). And then we went trick or treating. 2 hours and 15 houses later our children have a stash that would do most stores proud. People in the country only get 12 - 15 children (half of them are us) so they can afford to be generous and our children have full size chocolate bars, chips and pop plus many other assorted candies and goodies. Our family in an attempt to mark the holiness of the vigil of All Saints, said "thank you and God bless you" to their many benefactors. Usually we give out saint cards with our goodies, but I didn't remember to order them in time so that didn't happen.
Today was Patrick's first day of serving at the Holy Mass and he did quite well, but afterwards he had a tonne of energy that needed to be spent. It's such a beautiful feast day to begin this wonderful ministry. the more I understand of the Catholic Church and the beauty of the communion of saints and souls in Purgatory, the more grateful I become. Our brothers and sisters are still with us. We cannot see them. And they are helping us to perservere in the battle here on earth. It is humbling to know there are all of these holy souls praying for us and the wisdom of our Church in offering us a day to celebrate is awe inspiring. I wish that it as still an octave. It's a fascinating history. Catholic Culture has some great resources.