On the Theme of Hallowe'en

ON ALL SAINTS DAY, we joyously celebrate all those souls in Heaven, our friends and patrons, while on All Souls Day we pray for those departed souls who have yet to make it there, and remain in a state of purgation. But the evening before All Saints Day — or All Hallows Day — is All Hallows Eve, or Hallowe'en, which is a popular culture depiction of damned souls in Hell, as well as being a popular ‘day of the dead’. Hallowe'en, originally a Catholic popular custom, has unfortunately been largely taken over by secular and occult ideas. It's time to take it back.

• G. Thomas Fitzpatrick at Recta Ratio has a tradition of fine Hallowe'en postings, which can be seen here.
• Hilary Jane Margaret White discusses views of the supernatural and cosmology seen in recent popular fiction here. Oddly enough, Mormon cosmology is often depicted in popular fiction, a worldview greatly different from orthodox cosmology.
• Fr. John Zuhlsdorf comments on an article on an exorcist here. There are many interesting comments to this article, and Fr. Z offers us some warnings regarding this matter.
• Msgr. Charles Pope of the Archdiocese of Washington offers some advice on the celebration of Hallowe'en here.