Letters from the week of 2 - 8 November 2015
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Saints, souls, and something in between
In recent years Halloween has been promoted in Australian stores for commercial gain but with limited success. The customs belong to the northern hemisphere's approach to winter, not to our late springtime.
As for All Saints' and All Souls' (the latter observance absent from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer but included in most alternative books), the BCP can help us here. Its Collect for All Saints' Day seems to me to distinguish between all "in the mystical body" of our Lord, that "one communion and fellowship", and on the other hand God's 'blessed Saints' whose example of 'virtuous and godly living' we pray that God's grace will enable us to follow.
There is no sharp dividing line and while our Calendars include some of the latter (and some who hardly qualify!) most are 'known only to God'. They are celebrated on All Saints' Day. All the former are commemorated on All Souls'.
John Bunyan
St John the Baptist's, Canberra; St Stephen's Uniting, Sydney; King's Chapel, Boston
Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
bunyanj@tpg.com.au
5 November 2015
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