Autumn, with its shorter days and longer nights, signals the passing of the year and the approach of winter. At this time of year, we gather the harvest and take stock of our life; we are filled with gratitude for the accomplishments and concern for the shortfalls. We are reminded of the importance of life, its meaning and the choices and events that have given direction to our lives in this past year.

Our wonder and concern is shared by the Church and God's plan for our life in Christ and our salvation. Of course, we can be somewhat uncomfortable talking about things like death, judgment, heaven and hell, and we can become anxious with the thoughts and images they conjure: the monsters and the demons of life.

Autumn, though, is filled with a variety of cultural expressions that help us deal with our fears and anxieties, and celebrate the meaning and purpose of life. Fortunately, humans have the wonderful ability to play. We can pretend to be many things; we step out of ourselves and become a superhero, or something out of a fairy tale.

We can also wear masks and disguises and take on what we fear. Our play-acting gives us insight into the mysteries of life and helps us to face and subdue the monsters of life.

We can "face" our fears with the support and strength of our faith, of our culture and our community. Culture helps bring order to chaos and protect us from whatever threatens the order of life --- violence, war, poverty, cruelty and death. Halloween and the Día de los Muertos are examples of cultural celebrations which give us a way to face fearful concerns.

The masks we wear bring out our fears and concerns of our society and time in history. Some of our favorite costumes reflect the passing glory of artists and actors, the wealthy and beautiful people of life, and villains real and imagined, as well as witches and ghouls and demons. These costumes speak to the forces that surround us and the power they have over us. And they serve to remind us that not all we are about fits with God's plan, and not everyone enters God's heavenly kingdom.

Halloween is a way of scrutinizing our present reality, moving beyond the passing values and focusing on the destiny that we have in Christ --- to become saints. The feast of All Saints celebrates who and what we are because of Jesus Christ and his victory over these enemies and forces that worry and affect us.

The Church's tradition to pray for the dead may be what gave origin to the tradition of trick or treating. The Irish had the custom of gathering the names of the dead who would be remembered in their prayers during the feast of All Souls and the month of November. Children would gather the names of the deceased from the families of their neighborhood or village; in gratitude for their charity, the townsfolk would give them a sweet bread or cracker. If nothing was given, reprisals in some sort of prank might be forthcoming from those slighted children: trick or treat! (This is based on anecdotal information shared with me by some dear Irish nuns).

Others speculate that trick-or-treating may be a remnant from the English celebration of Guy Fawkes Day (November 5), when night-time revelers would demand beer and food from the townsfolk for their celebrations. When the English and Irish came to the United States, these customs may have combined and attached to the eve of All Saints, a feast celebrated in both Catholic and Anglican Churches.

The Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos, addresses perhaps our greatest fear --- death itself. In the Latino culture, particularly in Mexican traditions, death is befriended and peace is sought with this powerful threat to life. No one can escape death and it can come at anytime. Thus, in the "calacas" skeleton figures typical of the day, death is represented in every moment of life, depicting people of every age and walk of life in typical settings.

Altars (ofrendas) are prepared in homes and workplaces to show respect for and extend a welcome to the beloved dead of that household. The story of their lives is remembered by placing their favorite things on the altar --- food, bread, toys, tools or other mementos, along with symbols of faith (like crucifixes and statues of Mary and the saints). The tombs of the dead are adorned with flowers and mementos, and food is placed there to include them in the feast the family holds on their behalf.

Our present-day celebration of Halloween --- the eve of all Hallows, all holies, the saints --- has been transformed by society's excesses. What was once innocent child's play has been usurped by those who would rather promote evil and excess rather than subdue it. Some of these groups even claim this feast as their own.

Be careful, then, what you accept and believe as true; we need to know our history as Christians, know the origin of our feasts and traditions, and understand how culture colors our understanding of life. We also must be responsible in overseeing the activities of our children to protect them from harm. Just as we would not leave our children unsupervised in the use of the internet, we also need to guide them in how they participate in the celebrations of life.

The feasts that occur each autumn celebrate the triumph of Grace: All Saints, All Souls and Christ the King. The Liturgy of the Church celebrates Christ as Lord of our lives and what we have become in him, and makes it explicit by word and symbol --- the pattern of Christ's paschal mystery (his dying and his rising) as it unfolds in us and embraces us in the love of God our Father. We do this every time we celebrate Eucharist, the Christian Feast of Thanksgiving. (So when you gather at the table this fall, ready to carve the roast turkey, or serve it up in "mole," remember that true gratitude is an attitude demonstrated not once a year, but every day and on to eternity!)

Our Christian faith shines the light of the Gospel on the concerns of our life and chases the monsters out of the dark places so that we can be at peace. Supported by God's love as it has been bestowed upon us in Christ, we can take on the demons and monsters, even death, with the assurance that we will share in the victory of Christ over these enemies.

Father Pedro J. Lopez is currently pastor of St. Pius X Church in Santa Fe Springs. Ordained 1981 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, he earned a Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies, Notre Dame University, and is a member of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission and consultant to the Office for Worship.