So great a cloud of witnesses

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

There will be no tricks or treats in La Caramuca this year. Perhaps that’s not surprising, given economic condition of the country. But, in fact, there were no tricks or treats here even when times were good. Carnaval, the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, is the time for children to dress up as make-believe characters. We have a masquerade party in the preschool every year.

Carnaval is the time of mystery and masquerade.

Venezuelans know what is the custom of “trucos o dulces”. But Halloween and everything associated with it is considered foreign. It’s a North American holiday that manifests itself mainly as horror movie marathons on cable television throughout the week.

The cultural tradition in Venezuela is to place flowers on the graves of departed loved ones on November 1 and 2. To an extent, this is closer to the thoroughly Christian origin of All Saints Day, yet it also fall short of the deeper meaning as much as the horror movies. In other Latin American countries, such as Mexico, pre-Columbian traditions into Roman Catholic observances on October 31, and Nov. 1 and 2.

It is a great blessing that, in our Lutheran churches, we prepare for All Saints Day by celebrating the Reformation. Martin Luther knew what he was doing when he posted the 95 Theses on the doors of All Saints Church on All Saints Eve of 1517.

But first, let’s travel a little farther back in time. All Saints Day originally was dedicated to remembering and honoring the martyrs, the many people who died for the faith during the 300 years of Roman persecution. References to a day or days dedicated to the martyrs date back to Turkey or Syria in the second century AD. By the late fourth century, John Chrysostom wrote that All Saints Day was celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost, as it is to this day in the Greek Orthodox churches of eastern Europe and Asia.

But two interesting changes occurred in western European, Latin-speaking Christendom. On May 13, 613 AD, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon, a former pagan temple in Rome, as the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Martyrs. In doing so, he proclaimed that date as All Saints Day, and so it was observed in Rome and many other parts of Europe. Some scholars point to that fact that May 9 to 13 was the time of the Lemuralia, a pagan festival dedicated to the appeasing of vengeful spirits of the dead. Although Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire by that point, and pagan worship prohibited, perhaps the Pope chose May 13 as a way of quashing any surviving pagan rituals by replacing them with a Christian holy day. But that´s really speculation.

In any event, in 740 AD, Pope Gregory III changed the date again, to November 1, with the consecration of a chapel in the first Basilica of St. Peter. Yet November 1 as All Saints Day did not become a hard and fast rule in western Christendom until the rule of Pope Gregory IV (827-844). Some time later, around 1048 AD, November 2 came to be designated as All Soul’s Day, when those who died in the faith, but not as martyrs, were remembered.

So, you ask, what about the ancient druidic festival of Samhain? Many people believe this to be the basis of Halloween, because it supposedly was celebrated from late October to early November. Did Pope Gregory III choose November 1 to steal some thunder from Irish druids? Well, the earliest written references to Samhain are found in Irish manuscripts from the ninth century AD, which is some time after Pope Gregory III, and, in fact, long after St. Patrick and the Christianization of Ireland. Nevertheless, there are some who claim the Samhain celebration dates back to the druids and the Romans may have incorporated some of the druidic rituals into their own pre-Christian observances. Except that the ancient Romans hated the druids and persecuted them as much as they did Christians, so a connection between the druids and an eighth century pope seems unlikely.

In fact, Halloween as it is known today is very much a North American development. In the 13 Colonies, All Saints Day was seldom observed because the Puritans and others considered it “popish superstition” in light of the veneration of the Virgin Mary and the saints as defined by the Roman Catholic Church. By the mid-1800s, however, Irish and other immigrants had brought with them many folkways concerning fall harvest and lengthening winter nights. In a more secularized society, these were seen as colorful and entertaining, especially when adapted to an American setting. For example, in the British Isles since antiquity, it had been the custom to hollow out turnips and insert a candle for use as a lantern. Often the carvings were creative and so were the stories invented to explain them. Irish immigrants adapted this carving skill to pumpkins, a plant native to North America, and a new fad was born.

Of course, although many people, such as myself, grew up thinking of the carving of jack o’lanterns as a means to an end (pumpkin pie), and dressing up as witches and goblins as a harmless pastime, we must realize that we live in a different world than that of my youth. Sad to say, for many people the Christian significance of All Saints Day has been completely lost. Either it’s just a celebration of autumn or an excuse to indulge an unhealthy interest in the occult.

Martin Luther.

But, thanks be to God, Martin Luther has been down this road before us, and challenged an even greater error about All Saints Day. The 95 Theses questioned the false doctrine of Purgatory and affirmed all Christians, living or dead, had claim on all the blessings of Christ and His church by grace and faith alone, and not by works.

Over the centuries, the practice of remembering and honoring those who had died as witnesses to the faith grew into the cult of the saints, in which “saints” were those known to be in heaven because prayers to them had been answered with miracles. The medieval concept of penance and purgatory undermined the promise of eternal life in baptism and “the communion of the saints” in which all Christians, here on earth or in heaven, are to be considered saints (holy ones) of God, made holy by the blood of Christ.

Luther would write in the Large Catechism under the explanation of the third article of the Apostle’s Creed: “The Creed denominates the holy Christian Church, communionem sanctorum, a communion of saints...But this is the meaning and substance of this addition: I believe that there is upon earth a little holy group and congregation of pure saints, under one head, even Christ, called together by the Holy Ghost in one faith, one mind, and understanding, with manifold gifts, yet agreeing in love, without sects or schisms. I am also a part and member of the same, a sharer and joint owner of all the goods it possesses, brought to it and incorporated into it by the Holy Ghost by having heard and continuing to hear the Word of God, which is the beginning of entering it.”

But while the church, the communion of saints on earth, may be small and surrounded by overwhelming forces of evil, we are not alone. There are, as the writer of Hebrews says, the great cloud of witnesses, by which he means the believers of the Old Testament. For us today, the great cloud includes apostles and other heroes of the New Testament, the martyrs of all eras, and even those of our own family have testified to us of the worth of faith.

Article XXI of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession speaks of these saints in heaven, the church triumphant: “Our Confession approves honors to the saints. For here a threefold honor is to be approved. The first is thanksgiving. For we ought to give thanks to God because He has shown examples of mercy; because He has shown that He wishes to save men; because He has given teachers or other gifts to the Church. And these gifts, as they are the greatest, should be amplified, and the saints themselves should be praised, who have faithfully used these gifts, just as Christ praises faithful businessmen, Matt. 25,21. 23. The second service is the strengthening of our faith; when we see the denial forgiven Peter, we also are encouraged to believe the more that grace truly superabounds over sin, Rom. 5, 20. The third honor is the imitation, first, of faith, then of the other virtues, which every one should imitate according to his calling. These true honors the adversaries do not require. They dispute only concerning invocation, which, even though it would have no danger, nevertheless is not necessary.”

Not only do we confidently believe, that by God’s grace, we may follow in the footsteps of those who have risen to glory, but we join with them now in prayer and song. For the structure of our worship is based on the Apostle John’s vision in which he saw an uncountable multitude of the faithful from every tribe, race and nation gathered around the throne of God with angels, archangels and all the celestial beings in eternal adoration and joy (Revelation 7:9-17).

So, in our commemoration of the Reformation, we recall the true significance of All Saints Day: Not the fear and wonder of what might happen to us after death, but the sure promise of the spiritual life that begins with baptism and culminates with our own resurrection and ascension to join the hosts of heaven.

Oh almighty God, who has knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joys which you have prepared for those who unfeignedly love you. Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigna with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

This October we commended to the Lord the sould of Eladio Azuaje. Last year he received medicine, thanks to Global Lutheran Outreach.