The dead need prayers, not food, says priest

It is common practice among Filipinos to bring candles, flowers, and other offerings to the graves of loved ones during Undas. They even bring food that their deceased family members used to love—which a priest says is due to a "misconception" many may have "on the nature of the realm of the dead."

"People offer food and drinks and put them on top of the tombs of their loved ones; it’s as if they could still eat," Father JayAr Babor of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart told GMA News Online.

"The dead are already in another realm of existence and they don’t need any more physical food; what they need is spiritual food—prayer. Instead of offering food, people should offer more prayers," he said.

In addition, the Archdiocese of Manila has appealed to Filipinos not leave trash in the cemetery when they visit their loved ones.

"Families and friends traditionally visit cemeteries to hold gatherings around the graves of their departed loved ones and to offer flowers and candles. But in most cases, they leave them there as garbage," said an article in the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' news site.

The article noted that the Catholic Church has been calling for an "eco-friendly Undas" since 2005.

Church says no to scary costumes

Babor also cited another Undas practice that Catholic church officials have been vocally against for years: the wearing of scary costumes during Halloween.

"Part of the celebration of Undas is the Halloween costume, which is not part of the Filipino culture but an influence from the West," said Babor. "People dress up in scary attire to frighten others.

"The dead are not supposed to be remembered in that way. They are to be remembered with love."

Babor said that kids should instead dress as saints "to remind us that our departed loved ones, with our prayers, will be with God ultimately."

In 2014, the CBCP launched a "Saintify" campaign to encourage people to dress up as saints instead of ghouls during Halloween celebration.

Araw ng Mga Patay

Babor also has something to say about the fact that more Filipinos visit cemeteries on All Saints' Day than on All Souls' Day, or Araw ng Mga Patay, on November 2.

"It’s interesting indeed that Filipino Catholics go to the cemeteries to pray for their departed loved ones on November 1, which is supposedly All Saints Day instead of November 2 which is the day set by the Church to pray for All the Faithful Departed and thus, the proper time to go to the cemeteries," he said.

Babor thinks people probably go to cemeteries on All Saints' Day instead of All Souls' Day as they also want to invoke the help of saints in praying for their loved ones.

"I think, it’s not simply a point of confusion but it’s actually intended by people because by going to the cemeteries on November 1, we ask all the saints in heaven to pray for our dead loved ones so that they too could be in heaven," he said.

"That may sound simplistic but I heard many people say it. To clarify about the feast of All Saints, it’s actually a day reserved by the Catholic Church to honor all saints: known and unknown. There are so many people who lived exemplary lives in following the Lord but who may not have a chance to be recognized by Church officially," he added.

The Church grants a plenary indulgence or special blessing to those who visit cemeteries and pray for the departed any day from November 1 to 8.

Asked why he thinks many people still prefer to go to cemeteries either on November 1 or 2, Babor said, "The plenary indulgence had been part of the teachings of the Church but I don’t think people are motivated in going to the cemeteries to pray for their loved ones so that they could gain merits."

"The people are mostly motivated by love of their departed members so they visit and pray for them on that special day," he said. — BM, GMA News