CBCP calls for holiness, proper celebration of Halloween, Undas 2025

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called for holiness and the proper celebration of Halloween amid the observance of Undas 2025.

The CBCP Office for the Causes of Saints issued the statement on Tuesday, as it flagged the popularization of presenting evils, such as devils and lost souls, during Halloween.

In a circular letter, the CBCP Office for the Causes of Saints explained that Halloween is an old English word for "holy evening" or the vigil for November 1, which is All Saints' Day.

"It is unfortunate that over time, when people have lost an understanding of the original import of the Vespers of All Saints Day, that instead of preparing for the celebration of SAINTS, the presentation of evil—devils and lost souls—have been popularized by a very secular society," said Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba, CBCP Office for the Causes of Saints chairman.

"It is imperative that we recover the origin of the Vespers of All Saints Day—an evening, not of ghosts and devils, but an evening of prayer and remembrance of all Saints!" he added.

He said saints are those canonized by the Church, like St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Calungsod, and those already welcomed by God and only known to Him.

Instead of engaging in popularizing the presentation of evils, Mayugba urged the faithful to pray, light candles, and offer Masses for their departed loved ones.

"The candles are powerful reminders of the victory of Christ over sin and death. We are reminded of this triumph of Christ on Easter with the Paschal Candle!" the prelate said.

From November 1 to 8, Mayugba urged Catholics to pray for the "poor souls in purgatory."

"On these days we can apply plenary indulgences for our beloved dead when we visit our cemeteries or when we pray for our beloved dead in our parish churches," he said.

"Praying for our beloved dead has been revealed as a most praiseworthy work of charity," he added.

According to CBCP, the Philippine Catholic Church is currently processing 22 candidates for sainthood.

In Kuya Kim's segment on 24 Oras, Philippine studies professor Schedar Jocson said Undas came from the Filipinos' old habit of making words shorter.

"'Yung mga Pilipino noon, dahil hindi nakapag-aral ng wikang Kastila, pinaiikli na lang 'yung mga pahayag. Undas means Dia Delos Todos Santos, o ang ibig sabihin ay Day of All Saints," Jocson said.

(Many Filipinos weren't able to learn Spanish before, so they would just shorten phrases. Undas means Dia Delos Todos Santos or Day of All Saints.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News