By Gilbert H. Bontigao
This weekend, we will once again celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day hold a special place in the heart of every Filipino family. These days are more than just religious observances—they are moments when faith, memory, and family life converge. Despite the fast-paced changes in modern society, these twin feasts continue to shape Filipino families, reminding them of the values of faith, unity, and remembrance that define who we are.
On All Saints’ Day, Filipino families are reminded of the call to holiness. The saints—ordinary men and women who lived extraordinary faith—serve as models for today’s families striving to live with love, patience, and faithfulness amid life’s struggles. In a time when many families face challenges of distance, materialism, and broken relationships, the saints remind us that holiness is not confined to the convent or church; it is lived out in the home—through acts of forgiveness, service, and compassion. All Souls’ Day, on the other hand, invites families to remember and pray for their departed loved ones. Visiting cemeteries, lighting candles, and offering prayers are not mere traditions—they are acts of love that bridge the living and the dead.
As we celebrate these twin feasts, may we recall our roots with God. We came from Him, we are called to be holy by Him, we are to return to Him.
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