As Fr. Chris Alar explains, the evening we now call Halloween began not as a pagan ritual, but as a sacred Christian vigil—All Hallows’ Eve, the holy night before the solemnity of All Saints’ Day. This feast, instituted in the 700s, has always been a time to honor the saints and pray for the faithful departed. The Church’s ancient practice of vigils reflected the truth that holy days begin at sundown, anticipating the joy of what is to come.

Bored at Mass? Not sure what is happening? Fr. Chris Alar walks you through the Mass and explains how every part comes from Scripture. You can't love what you don't understand, so now you can love the Mass by learning the Mass! In this episode, we discuss God’s three greatest acts of mercy and how this relates to the greatest act of worship, the Holy Mass.