All Saints’ Day… what is it (also)?
We asked a few Catholic Poles how this “All Saints’ Day” works for them. What do they do, and (especially!) why do they do what they do? The answers were pretty complicated, and most found it difficult to explain because the “why” is a tricky one. “We do it because we’ve always done it that way.” That kind of idea. But anyway, after asking several people on this side, you get this sort of answer:
On All Saints’ Day, the whole family goes to the graves of their ancestors. And it’s not just your family that goes; no, all of Poland goes. How crowded is it? At the entrance, there are tons of flower stalls, all the tram routes are adjusted to get everyone there, and the trams are packed full. It’s at least as busy as your average street market.
In the days leading up to it, all the graves are cleaned, the paths are raked, and more.
On the day itself, flowers, candelabras, candles, etc., etc., are placed on all the graves. There are also tables set up here and there with food, where people can “enjoy” a meal together with their ancestors. (the text continues below the picture)
And then we come to the question: why? Part of the answer is “respect for your ancestors,” “taking a moment to reflect,” but after that respect and reflection, it goes further… much(!) further.
At the graves, you see people, families, sometimes all at once, kneeling in prayer. In the next picture, you’ll see what they’re praying for, who they’re praying to, and why: (This is the answer that can be pieced together generically after asking several people; the text continues below the picture.)
If you look closely (start at the top left and follow the arrows down), you’ll see it’s like a pyramid scheme. You pray for/with your ancestors so that they spend less time in purgatory (which is NOT biblical and doesn’t exist), but it goes (depending on whom you ask) through a bit of a detour. It goes through Mary, to Jesus, to God, who needs to be favorable, and then to your ancestors. Those ancestors are then in turn looked upon favorably, and they pray again (through the same chain) via Mary, Jesus, and God for you, so that when you arrive in purgatory, you spend less time there. Keep in mind, this is their answer (not ours), and they can’t really explain it well themselves because it’s pretty complicated.
The emotional complexity is that if you stop praying to your ancestors, your grandpa, grandma, dad, and mom will stay in purgatory longer, and that’s your fault. And they won’t pray for you anymore (through the chain), so what’s going to happen to you when you arrive in purgatory? As soon as someone breaks this cycle, there’s a huge problem in the afterlife.
This makes evangelizing among these groups really complicated. Because if you “convert to Christianity,” that’s a curse for your grandpa, grandma, and deceased dad and mom, since they “have to do penance longer” in purgatory. Your family will definitely blame you because you’re making your grandpa, grandma, and deceased dad and mom suffer, and what happens to the living family members if they were to die now? You’re not praying for them anymore…
Just asking questions about this phenomenon (which is also mega-cultural in Poland) can be downright scary for them. Because if you start shaking their “foundation,” the whole pyramid scheme comes crashing down—not just theirs, but also that of your living family members. This can be seen as a threat, and when people feel threatened, they tend to fight or flee. You can see these two reactions when it comes to these kinds of questions, full of emotions based on the wisdom they’ve heard for years and years. However, the Bible is VERY clear on this issue:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)
For the living know that they will die; but the dead do not know anything, and they have no longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. (Ecclesiastes 9:5)
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:13-23)
And is the answer they gave us correct? Well… most of them don’t even know themselves… and when you ask them together, you find out that they don’t really understand it either, but they believe it 100% because the pope, the pastor, their grandpa, and their dad have always done it that way, so it must be true… When you ask them if they’ve researched it themselves, Bible in hand, the answer is “no.” With all the consequences for eternity…
