All Saints Day

Sometimes boundaries can paradoxically provide us with freedom.

The opening quote is from one of my favorite episodes of Daria, a moment of insight from her English teacher, a somewhat doofish (if one with good intentions) character. She is having problems with a special writing assignment and eventually he narrows the guidelines.  This helps her formulate a story, while free reign was problematic.  I think the same can apply to things generally. A constitution, holy book or story all provides a boundary that people can work off of, especially if there is enough room in the joints for various interpretations. 

A more open approach might be nice, but sometimes it is unrealistic in practice. And, working within the boundaries (which are reassuring to many) provide a certain freedom. Such is clearly shown by the various takes on the Holy Bible, both testaments.  I'm very sympathetic to those who follow a Unitarian-Unilateralist type approach (toss in Universal Life Church, ethical culture, freethinker or whatnot here)  and would ultimately take that approach myself.  I myself was raised Catholic (if not strongly), so am particularly familiar with that approach, particularly the Bible.  I like many of the tribe don't like many aspects of the religion while still be affected by it somehow.  There is a social liberal aspect to it, e.g..

Today is All Saints' Day.  Yesterday was "all Hallows eve," aka Halloween.  That is an old-fashioned way of saying the day before All Saints Day, a day that is rather self-explanatory.  It is one of a handful (six really) where you are obligated to go to church (Saturday/Monday excepted; don't recall that rule but sounds right, at least as to Saturday) outside of Sunday.  The Mary heavy leaning of Catholicism is shown here with three of the days involving her personally.  Christmas and Ascension Thursday are the others aside from today. Three have some sort of secular character, one because it falls on New Years Day.

Today also has a broad ranging character and not just because of the connection with the candy day.  I have in the past spoken about my broad sentiment as to "religion," a broad based concern that ties together conscience, the sacred and the spiritual.  Today has that character too.  Saints are formally people chosen by the Church under various criteria, some that the average Catholic probably doesn't take that seriously (rules for miracles come to mind).  Loosely, a "saint" is a very special person.  The video is one of MHP's "foot soldiers" segments about a form of such individuals. A "saint" probably is in more rarefied area but merely in degree.  Sandy only brings to mind more the importance of these special people and it is only right to have a special day to honor them.

All of them.