Feasts, Holidays & Seasons

Catholic Halloween Prayer

Halloween is a Catholic word. “Hallow” is an old English word for saint, and “e’en” is short for evening. All Hallows’ Eve is simply the night before All Saints’ Day, 1 November, which is followed by All Souls’ Day on 2 November. Together the three days are called Allhallowtide: a time to celebrate the saints in heaven and pray for the dead.

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In the 700s, Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel in St Peter’s Basilica to all the saints on 1 November, and within a century the feast had spread across the Western Church. In medieval England, poor children and adults went “souling” from house to house on Hallowe’en and All Souls’, receiving small “soul cakes” in return for promising to pray for the household’s dead. It’s one of the ancestors of trick-or-treating.

Historical Context

31 October: All Hallows’ Eve, vigil of All Saints

1 November: All Saints’ Day, a holy day of obligation in many countries

2 November: All Souls’ Day

Many Catholic families and parishes now hold All Saints parties, with children dressed as their favourite saints. It’s a fun way to reclaim the night’s original meaning.

A Catholic Halloween Prayer

Lord God, on this eve of All Saints,
we thank you for the great crowd of men and women who have gone before us,
known and unknown, who loved you and now see you face to face.
Let their example inspire us and their prayers protect us.
Keep our children safe tonight,
and help us one day to join the saints in your kingdom.
All you holy men and women, pray for us.
Amen.

A Short Litany of the Saints

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
St Michael, pray for us.
St Joseph, pray for us.
Sts Peter and Paul, pray for us.
(Add your family’s patron saints.)
All holy men and women, pray for us.

For the Dead

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.

Best Times for This Prayer

On 31 October, before trick-or-treating or an All Saints party.
At the vigil Mass for All Saints.
Through November, the month of the Holy Souls.

Scripture Connection

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes.” — Revelation 7:9

This is the first reading at Mass on All Saints’ Day. Halloween is the night before we celebrate that uncountable crowd, and remember we’re invited to join it.

Related prayers

For 31 October, see the Halloween Prayer and Happy Halloween Prayer. For the dead, the Crossing Over Prayer.

More feasts, holidays & seasons prayers

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About Stephen S. Griffin

Stephen S. Griffin is the pen name of the person who runs Guided by Prayer, a reference library of prayers. How the prayers are written and sourced.