A brief historical background to Halloween and All Saints' Day Originally produced for my college students

1. October 31
A little story . . .
By Brett Scott Provance

2.  In 1510, Raphael was painting the walls of
the Pope’s library in the Vatican

3.  At the same time, Michelangelo was only a
short distance away painting the ceiling of
the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican

4.  As they were painting, Old St. Peter’s, the great
church that had been erected by Constantine
the Great, standing well over one thousand
years, was razed to make way for Pope Julius
II’s new St. Peter’s basilica.
 Even Michelangelo mourned the destruction of
the old distinguished edifice, though later he
would crown the new church with its famous
dome.

5. New St. Peter’s, Vatican City (Rome)

6.  While the two great artists painted, and
while the new church building was
receiving its form, two Augustinian monks
in Erfurt, Germany, were sent on a
epistolary mission to Rome. Walking the
long roads to the great city, they
anticipated visiting the episcopal seat of
western Christianity.
 However, at least one of them was
shocked at what he saw as wealthy
decadence and lack of spiritual fervor.

7.  The next year, that monk became a
professor at a new, small university in
Wittenberg (Germany)
 Historical documents indicate that
students began flocking to his lectures on
biblical studies
 and among the faculty, deep theological
discussions erupted.

8. October 31
 On this day in 1517, that
Augustinian monk nailed a
list of 95 theses to the
church door at Wittenberg,
inviting others to a
theological disputation.
 His name was Martin
Luther.

9. October 31 is thus celebrated by
many Christians as
Reformation Day

10. Three years later, Luther wrote three works
that shook all of Europe
 To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation: Luther
declared that secular rulers are not subject to the
Church.
 The Babylonian Captivity of the Church: Luther took on
the seven-sacrament system, incl. transubstantiation; he
rejected withholding the cup from the laity.
 The Freedom of a Christian: “A Christian is a perfectly
free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly
dutiful servant of all, subject to all.” One is saved by faith
alone, and good works benefit one’s neighbor; Luther
also upheld the priesthood of all believers, the beginning
of modern western democracy.

11. Luther’s famous dictum concerning
the individual Christian
 He declared that a Christian is simil justus et
peccator, that is, at the same time, a saint and a
sinner :
 A saint on account of Christ’s imputed
righteousness, that is, the Christian is declared
righteous based on Christ’s righteousness
(Romans 4:5; 5:8-9, 16, 19)
 A sinner because, well, we’re not fooling anyone
(1 John 1:8; Romans 3:23).

12. Speaking of saints . . .

13. October 31
The Eve of All Saints’ Day

14.  “Hallow” means “holy”:
 “Hallowed be Thy Name” (the Lord’s Prayer)
 “And God blessed the seventh day, and
hallowed it” (Genesis 2:3)
 A “saint” is a “holy one”
 It is from this expression that the current day
is named in the popular culture:
 “All Hallows’ Even” elides to “Hallowe’en”
The old wording is All Hallows’ Even

15.  And thus November 1 is All Saints’ Day
 It is the day to remember those Christians
who have passed on
 Many churches will list the names of those
members who have passed away the
previous year

16. For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be for ever blest:
Alleluia, alleluia!

17. Welcome to HUM 223
Integrated Humanities II