That Which is of Substance

This photograph depicts four young adult Lutheran Christians praying to God on the night of All Hallows' Eve (Halloween) for Christian martyrs, saints, and all the faithful departed, especially their loved ones, in preparation for All Hallows' Day (All Saints' Day), the following day of Hallowtide. These Swedes, as well as other believers, have also lit votive candles and hung wreaths near the crucifix by which they are solemnly praying. This photograph was taken in the Solna Municipality of Stockholm, Sweden. Taken from this article on denvercatholic.org.

Sometimes, you come across something that expresses something spiritually substantial, whether a quote or an image or a piece of music or ritual or what have you.

This is once such picture. I happened upon it while looking for Halloween-oriented prayers within Roman Catholic traditions. The above picture instead shows Lutherans who've maintained the more "High Church" aspects from Catholicism; what we see is something deep, meaningful, poignant, and appropriate for Halloween. 

There's something of substance here- lighting candles, saying prayers to honor the dead before a giant crucifix- this means something important. There's substance here. 

And so I reposted it here, perhaps for contemplation, perhaps for my own benefit as I continuously felt that Halloween was missing something (a la A Charlie Brown Christmas Special and Charlie Brown's issues with Christmas). 

Yet here I am, suddenly knowing what was missing! 

And I offer it to all of you.

In Christ,

Steve