What does All Souls' Day mean to us today? Benedikt Mohelník and Oleg Vojtíšek, Czech Radio, Vertikála
“From a believer’s perspective, we are indebted to our ancestors; it is thanks to them that we are here. We live on credit from what we receive from previous generations. Saying goodbye to that person is the bare minimum we can do to repay that debt, and at the same time, we are creating value for the future—for those who will come after us and live on our credit,” said Benedikt Mohelník, director of the Dominikánská 8 platform and editor-in-chief of Salve, a journal of theology and spiritual life.
Our Oleg Vojtíšek was in a debate with him on the program “Vertikála” on Czech Radio.
And they discovered something interesting: religious rituals and our alternative ceremonies can go hand in hand. After all, the purpose of art is not to destroy traditions, but to update them.
Take All Souls’ Day, for example. It’s typically observed at a cemetery by laying flowers in a small family gathering. But you can also invite friends and colleagues—perhaps on the anniversary of a loved one’s death—so you won’t be alone. After all, tradition calls for remembering the deceased—it doesn’t have to be on that specific day at that specific place.
For traditions to serve us well, it is a good idea to adapt them to our needs in the modern world. Neither we nor modern church leaders are opposed to this.
How does Halloween help our children?
Why is it necessary to arrange a funeral?
And last but not least: Did they cut Oleg out when he completely forgot what he actually wanted to say?
Find out in the new issue of Vertikála.