“I need a mass said for someone,” I said to the priest, terrified that he’d ask why. “In Spanish,” I added.
He nodded and consulted his calendar; gave me a date and told me the amount I should donate.
I went back to my car and sat there until I was calm enough to drive. I’m not Catholic. I had never talked to a priest before. I do speak Spanish, but more like a gringa borracha than a native speaker. And I had never met the man who wanted the mass. Not in real life, anyway.
Mr. Gonzalez was a ghost in my house. He was finally ready to cross over and had requested a mass in Spanish. I was determined to grant this final wish. Well, I hoped it was his final request. I got some holy water, just in case.
This wasn’t my first encounter with a soul that had not yet found its way to the other side. But it was the first time I did something about it. I put up with a poltergeist for seven years. It seemed determined to make me think I was losing my mind by hiding things and then returning them after I had bought a replacement.
How about you? Have you ever seen a cat in your house and then realized you didn’t have a cat? Have you smelled a strange perfume wafting in the air? Or heard a noise and found nothing when you went to investigate? Or felt a part of your house gave you the creepiest vibe? Have you seen an apparition?
All Hallows’ Eve, Hallowe’en, Day of the Dead, and Samhain all mark a time to honor our dead, This special time is just two weeks away. Samhain (pronounced SOW-win, sow like the female pig) especially is considered a liminal or threshold time when the boundary between our world and the Otherworld is thinnest, meaning spirits can come more easily into our world. And, like Day of the Dead, it’s believed that those who have passed come back seeking hospitality.
You don’t have to be Wiccan or have Celtic or Latinx roots to honor your dead loved ones this time of year.
If you have an altar in your home, place photos of your ancestors and pets who have died on it for the season. You can also add items that remind you of them such as a favorite flower, food, or book.
Set a place at the table for them on October 31st. You may also want to make this meal silent.
Take a moment to talk to those who have departed. Thank them for their contribution to your life. Ask them for any advice you want or need. Make sure you stay still long enough to hear the answer. You might also want to ask them for a sign to let you know when they are with you.
Or you can simply light candles or build a bonfire. Fire is the perfect way to celebrate as well as welcome in the colder months.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with ghosts. Were they a comfort to you? Or did they scare the pants off you?