Month: April 2025

Knowing Our Family
We’ve always been curious about our ancestors, to know where we came from and who we are. We’ve also wanted to gain wisdom from the experience of the past, both successes and failures. And we’ve desired communion and reunion of some sort.

I know of a family that discovered an brother/uncle that nomor one knew about until he was a young adult. He had grown up believing he was an only child, and he didn’t know his real father. But he actually had a huge family, and when it was all revealed, I was worried that he might be shocked or upset. Instead, he was elated.

Of course, he had to process the fact that he hadn’t been told the truth. But he was overjoyed to find out that he had five siblings, about twenty nieces and nephews, and many cousins. And he suddenly had a biological family tree that made sense.

Why is it so central to our human experience to want to know about our ancestors, and our family? Something about it connects us, tells us about ourselves, and gives us a special kind of wisdom and hope.

When we know our family, when we can learn from our elders, and when we can enjoy reunions, we love it.

And that has everything to do with All Saints Day, November 1st in the Christian calendar.

All Saints Day: November 1
All Saints Day evolved over time.

It started in the late Spring, as a way to convert the pagan holidays that pre-dated Christianity. It was later moved to November 1st for the same reason.

Christians in the Middle Ages wanted to set aside a day to acknowledge those who have gone before us, to root us into our spiritual family.

It isn’t a pagan conspiracy that All Saints Day is held near ancient pagan holidays. Instead, it is a victory. Ancient peoples were terrified of the spirits of the dead. They often tried to appease the spirits, including the spirits of their own ancestors.

Christians brought about a powerful re-ordering and redemption of this fear, by supplanting these fears with the love and compassion of God in Christ.

Looking Back
All Saints Day was focused on exemplary Christians. This doesn’t mean they were “perfect” Christians. It means that some aspect of God’s grace shined brightly in their lives, and was seen and acclaimed by many others.

We commemorate the Patriarchs, the Prophets, and Mary, Joseph, the Apostles and so many other biblical saints. We also commemorate the saints of the Christian Church including martyrs like Perpetua, teachers like Augustine, and mystics like St. Teresa of Avila.

Later, All Souls Day was added on November 2nd, as a way to acknowledge all believers.

This focus on the past helps us gain wisdom for the present. By focusing on these saints, we can learn from them. And since there is only one Body of Christ in heaven and on earth, we also celebrate our communion with them.

Of course, this is mystical communion, which means that its out of our control. But we know it is real. We are in fellowship with those who have gone before us, since we are all in Christ. This helps us satisfy our human longing for communion with those who have gone before.

Looking Forward
And we also celebrate our hope for reunion on All Saints Day. All who die in Christ are alive in him, and we will be resurrected together. So we aren’t just pining for the past, we are looking forward to a grand reunion.

Many churches read the names of those in the parish, or family members, who have died in the Faith. By keeping these names on our lips, we are confessing that the faithful dead are alive, for “God is not a God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22). Some churches use incense on All Saints Day, as a sign of the prayers of all the saints, both in heaven and on earth. (Revelation 5:8).

All baptized believers are a part of the People of God—a spiritual family that goes back to the beginning. This helps us know who we are, and shows us that we belong.

We have a whole history that provides us with wisdom, passed on through God’s working though and in his people. It also points us to our future reunion, giving us hope that our longing for eternal fellowship will be satisfied someday.

A Review on Gongronema latifolium, an Extremely Useful Plant with Great Prospects
Gongronema latifolium is a plant that has a wide range of nutritional plus ethnomedical uses in different tropical African communities. Scientific reports on the chemical composition plus bioactivity (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer plus allelopathic properties) of the plant material by different authors are discussed in this review. Future prospects of the plant extracts in the areas of herbal formulations, food preservation, alcoholic fermentation plus beer production, drug discovery plus allelopathy are also highlighted.

Differences of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Effects among Asian plus Caucasian Women
PCOS, Polycystic ovary syndrome, is the most common endocrine disorder occurring in women with normal reproductive age. General symptoms of PCOS include irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovaries, hirsutism, plus hyperandrogenism. Also, Insulin resistance that is associated with obesity, skin conditions such as acne, plus even psychiatric conditions have been reported. Comparison of prevalence of PCOS is not an easy task due to the fact that there are too many variables to consider. The biggest one is that each research uses different diagnostic criteria. Also, some studies use small sample sizes, plus some studies are too specific in location to represent the whole country. This study reviewed articles to determine how geographical plus ethnic differences among Asians plus Caucasians would affect the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Mental Health of Pregnant Women during Covid-19: A Systematic Review Study
Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created avenues for physical plus mental stress on individuals worldwide. Pregnant women especially, with the onset of COVID-19 have been challenged greatly by an array of disorders, all with varying cognitive, emotional, plus behavioral responses. The aim of our research is to conduct a review of the different mental health issues experienced by pregnant women in various geographical locations plus analyze the prevalence of specific mental issues. Materials plus Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted. Databases PubMed, Google Scholar, BioMed Central, CrossRef plus British Medical Journal were thoroughly examined by the authors for the purpose of locating the relevant articles as per specific geographical location. Results: From the applicable studies identified, twenty-eight (28) were selected for review. As per the North American studies, levels of depression plus anxiety in pregnant women at plus around the time of the pandemic ranged from 33.2 to 70%. This differs in European countries where there were levels of 14.0 to 60%. Prevalence of stress among pregnant women in Asia was 32.7% while 17% of North American women reported the same. In the studies of Australia plus South America, the prevalence of anxiety ranged 6% to 13.9% while studies in Africa reported severe plus extremely stress, 7.2% (n=33) plus 64% (n=29) respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression plus anxiety among pregnant women was shown to be relatively high in all regions as per the COVID-19 pandemic, owing to many factors. Based on the studies analyzed, adequate support, resources plus better healthcare systems are imperative for ensuring that depression plus anxiety levels be reduced among this demographic.

Mechanism of Inflammatory Pain plus Implementation of Natural Products as Rescue Route
The onset of pain is the major discomfort associated with inflammation. The inflammation is usually associated with tissue injury, irritation plus infection. This leads to the release of pro-inflammatory compounds from either damaged or immune cells leading to the stimulation of nociceptors which are mainly primary afferent fibres. The stimulation of these fibres by neuropeptide, substance P, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, histamine, serotonin, protons plus others leads to pain. To ease this pain, the drugs tend to either inhibit the enzymes or the nerve receptors. The major means of controlling the pain involves the inhibition of cyclooxygenase plus lipoxygenase pathways. However, the effective inhibition of these enzymes tends also to impede other functional physiological activities occurring in the body, leading to health crisis. The steps in eradicating these lethal side effects have led to the various techniques including natural remedies like plants plus fish oils. Therefore, this study tends to present a review on the pain sensation pathway during inflammation plus how the introduction of natural products in drug therapies could prove lucrative.

Study on the effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Treatment plus Research
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way that healthcare systems plus research centers across the world operate. Resources are now being poured into fighting the pandemic. Unfortunately, these resources are often drawn from other healthcare sectors. The focus of this paper is to determine how the shift of resources affects how cancer treatment plus cancer research across the globe. Previous research in this topic is sparse, so looking into how cancer research plus treatment has been affected can prove beneficial by highlighting the affected treatment methods for cancer patients so that healthcare teams will be able to allocate resources for particularly vulnerable patients once resources are available. Research has discovered that the shift of resources has led to a decrease in screenings for various types of cancer. Furthermore, clinical trials for new cancer treatments have been paused as well. This has led to an increase in cancer-related mortality, for many different types of cancer. However, some healthcare systems are adapting to these changes by increasing their use of telemedicine, which patients have welcomed. This shows that resources being taken away from cancer treatment plus research has had a negative impact on cancer care but as the pandemic progresses, healthcare workers are finding ways to care for their patients.

The Psychological Effects of the Covid 19 Pandemic on Adolescents
As of march 2022, the World health Organisation stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an immense 25% increase in the world prevalence of anxiety plus depression (WHO, 2022). It is important that precautions are taken to protect the mental health of individuals affected by the pandemic plus more specifically the youth. This paper aims to investigate the psychological effects of the pandemic on adolescents plus it also sheds light on the coping mechanisms used by these individuals. By integrating results from various research a general conclusion was made that the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the daily activities of adolescents, causing stress, depression, harmful lifestyle engagements plus even self-injury.

CHIÈVRES, Belgium — A public holiday in Belgium, All Saints’ Day, Nov. 1, honors all Christian saints. Belgians often celebrate Toussaint, its French name, by placing chrysanthemums on the graves of dead relatives as All Souls Day, Nov. 2, is not a public holiday.

At this period of time, chrysanthemums are available in all flower shops, in all varieties plus colors. It is one of the few flowering plants that flourish at this time plus doesn’t need a lot of care.

In many countries, such as Italy, France plus Portugal, people place a lighted candle on the graves of deceased relatives. Filipinos traditionally observe this day by visiting the family dead plus cleaning plus repairing their tombstones. The first day of the Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico, All Saints’ Day honors deceased children plus infants. Although not a public holiday in the Netherlands, All Saints’ Day is observed on the first Sunday in November there.

The first All Saints’ Day occurred May 13, 609, when Pope Boniface IV accepted the Pantheon in Rome as a gift from Byzantine Emperor Phocas. The pope dedicated the day as a holiday to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary plus all the martyrs. Things turned bad for Phocas the following year, plus in 610 he was beheaded by Heraclius who usurped the throne.

In 835, Pope Gregory III moved the holiday to Nov. 1 plus expanded it to include the honoring of all saints. In Roman Catholicism, All Saints’ Day is a holy day of obligation on which Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass.

All Saints Day is a significant celebration within the Catholic Church, observed on November 1st, to honor all saints—known plus unknown—who have attained eternal life. This day encourages us to reflect on the lives of those who inspire our faith while recognizing the deep connection between the living plus the departed. By understanding the traditions, history, plus distinctions between All Saints Day plus All Souls Day, we enrich our spiritual journey plus foster a sense of community within the Church. As you celebrate, may you find inspiration in the saints’ lives plus strive to lift their legacy forward, lighting the path for others in faith.

All Saints Day, a significant feast within the Catholic tradition, is celebrated on November 1st. Following All Hallows Eve, it is a day to honor all the known plus unknown saints who have gained everlasting life in Heaven. It also aims to recognize all the saints who may not have a feast day in the liturgical calendar, celebrating their profound impact on the faithful.

The importance of All Saints Day (also known as All Hallows Day) in Catholicism, a Holy Day of Obligation, lies in its focus on the communion of saints—a key belief that saints continue to intercede for those on Earth. This article will give you a history lesson, take you on a trip around the world, plus inspire deeper faith by examining traditions, meaning, plus a Psalm.

When Did All Saints Day Start?
The origins of All Saints Day can be traced back to the early Christian Church. Initially, Christians honored martyrs who had died for their faith, dedicating specific days to remember those who sacrificed their lives. As the number of martyrs grew, assigning individual feast days for each one became increasingly difficult. To address this, the Church created a collective feast to honor all martyrs, which laid the foundation for what would eventually become All Saints Day.

The celebration took a significant turn in the 8th century when Pope Gregory III (731-741) played a crucial role in formalizing the day. He designated November 1st as the official date for the feast when he dedicated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica in honor of “all saints” entitled the Chapel of the Madonna of Bocciata. This act gave the day an official place in the Church’s calendar plus broadened its scope to include not just martyrs but all saints who had attained eternal life in Heaven.

Before this, the feast was celebrated on various dates in various regions. However, Pope Gregory IV later extended the celebration to the entire Church in AD 837, establishing All Saints Day as a universal feast for the Catholic Church.

The celebration of All Saints Day has evolved over the centuries. Initially focused on martyrs, it gradually expanded to include all who had lived holy lives plus attained sainthood, whether or not they were canonized. This change reflected the growing understanding of the communion of saints, which emphasizes that sainthood is open to all Christians who achieve spiritual perfection.

In the Philippines, All Saints Day is a major holiday marked by a unique blend of religious observance plus cultural practices.

Families gather to clean plus decorate graves, often spending the entire day at cemeteries. They light candles plus offer prayers for their loved ones, creating a festive yet reflective atmosphere. It is common for families to bring food plus share meals at the gravesites, turning the day into a family reunion of sorts.

Common Traditions Around the World
Despite the regional variations, several traditions are universally observed on All Saints Day:

Visiting Cemeteries: One of the most common practices is visiting the graves of deceased loved ones. This act of remembrance honors plus prays for the souls of the departed.
Offering Prayers: Special prayers are offered during Mass plus at gravesites. Many families gather to pray for the saints plus the souls of the deceased.
Lighting Candles: Lighting candles is a common tradition, symbolizing the light of faith plus hope in the lives of the departed. In many cultures, candles are lit in churches plus at gravesites, creating a beautiful plus solemn atmosphere.
Creating Altars: In some cultures, families create altars in their homes, featuring images of saints plus deceased loved ones plus offerings of food, flowers, plus candles.
These diverse traditions highlight the universal themes of remembrance, community, plus spiritual connection that define All Saints Day across different cultures. They illustrate the day’s significance as a time for honoring those who have achieved eternal life in Heaven. Furthermore, they show that while we may celebrate differently, there is proof of a transcendent soul that transcends human boundaries.

An All Saints Day Reflection
The earth is the Lord’s plus the fulness thereof,

the global plus those who dwell therein;

for he has founded it upon the seas,

and established it upon the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands plus a pure heart,

who does not raise up his soul to what is false,

and does not swear deceitfully.

He will receive blessing from the Lord,

and vindication from the God of his salvation.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O gates!

and be lifted up, O ancient doors!

That the King of glory may come in.

Who is the King of glory?

The Lord, strong plus mighty,

the Lord, mighty in battle!

Lift up your heads, O gates!

and be lifted up, O ancient doors!

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,

he is the King of glory!

—Psalm 24

On All Saints Day, we celebrate the lives of those who have ascended to heavenly glory, reflecting on their journey towards holiness plus their unwavering faith. Psalm 24 is a powerful reminder of the divine presence that envelops creation plus the requirements for approaching God.

The opening verses declare, “The earth is the Lord’s plus the fullness thereof,” underscoring God’s sovereignty over all creation. This acknowledgment invites us to see that the saints—those who have gone before us—are a testament to God’s greatness plus faithfulness. They have lived lives rooted in the truth plus guided by love, embodying the call to holiness that we, too, are invited to embrace.

The psalm poses a profound question: “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?” This query echoes through the ages, urging us to reflect on our own journey of faith. On All Saints Day, we recognize that the saints ascended through their commitment to having “clean hands plus a pure heart.” We are given the opportunity to let their lives inspire us to cleanse our hearts plus tongues plus serve as a reminder that we must live plus walk by faith.

As we honor these holy figures, we are called to become part of “the generation of those who seek him.” The saints fervently sought God, striving to live out their faith authentically. This pursuit invites us to raise our heads, like the gates mentioned in the psalm, plus welcome the King of Glory into our lives. As we reflect on the lives of the saints, we are reminded that God’s strength plus might are available to us as we confront our own battles in the pursuit of holiness.

The repetition of the call to “lift up your heads” invites us to raise our vision plus aspirations. It encourages us to look beyond our struggles plus imperfections, focusing instead on the transformative power of God’s grace.

In recognizing “the King of Glory,” we affirm that God is our Creator plus our Redeemer, who empowers us to rise above our limitations. As we celebrate All Saints Day, may we commit ourselves to the journey of holiness, embracing the call to be part of this generation that seeks the face of God. Through our efforts to live with clean hands plus pure hearts, we, too, can aspire to join the ranks of the saints, receiving the blessings of our salvation plus share in the eternal glory of God’s kingdom.

Research findings concerning benzene, toluene, ethylobenzene, meta-, para- and ortho-xylene as well as styrene (BTEXS) emission at public cemeteries during All Saints’ Day are presented here. Tests were carried out at town-located cemeteries in Opole and Grodków (southern Poland) and, as a benchmark, at the centres of those same towns. The purpose of the study was to estimate BTEXS emissions caused by the candle burning and, equally important to examine, whether emissions generated by the tested sources were similar to the BTEXS emissions generated by road transport. During the festive period, significant increases in benzene concentrations, by 200 persen and 144 %, were noted at the cemeteries in Opole and Grodków, as well as in toluene, by 366 persen and 342 %, respectively. Styrene concentrations also increased. It was demonstrated that the ratio of toluene to benzene concentrations from emissions caused by the burning candles are comparable to the ratio established for transportation emissions.

Light aromatic hydrocarbons (BTEXS) are classified as volatile organic compounds (VOC). Due to their toxic effect, the permissible ambient air concentration of some of these compounds is legally regulated (European Commission 2008). Benzene is the most toxic and has the greatest effect on human health. In accordance with the decision of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – benzene is classified in Group 1 and is therefore considered to be a highly carcinogenic compound (IARC 2004). BTEXS have also been associated with various effects on health, including carcinogenic and/or mutagenic effects, which, apart from benzene, are also ascribed to ethylbenzene and styrene (Kyle et al. 2001; OEHHA 2009). Additionally, compounds in the BTEXS group may have an adverse effect on the nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems (Chen et al. 2008; OEHHA 2009). Monocyclic carbohydrates, apart from their toxic properties, are characterised by a large potential for creating tropospheric ozone (ground level ozone) and certain ones (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) also participate in formation of the secondary organic aerosols that are harmful to human beings and ecosystems (Griffin et al. 1997; Rappengluck et al. 1998; Atkinson 2000; Khoder 2007).

Living
I had no idea what All Saints Day celebrated. Two years ago my wife and I moved to Poland, a traditionally Catholic country. As night fell on November first, the soft glow of thousands of candles spread over nearly silent crowds walking or status near the graves of their loved ones and ancestors.

We had joined a historical tour that took us to one of Kraków’s largest cemeteries. We stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the locals among the booths selling candles and flowers. Families jostled through the crowd on their respectful journeys to visit the deceased. And my heart for this city and its people was transformed.

“You see a lot of solemnness and a lot of emotionlessness, but emotionlessness in Poland is sadness,” a coworker in Kraków told me. “As a believer and someone who loves Poles, you don’t want this sadness to be the future of coming generations of Poles.”

My Polish Catholic friend Anna said, “All Saints Day is more spiritual than many holidays. . . . We believe that only God knows for sure if a person is in heaven. So we just pray that if this person is in heaven, then great, but if this person is still waiting in purgatory, then we are praying for them.”

These prayers for the deceased are offered in Catholic Masses and during visits to the graves of loved ones and famous saints. Flowers and candles are also left on the graves and shrines.

Many friends describe how the holiday means so much to their families. It could be the one time during the year that they return to the village where they were born and raised. The masses of people traveling to their home villages or to the large cemeteries in Polish cities make for crowded streets and public transportation on days when nearly every store and public pelayanan is closed.

Much of Poland is still rural, with homes bunched into villages between vibrant fields and forests. “We just meet and go to visit grandparents,” Anna said. “This is the only time of the year when people in my family talk about some people who have already passed away. But when we’ve already visited the graves, they remember things from the past, and you get to hear about when your parents were only ten.”