Priests advise combining remembrance with prayer for the Day of the Dead

Priests suggest that the celebration of the Day of the Dead should prioritize prayer for the deceased to maintain its Christian meaning. While Mexican traditions include festive elements such as cempasúchil flowers, sugar skulls, sweet bread, and altars decorated with photographs, these customs can sometimes include secular or pagan elements that obscure the religious purpose of the commemoration.

Father Mario Arroyo, a professor at the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City, stated that prayer is more beneficial to the deceased than tears. He noted that while weeping helps the living through the grieving process, prayer serves the souls of the departed.

Father David Jasso, the episcopal vicar for pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese of Monterrey and rector of the Sanctuary of San Judas Tadeo, also emphasized the importance of remembering the dead within this spiritual context.