Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Characteristics of Diabolical Influence - by Msgr.Charles Pope

Msgr. What Are Three Characteristics of Diabolical Influence?

How Are They Manifest In Our Modern World?

Archdiocese of Washington The Light Is On.org.

Msgr. Charles Pope

Edited for length.

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore,he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus,he cried out and fell at his feet,shouting at the top of his voie,“What do you want with me,Jesus,Son of the Most High God? I beg you,don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him,and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard,he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Jesus asked him,“What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied,because many demons had gone into him.. (Luke 8:26-30)

Msgr. Charles Pope

You will then recall how Jesus drove the demon(s) out and into the herd of swine.

Bishop Fulton Sheen states that the following 3 characteristics are sure fire ways to determine diabolical activity.

  1. Love of Nudity – For the text says:For a long time this man had not worn clothes.
  2. Violence – For the text says:though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard,he had broken his chains. Mark 5:4 more vividly adds: For he had often been chained hand and foot,but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
  3. Division (Split Personality and divided from others) – for the text says,many demons had gone into him. Mark’s version has the demoniac reply My name is Legion,for we are many. (Mk 5:9). Further all the texts say the demoniac lived apart from others,in solitary places.

So here are three characteristics of the diabolic.

It does not take much analysis to see how these three characteristics of the diabolic are alive and flourishing in the modern world,at least the Western branch of it. Let’s consider them

1. Love of Nudity - This is clearly manifest at several levels. First there is the widespread tendency of immodest dress. We have discussed modesty here before and ought to note that modesty comes from the word “mode” referring to the middle or to moderation. Hence,while we want to avoid oppressively puritanical notions about dress that impose heavy burdens (especially on women) and regard the body as somewhat evil,we must also critique many modern forms of dress at the other extreme. These “fashions” reveal more than is reasonable and generally have,as their intent to draw attention to aspects of the body that are private and reserved for sexual union in marriage. Too many in our culture see little problem parading about in various stages of undress,wearing clothing that are more intended to disclose and call attention to,than to conceal the private areas of the body. This love of disclosure and titillation is surely an aspect of the Evil One’s love of nudity,and he has surely spread his obsession to many in the modern West.

Pornography, though nothing new in this fallen world,has surely reached epidemic proportions via the Internet. Any psychotherapist,counselor or priest will tell you that addiction to pornography is a huge problem among people today. Pornographic sites on the Internet outpace all others tenfold. Multimillion Americans are viewing enormous amounts of pornography and the “industry” is growing exponentially. What was once hidden away in adult bookstores is now one click away on the Internet. And the thought that browsing habits are easily discoverable matters little to the addicts of this latest form of slavery. Many are on a steep slope downward into ever more deviant forms of porn. Many end up at illegal sites before they even know what has happened to them,and the FBI is knoocking on their door. Satan’s love of nudity has possessed many!

The overall sexualization of culture also ties in to Satan’s love of nudity. We sexualize women to sell products. We even sexualize children. Our sitcoms chatter endlessly about sex in a very teenage and immature sort of way. We are,collectively,goofy and immature about sex,and our culture giggles like horny teenagers obsessed with something we don’t really understand. Yes,Satan loves nudity,and everything that goes with it.

2. Violence – We have discussed here before how we,collectively,have turned violence into a form of entertainment. Our adventure movies and video games turn violent retribution into gleeful entertainment and death into a “solution.” Recent Popes have warned us of the culture of death,where death is increasingly proposed as the “solution” to problems. In our culture violence begins in the womb,as the innocent are attacked and it is called “choice” and “rights.” The violence and embrace of death continues to ripple through culture through contraception,violent gang activity,easy recourse to war and capital punishment. The past Century was perhaps the bloodiest ever known on this planet and untold people in the hundreds of millions died in two world wars,hundreds of regional wars and conflicts,horrific starvation campaigns in the Ukraine,in China and elsewhere,genocides in Central Europe,in Africa and Southeast Asia. Paul Johnson,in his book Modern Times estimates that over 100,000,000 died in war and violent ways in the just the first 50 years of the 20th Century. And with every death,Satan did his “snoopy dance.” Satan love violence. He loves to set fires,and watch us blame each other as we burn.

3. Division –Satan loves to divide. Archbishop Sheen says that the word “diabolical” comes from two Greek words dia+ballein,meaning “to tear apart.” My own study of Greek,poor that it is,does not yield this result. Rather dia means “through” or “between” and ballein means “to throw or to cast.” Nevertheless,the Good Archbishop was a learned man and I ask you Greek Scholars to set me straight and defend Bishop Sheen.

But,even still,it is clear that the devil wants to divide us,within our very own psyche and among each other. Surely he rejoices at every division he causes. He “casts things between us” (dia+ballein)! Diabolical indeed. And thus,we see our families divided,the Church divided,our culture and Country divided. We are now divided at almost every level:racial,religious,political,economic. We divide over age,race,region,blue and red states,liturgy,music,language,and endless minutia.

Our families are broken,our marriages are broken. Divorce is rampant and commitments of any sort are rejected and deemed impossible. The Church is broken and divided into factions,so too the State,all the way down to the level of school boards. Though once we agreed on essentials,now even appeals to shared truth are called intolerant.

And within too,we struggle with many divisive drives and forms of figurative and literal schizophrenia. We are drawn to what is good,true and beautiful and yet what is base,false and evil also summons us. We know what is good,but desire what is evil,we seek love,but indulge hate and revenge. We admire innocence but often revel in destroying it or at least replacing it with cynicism.

And Satan dances his “snoopy dance.”

Three characteristics of the diabolic: love of nudity,violence,and division. What do you think? Is the prince of this world working his agenda? Even more important:are we conniving? The first step in over-coming the enemy’s agenda is to know his moves,to name them and then rebuke them in the Name of Jesus.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011


Believe in the Gospel and triumphantly defeat the enemy of souls. Our non-belief in the existence of the devil wont save us. The devil exists but there's nothing to fear as long as God is with us. "If God is with us, who can be against us?".

1 John 3:8
"Whoever sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil."

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Saint Benedict, Intercede For Us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lmHVEB2YcI

SAINT BENEDICT, BE WITH US IN OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Dear Catholics, Be Catholic! – a reaction on July 2 episode of GMA 7’s “Misterio”

In Spiritual Warfare, it is always essential for people to obey and be under the protection of the Church, the source of Divine Grace and Blessing. More so with the Roman Catholics who firmly believe that the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is the Roman Catholic Church whom Christ Himself built. I urge all to deal with Spiritual Warfare with much prudence and care in accordance to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

July 2 episode of GMA 7’s “Misterio” featured an allegedly (diabolically) possessed girl by the name of Clara. A young house helper, Clara displayed extraordinary strength, change of voice, violent disposition, strong and devilish face, sharp looks, etc. days after complaining of seeing unknown and unidentified beings in the house where she works. She also claimed to have been hearing voices and laughters from an invisible source prior to her ordeal. While these are considered signs of a possible demonic attack, further evaluation must be done prior to authenticating a real diabolic possession.

VISIT TO WITCHDOCTOR

As usual, as most Filipinos would do, the first thing that came to the minds of the people surrounding Carla is to bring her to the local “diviner” (a.k.a. faith healer, witchdoctor, albularyo, etc.).
Catechism of the Catholic Church prohibits visits and consultation to witches and diviners. Moreover, in any case of demonic possession, people are being cautioned not to communicate at all to the alleged possessing evil spirit, like asking its name, something that the alleged healer did.

HOUSE BLESSING BY AN ORTHODOX PRIEST

This part is the most sober and acceptable move of the family who owns the house, having their house blessed by a priest. However, if the family’s faith is Roman Catholic, they should have called a Roman Catholic priest prayers of deliverance and blessing. (religious belief of the family wasn’t mentioned though).

THE EPISODE’S PARANORMAL EXPERT TEAM

The show’s regular team of alleged paranormal experts came to investigate and handle the case. The following can be observed:

1. The group came and found the girl sitting outside the house. The girl showed resistance and violence. Members of the team collectively and forcefully clutch the hands, arms and feet of the girl. Carla was shouting and so are the members of the team especially a certain Anna who claims to be a psychic (a New Age practice forbidden by the Church especially in the area of a Catholic Spiritual Warfare) who displayed power and authority over the alleged spirit, commanding the violent Clara to stop and even saying something like “hindi mo kilala kaharap mo. Kilalanin mo kung sino kaharap mo. Hindi mo alam kung ano dala ko” (you don’t know who is in front of you [referring to herself]. You should know who is in front of you. You don’t know what I can do [against you]). All these are happening in public audience while various people are witnessing and no crowd control is being employed.

TRULY AN IMPROPER WAY TO HANDLE A PERSON AND A CASE OF SUSPECTED POSSESSION. A Catholic Deliverance team and prayer warriors don’t just come to the scene and pin down a person even if the person is displaying violence. THIS MAY INJURE AND HURT THE PERSON. Much more, it should not happen outside the house where a Deliverance case would appear like a public show. And the words referring to self as someone with power and authority over the alleged evil spirit is definitely a sign of both arrogance and ignorance of the risks at stake. These are definitely not Catholic ways of handling a case of Healing and Deliverance where the Centrality of Christ (not of self) is of utmost importance.

2. One female member communicated with the alleged spirit/s asking them to leave the person by saying to what they claim to be several spirits “Kaibigan nyo ako. Tutulungan ko kayo.” (I am your friend. I will help you.)

Except for authorized exorcists, permitted by the bishop to handle a specific case, any member of a Catholic Deliverance team is not allowed to talk to the spirit/s. Team is supposed to talk to God alone in “moments of crisis” (actual event of possession) for His Divine Love and Mercy. And as soldiers of Christ, we declare war against the enemies of God, the devil and his minions and there is no way we should ask the evil spirits in a pleading manner to leave. Catholic team COMMANDS evil in the Name of Jesus – not a request or friendly plea, but a COMMAND. So there is no way to befriend and please evil by saying “we are friends and I will help you” just to make them obey your request to leave. We are always a loyal friend to Jesus and we are children of light, not a friend to the devil nor to any malignant spirit.

3. The team members asked the alleged possessing spirit “Who are you?. This was also asked by the witchdoctor who first attended to Clara. The name Christine was given and behold, they believed and bought the idea.

One reason why Catholic Deliverance team members should refrain from communicating directly to these spirits is bec. they simply won’t just tell the truth. The devil is the prince of lies and master of deceits. They will exhaust all possibilities to redirect the attention to something else other than expelling them. And true enough, if it’s really a case of demonic possession, the devil succeeded in diverting the attention of the people. The team suspected it’s really the soul of a person named Christine who died many years ago. And worse, the parents of this certain Christine were informed of the event and they too have become confused, whether it’s their daughter or not, why would their daughter do such thing, what could be the demand of their deceased daughter, what could be the message Christine want to convey, etc. Alas, the poor couple has been infected also with the two most effective strategies of the devil to lure people – Confusion and Curiosity.
Soul of a person does not commonly possess another person. Therefore, it may not be Christine. And evil spirits does not give their names as easy, bec to do so is a sign of weakness, and the Deliverance Prayer team will be able to command directly in prayer the name of the possessing spirit to leave and be cast out.

4. Members of the Paranormal Team used different kinds of objects normally seen in their kind of practice.

A Catholic Deliverance Team uses only religious sacramentals blessed by a priest and allowed by the Church, commonly Crucifix, Holy Rosary, Exorcised or Holy Water & Salt, relics of the saints, etc. (not sticks, nails, hen’s feather, amulets, talismans and the like, all considered occultic when used for this purpose)

5. An Orthodox Priest prayed-over Clara and commanded the spirit/s to leave.

Nothing wrong with the disposal of the priest’s ministry, except that it happened outside home and in the eyes of many audiences, and with the presence of psychic and paranormal practitioners who employs non-Catholic (or even non-Christian) beliefs. For Catholic Deliverance prayers, it is also important to sanitize the environment by holding the event in places blessed and dedicated for holy services such as Churches, Chapels, or inside home where prayers can be said solemnly and sincerely with all praying members of the family, a great opportunity to experience God in the midst of each and every member of the family. The praying-over of the Orthodox priest in this case cannot be considered an official Rite of Exorcism in so far as the Catholic Church is concern. The performance of the Rite of Exorcism, to be authentic and official, must be performed by a bishop or a priest authorized by the bishop. Not any clergy may perform the rite without the bishop’s permission for a particular and specific case, person, time and place.

OUR REMINDERS:

- To our fellow Roman Catholic faithful, pls refrain from consulting diviners, witchdoctors, faithhealers, albularyos, etc. Approach your parish priests and your local Church-based Catholic Charismatic organizations for suspected cases.
- Avoid consulting mediums and spiritists, crustal balls, tarot cards, astrology, Ouija board, spirit of the glass, etc. These are all risky and dangerous, and evil infestation is guaranteed.
- For the family whom Clara worked, assuming you are a Catholic family, ask for a Deliverance and House blessing from your local Parish Priest. Each and every member of the family to go to the Sacrament of Confession and grow spiritually in prayer life especially in regular celebration of the Holy Mass.
- For the family of Clara, pray for one another. Go to confession. Renounce all occultic involvement. Hear Holy Mass regularly on Sundays and Holy days of obligation.
- For the parents of Christine, and other relatives who were affected by the event, pray for one another and pray for the eternal repose of the souls of Christine and of all the departed members of the family.

MAY ALL OF US EXPERIENCE THE HEALING HANDS OF GOD THROUGH THE POWERFUL INTERCESSION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AND ALL THE HOLY ANGELS AND SAINTS. AMEN

MAY THE LORD BLESS US, PROTECT US FROM ALL EVIL
AND BRING US TO EVERLASTING LIFE. AMEN.


Bro.Arnold, TOC
KSB Team Leader