Think of all the wicked people who justify their quest for power by saying it is for a good cause. Almost all evil in the world is caused by people who think they're doing it for a good cause. Not just Darth Vader. Think of the Nazis who really believed the concentration camps were necessary in order to bring about a master race...see what I mean?
So witches, wicca, witchcraft--all that stuff. Yes, it's real.
Furthermore, if you invite diabolical powers into your life. Don't be surprised if they show up, and don't be surprised if, once you've opened Pandora's box you can't get the lid back on. Remember in all the fun that the purpose of Hallowe'en is to scare the spooks away--not invite them in. Dressing up as monsters has the same purpose as putting gargoyles on cathedrals--you're supposed to be scarier than the devil in order to give him the creeps and send him running. So when you carve a jack o'lantern make him scary as you can, but say a prayer as you put him out that he might keep away the real monsters of the night, and if you dress as a ghoul or a ghost or a witch or a warlock remember that you are doing so to creep them out and say a prayer of deliverance from all the dark forces of the world.
And if you come across anyone who takes witchcraft seriously tell them politely that if they summon the devil he will probably come, and that messing with the occult is the spiritual equivalent of an eight year old kid taking a five gallon can of gas into a fireworks warehouse then playing with matches.
What an excellent description, Father!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Being so scary you scare the devil himself. I'll remember that.
As a former "Wiccan-adjacent" neo-Pagan, I want to give my support to Father's warning: just stay away from occult practices. Yes, it looks harmless. But how else would you be convinced to give it a try?
ReplyDeleteFr. Philip Neri, OP
Eventhough most would like to believe that Halloween is just a fun day for the kids, a quick read of "The Rite", the book, not the movie, will confirm that the world around us is far more diabolical than anyone would like to imagine.
ReplyDeleteYes, rather.
ReplyDeleteThough, of course - even when it becomes very difficult to "get the lid back on Pandora's" box, it's not impossible.
There's always a price to pay, but even those of us who have cast spells and put curses on people can be delivered. Grace is a wonderful thing, and God is very merciful.
Of course, it's holiness that frightens the devil the most.
ReplyDeleteFather, thank you so much for this article! Like it's been said, 'The Devil's greatest trick was getting people to believe that he doesn't exist," and I think his next best trick was getting Christians to stop talking about him. Thank you, Father, and God bless!
ReplyDeleteThe Fine Art Diner
Father, thanks VERY much for that post! It is very much needed these days, when some people think ghouls and zombies are "cool." God deliver us!
ReplyDeleteVery true. It's astonishing that books of spells can be found in the check-out lanes of supermarkets in the "Bible Belt".
ReplyDeleteI hold out hope, though, that most Wiccans, like most Freemasons, may lack a real understanding of the forces they have put themselves in contact with. This would decrease their culpability somewhat. It seems to me that the Devil rarely begins temptation with grave matter, full knowledge, and full consent of the will already present; usually at least one is lacking, at least until the sin becomes familiar.
Ack, disappointing post :/
ReplyDeleteAs a former NewAge, Non-Denominational and eventually Wiccan practioner, I can vouch for everything the good Fr. is speaking!!! Oh what 'tricks' can lead us astray. THANK YOU FATHER and may the Great God of Mercy reward you abundantly now and in Heaven!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Jeanne Marie
Great post! I always think Halloween, done in the right spirit, can be a great show of holiness to the powers of darkness, letting them know (with our laughter and sense of fun) how little power we're going to grant them. Light scares the dark away, always.
ReplyDeleteI was into Wiccan type stuff for awhile when I was younger, and yeah, no matter how "good" you think you are, it's absolutely inviting evil in.
ReplyDeleteMany people also don't believe the need for deliverance ministry. One way that the enemy is "invited" in is through contact with the occult. In many ways the enemy is a legalist and knows the doors within us that have been opened to him. I would urge reading the book Unbound by Neal Lozano. We just completed a conference and training on deliverance this past weekend. Very enlightening.
ReplyDeleteKerry McMasters
As for the "opening doors" and "Pandora's boxes", let's not forget that normal sins work that way, too. Once you commit a sin, you are more vulnerable to temptation to that same sin in the future. This is obviously true in cases involving addiction, but I think there is a spiritual truth that goes beyond addiction. It applies at the community level, too; once we accept sins like abortion or contraception, it's hard to get rid of them.
ReplyDeleteRemember, the Enemy is quite content to carry us off to Hell using very undramatic methods.
Eh, you can't scare the devil - He's much too crafty. You can, however, show him you are not afraid. Confidence is power and such confidence comes from Faith.
ReplyDeleteI can attest, from past dealings, that witchcraft is real and powerful beyond what most practitioners imagine. I found out, when targeted, that Mary can summon all the power of Christ and banish that diabolical power. THAT is what scares the devil!
This brings to mind a couple questions. If spells, magic and witchcraft is real (it seeemed real enough to me too, as I'm a former witch), then how do we catholics fight against an attack? Also, is there any merit in the Pennsylvania Dutch Pow Wow practices, that appear to counter witchcraft? Thank you, in Jesus and Mary
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that led me to leave protestantism was encountering someone experimenting with witchcraft. I began to realise that I was in no shape to do any sort of spiritual warfare. I also realised that the church I was associated with had no spiritual authority.
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful for this article! I escaped a cult on January 2, 2010. The cult leader had used the Catholic Church as a perfect cover for her cult. I was there for almost 17 years, having come to see what I thought was an apparition site of Our Lady. Well the woman did know things, and that is how she was able to manipulate people. Having been raised a Baptist (converting to a Catholic at age 21) I didn't know much about these kinds of things, and that's how witchcraft works---they pray on the ignorant. This woman had a prayer room in her basement that only two other people had seen, and I was one of the two. She burned colored candles and practiced santeria. I and the other person were in constant fear for our lives and souls and I credit Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the prayers of our family (living and dead) with saving our lives. I am still dealing with the trauma every day. The woman herself died a few months ago.
ReplyDelete