Curses and Worses

[batman6489]

I was having a talk with my priest (not confession) and I’m not Catholic. After telling him about something, he said to me, “It sounds like someone has cursed you.” He then did something and that was that.

It made me uncomfortable, like I had done something wrong.

My question is, what is curses? I’ve heard of the “jokes” that people make about curses, but he truly believed I had been cursed, which I don’t understand. I’ve not been one to believe in “witchcraft/sorcery” if that is what a “curse” is. It is confusing for me to unravel what he meant by this?

Again, I’m coming from a Protestant background, who don’t believe in the “curses” thing, at least my upbringing didn’t. And it seemed to be like “witchcraft” stuff, if anything was in that category. I mean I wasn’t allowed to even read Harry Potter, due to the “witchcraft” in the book.

Anyone got anything for me?

-Ashley W

 

[JamalChristophr]

Again, I’m coming from a Protestant background, who don’t believe in the “curses” thing, at least my upbringing didn’t.

If one believe in the activity of Christ and his reality, then she must also believe in the devil and his minions.

A curse is nothing you did. A person can sometimes very intentionally call down power of darkness, satanic forces upon another person, to do them harm in some way. That is what it means to curse someone.

Perhaps the priest said a prayer of deliverance for you. If you would like to learn more. Read Fr. Gabrielle Amorth’s books on the occult and fallen angels.

The priest might be mistaken, but he could be correct. Asking a priest here for further information is also an option.

 

[thistle]

I was having a talk with my priest (not confession) and I’m not Catholic. After telling him about something, he said to me, “It sounds like someone has cursed you.” He then did something and that was that.

It made me uncomfortable, like I had done something wrong.

My question is, what is curses? I’ve heard of the “jokes” that people make about curses, but he truly believed I had been cursed, which I don’t understand. I’ve not been one to believe in “witchcraft/sorcery” if that is what a “curse” is. It is confusing for me to unravel what he meant by this?

Again, I’m coming from a Protestant background, who don’t believe in the “curses” thing, at least my upbringing didn’t. And it seemed to be like “witchcraft” stuff, if anything was in that category. I mean I wasn’t allowed to even read Harry Potter, due to the “witchcraft” in the book.

Anyone got anything for me?

-Ashley W

Modern Catholic Dictionary:

CURSE. Popularly used to describe a variety of expletives made in anger or in emphasis of one’s feelings. Literally, to curse is to call down evil on someone or something. In the Bible a curse is often a prayer of imprecation. Israelites knew that they could not constrain the Almighty but only move him by prayer. Unlike the magical incantations of their neighbors, the ancient Jews believed that Yahweh could remove a curse by his blessing, preserve the pious person from an undeserved curse, change the blessing of an unworthy priest into a curse, and turn aside a curse from a humble person because of meekness. In general, the intended evil of a curse takes effect only when the just God wills it.

 

[Mintaka]

Catholic theology doesn’t teach that people can curse you.

• It is possible that you could be annoyed and attacked by demons for no fault of your own, because they want to try to stop something good you’re doing.
• You could also do bad things that would cause you to be more vulnerable to demons until you repent.
• Or you could do bad things that cause you to be subject to penalties from God until you repent and make reparations. (For example, as Israel breaking its covenant with God made it subject to penalties, sometimes called “curses.”)

But in general, when bad things happen, it’s just bad stuff happening. We live in a fallen world, we are subject to tests and trials and temptations, and Murphy’s Law sometimes applies.

There are some Catholics who have gotten into this evangelical thing about “generational curses,” usually attributing troubles to wicked ancestors or people around you being interested in the occult, and requiring a “healing of the family tree.” This is mostly hooey, other than it’s obviously nicer to have had nice ancestors and no occult interests among your buddies.

There are also some Catholics who belong to ethnic groups that fear demonic powers being able to work through occultists, witches, people with the evil eye, etc. (Blessings against curses and the evil eye are a big thing for the Greek Orthodox, etc., which is why they have no sense of humor about Harry Potter.) This is pretty much hooey also, although I suppose some demons might find it amusing to make it look like witches have evil powers. Personally I would worry about the demon puppeteer instead of the puppet.

On the other hand, it’s perfectly okay and a good idea to pray about bad stuff that’s been happening, and ask to be spared so many trials. If you want to get some holy water at church or take some home, it doesn’t matter whether you’re Catholic or not. Just use the holy water respectfully and there’s no problem.

Likewise, if a priest wants to give you a blessing, that’s not going to hurt and might help. (Even if you’re not in a spiritual warfare situation, but just getting attacked by Murphy’s Law and ordinary bad stuff.)

 

[JamalChristophr]

Catholic theology doesn’t teach that people can curse you.

I’m not one to argue, but this statement is in contradiction to what Fr. Gabrielle Amorth states in his books, and he is the chief exorcist for the diocese of Rome. So I’m not saying this on my own authority.

 

[coachdennis]

I was having a talk with my priest (not confession) and I’m not Catholic. After telling him about something, he said to me, “It sounds like someone has cursed you.” **He then did something and that was that.
**
It made me uncomfortable, like I had done something wrong.

My question is, what is curses? I’ve heard of the “jokes” that people make about curses, but he truly believed I had been cursed, which I don’t understand. I’ve not been one to believe in “witchcraft/sorcery” if that is what a “curse” is. It is confusing for me to unravel what he meant by this?

Again, I’m coming from a Protestant background, who don’t believe in the “curses” thing, at least my upbringing didn’t. And it seemed to be like “witchcraft” stuff, if anything was in that category. I mean I wasn’t allowed to even read Harry Potter, due to the “witchcraft” in the book.

Anyone got anything for me?

-Ashley W

Ask the priest for clarification of what he meant and what he did. After all, you were there – we were not.

If someone in another conversation said something to you that you did not understand and did something that was confusing, wouldn’t you ask or clarification?