Devils lurk in hotel rooms

[kepha7]

I’m a bit suprised at the skepticism on this forum about the influence of the devil and his demons. I’m sure that most of us would readily acknowledge the influence of God’s Angels in the world and in our lives: Angels worshiping with us at Mass, our guardian angel protecting us, angels praying for us, etc. Why do we then suddenly deny the influence of the fallen angels?

I do believe in the influence of demons and the power of sacramentals to repel them. However, concerning Fr. Amroth’s book (which I have read), I would advise people to read it with caution. Here’s a book review of his book that was featured in This Rock magazine (Jan 2000).

It seems that Fr. Amroth has also made some very questionable claims in the recent past as well. He’s made comments such as “the Nazi’s were all posessed,” that really make me question his credibility as well as the claim that he’s done 30,000 or 50,000 exorcisms. Here’s some articles describing what Fr. Amroth has been up to recently:

Here’s one
and Jimmy Akin’s take
And from Ed Peters

 

[Genesis315]

As has been pointed out, sacramentals are effective and are not superstition. That being said, I hate to break it to everyone, but grave sins are committed everywhere.

 

[Chancellare]

I think this thread has convinced me to stay away from traditional Catholicism. I’ve been traditionally minded for some time now but I can’t accept that devils “attach themselves” to inanimate objects and that spaces or things can cause one to sin. Or that to sprinkle salt will eradicate devils more than it will attract insects. Incidentally, I always thought there was one devil, not many devils. And while I do believe that the devil tempts us and can on rare occasions possess a human soul, I simply can’t accept what appears to me to be a superstition. I think I’ll do much better to pray to God for strength to resist evil, and implore the saints to intercede in this regard on my behalf.

So - so long.

Pax

By the way - a fellow poster suggested that to believe otherwise was a sign of not poor indoctrination to the faith. I grew up with a very conservative polish parish priest and spent 8 years in Catholic schools - I’m quite sure I know the faith.

There is a big difference in meaning between length of time spent in school and level of education attained. Same is true with doctrinal formation. Some of the most insiduously anti-Catholic teachers are found in supposedly “catholic” schools.
So going back to sacramentals, the body of knowledge is there for everyone to study and profit from.

 

[barbfromtucson]

You know, I work for an airline and have traveled all over the world. I have stayed at many hotels/motels.

I have never even thought about the potential of evil spirits hanging out at the motel/hotel room. I’m not a superstitious person, and I don’t want to be so afraid that I won’t be able to sleep at night during my next trip.

I pray my rosary frequently, I never turn on the TV. and I don’t spend a lot of time in the hotel room–only to sleep and brush teeth/shower/etc.

I do believe that Satan exists, even though I never hear about him at church, as have been previously said. I think we need to always pray for our protection from Satan always–regardless of whether in the comfort of our own bed or some hard hotel room on the other side of the world.

God Bless,

Barbara

P.S. I don’t have Blessed salt or anything like that–just a blessed Rosary and a head full of prayers.

 

[Chancellare]

You know, I work for an airline and have traveled all over the world. I have stayed at many hotels/motels.

I have never even thought about the potential of evil spirits hanging out at the motel/hotel room. I’m not a superstitious person, and I don’t want to be so afraid that I won’t be able to sleep at night during my next trip.

I pray my rosary frequently, I never turn on the TV. and I don’t spend a lot of time in the hotel room–only to sleep and brush teeth/shower/etc.

I do believe that Satan exists, even though I never hear about him at church, as have been previously said. I think we need to always pray for our protection from Satan always–regardless of whether in the comfort of our own bed or some hard hotel room on the other side of the world.

God Bless,

Barbara

P.S. I don’t have Blessed salt or anything like that–just a blessed Rosary and a head full of prayers.

What you do is perfectly fine. A meaningful prayer life and frequent availment of Sacraments is the basis for peace of mind. There is no compulsion for sacramentals. They are optional.

 

[childofmary1143]

I guess that’s what we get when we’re in a world where a recent survey reported that only about half of the priests believed in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. (wouldn’t that make them protestant?)

Can you tell me where you read that survey please?

 

[M-Dent]

Sacramentals do help to ward off evil spirits…however, as others have said, some of that seemed a little superstitious.

No question about it.

Sacramentals are great reminders to be aware of the temptations, accusations, slandering and seductions the devil often suggests.

It becomes clearly and object of superstition when an object is given ‘power’ that only God offers. Yet a Blessed Sacramental reminds us of that - at least it should?

Overall, there seems to be a lot of evidence in the world demons appear more interested in the quick fix - creeping in the hearts and minds of those who don’t believe they even exist.

 

[cheeto1]

I think Lily M and MariaGorettiGirl are right. I certainly don’t deny that there are places more infested with evil than others, and that especially hotel rooms may be such places.

Still, I think that thinking about “the demons in my hotel room” is a sure way to occupy yourself with things which are less than healthy. In fact, I think that the devil chooses ideas such as this one with the towel (which is pure superstition, as it is not a sacramental) in order to draw our attention to himself. He does crave our attention sooo much, after all, the poor thing!

I’d say that turning our hearts and minds to God, reading the Bible (which can also be found in most American hotel rooms, after all ) and praying the Rosary before going to sleep is a much better way to ward off the devil and his temptations than any towels thrown over TV sets…

And: The best way to deal with the devil is a good laugh about him, after all! Imagine him trying to influence you to throw your towel over the TV set… LOL!

This is the post I agree with…

except the part about laughing about the devil. It’s not funny.
He’s trying to kill us and many have fallen. We are safe, as you
say, but that is not enough. Instead of laughing, we need to be
concerned and have a heart for our brothers and sisters in
grave danger.

Instead of concentrating on the sins that may have happened
there, I get the hotel bible, and imagine how many holy hands
have held it, and even been converted by it. The power of God
and the faith of believers is magnificent, overshadowing all. The
truth of angels is also a reality to think on. These, the faithful
spirits of God are also more powerful than any who work for the
devil. Whatever is pure and good and beautiful, think on these
things Philippians 4:8

And now if I found salt in the corners, would I imagine that it
was previously occupied by holy people of faith, or by those
who lived fearfully, as if God is not enough help to them?

 

[paramedicgirl]

It’s not surprising, given that we never hear of the devil in the homilies of our churches anymore, that so many people put such little stock in the devil’s power to bring evil upon them.

Blessed salt and holy oil are sacramentals of the Church, and have the power of sacramentals when used with faith and devotion. That means if we use them with faith, hoping that by God’s grace they will preserve us from evil, then we are not being superstitious. If one were to use blessed salt or holy oil as if they had powers in themselves, then that would be superstition.

One of the chief benefits to be gained from the use of sacramentals is protection from evil spirits, and this is Church teaching.

I’m pretty sure that the towel over the TV is just a reminder to prevent you from turning on the TV, and has nothing to do with warding off evil spirits. I’m surprised that anyone interpreted that differently.

 

[CatholicNick]

It’s not surprising, given that we never hear of the devil in the homilies of our churches anymore, that so many people put such little stock in the devil’s power to bring evil upon them.

Blessed salt and holy oil are sacramentals of the Church, and have the power of sacramentals when used with faith and devotion. That means if we use them with faith, hoping that by God’s grace they will preserve us from evil, then we are not being superstitious. If one were to use blessed salt or holy oil as if they had powers in themselves, then that would be superstition.

One of the chief benefits to be gained from the use of sacramentals is protection from evil spirits, and this is Church teaching.

I’m pretty sure that the towel over the TV is just a reminder to prevent you from turning on the TV, and has nothing to do with warding off evil spirits. I’m surprised that anyone interpreted that differently.

I’m not surprised to see scoffing and talk of ‘superstition’ on this thread, in fact, its just what I’ve come to expect on CAF.

 

[homewardbound]

This is the post I agree with…

except the part about laughing about the devil. It’s not funny.
He’s trying to kill us and many have fallen. We are safe, as you
say, but that is not enough. Instead of laughing, we need to be
concerned and have a heart for our brothers and sisters in
grave danger.

Instead of concentrating on the sins that may have happened
there, I get the hotel bible, and imagine how many holy hands
have held it, and even been converted by it. The power of God
and the faith of believers is magnificent, overshadowing all. The
truth of angels is also a reality to think on. These, the faithful
spirits of God are also more powerful than any who work for the
devil. Whatever is pure and good and beautiful, think on these
things Philippians 4:8

And now if I found salt in the corners, would I imagine that it
was previously occupied by holy people of faith, or by those
who lived fearfully, as if God is not enough help to them?

I agree with this post, and the one they agreed with.

Sacramentals are useful to the faith and definitely aren’t superstitious in themselves, but if I ever used them as others here suggest I’d be nothing but a mess of fear and nerves during my stay at the hotel. If it helps others feel better, thats fine. But just because others don’t need to do a bunch of little ceremonies to make a room feel safe, doesn’t mean they don’t believe in evil. It may just mean they don’t need to do those things to avoid sin and have complete faith that God is there with them. Everyones different.

 

[AMDG1]

There is a big difference in meaning between length of time spent in school and level of education attained. Same is true with doctrinal formation. Some of the most insiduously anti-Catholic teachers are found in supposedly “catholic” schools.
So going back to sacramentals, the body of knowledge is there for everyone to study and profit from.

I won’t respond to the first part.

The body of knowledge is there…“where”?

 

[Chancellare]

I won’t respond to the first part.

The body of knowledge is there…“where”?

Doctrinal formation: once you decide to go for it, you will find what you want to find and what you did not expect to find.

 

[KMXV]

While I agree that sprinkling holy water and blessed salt is a sound practice in hotel rooms, there’s an equally insidious evil in addition to porno induced impure acts lurking in most American hotel rooms. Namely, the King James bible. A bible produced by a heretic for heretics. Therefore, might I also suggest one remove the heretical bibles one finds in these rooms and burn them once you arrive home? Pope St. Pius X suggested doing so. If it’s good enough for a saint, it’s good enough for me.

And, yes, the heretics that distribute these bibles expect them to be taken. It’s even encouraged. Of course, I’m certain they don’t expect them to be burned. But, what they don’t know won’t hurt them, now will it?

 

[system]

Can you tell me where you read that survey please?

The priest read it to us at Mass. I assumed that was under the direction of the Archdiocese and that everyone would be hearing the same survey results on the same Sunday. It was at least a year ago.

He said that only 50% of attendees at Catholic mass believed in the true presence with most believing it was symbolic. He then went on to say what was worse was that the numbers were the same for priests who answered this survey.

Unfortunately we lost this priest recently. He was given his own parish, not very close either.

 

[cheeto1]

I would never dream of burning a bible. I am shocked that a
pope would suggest this. What can be this bad about the King
James bible? I thought it just had some missing books.

 

[LilyM]

I would never dream of burning a bible. I am shocked that a
pope would suggest this. What can be this bad about the King
James bible? I thought it just had some missing books.

Exactly! Saint Pius surely wouldn’t have suggested burning a book of the Gospels or a Psalter just because it wasn’t the complete Bible, would he?

I partially credit my reversion to Catholicism to the day I picked up a KJV Bible at a second-hand bookstore and started reading it. For that reason alone it deserves not to be burnt!

 

[palmas85]

I would never dream of burning a bible. I am shocked that a
pope would suggest this. What can be this bad about the King
James bible? I thought it just had some missing books.

The King James version was actually translated from one of the worst known translations of scripture that existed at that time. It was not translated from the Vulgate as many believe. Not hardly. The writers wanted a clean break from what they considered the blasphemous Catholic bible.

 

[childofmary1143]

While I agree that sprinkling holy water and blessed salt is a sound practice in hotel rooms, there’s an equally insidious evil in addition to porno induced impure acts lurking in most American hotel rooms. Namely, the King James bible. A bible produced by a heretic for heretics. Therefore, might I also suggest one remove the heretical bibles one finds in these rooms and burn them once you arrive home? Pope St. Pius X suggested doing so. If it’s good enough for a saint, it’s good enough for me.

And, yes, the heretics that distribute these bibles expect them to be taken. It’s even encouraged. Of course, I’m certain they don’t expect them to be burned. But, what they don’t know won’t hurt them, now will it?

Can you provide a citation to prove he actually said that?

 

[Shoshana]

I tend to believe that place will become infested not necessarily by sin but certainly by occultic practices…satanic worship, psychic reading, channelling, palm reading and of cards, etc. All these things are an abomination to God.

But it is always a good thing to carry blessed salt and holy water blessed with the old ritual.

A place that is infested by occultic practice is where I work…the signs are there…and hopefully, I will not continue to work there in the near future.