Ghosts (Merged)

[Evan]

Why does the devil hate latin? Latin was the language spoken by those who killed the Son of God. I wouldve thought that was his favorite.

I believe one of the signs you are dealing with a demon (in the case of the possessed) is that they can respond to you in whatever language you are using (English, French, Latin, Koine Greek, etc).

So I don’t think the language is of any significance.

 

[MarcoPolo]

My standard “ghost post” resources. Hope these links all still work.

Here’s my ghosts/possessions/paranormal resources copy-paste I’ve accumulated.

Exorcism, ghost, etc… resources:

MP3s
Fr. James LeBar interview. A very good interview as I recall, stories, characteristics… (sadly no longer available but his name may be worth a search)
Fr. Thomas Euteneuer interview. Another good speaker, characteristics… (Fr. Euteneuer has since admitted to improprieties with a woman, and I believe no longer does exorcisms, but his talks are informational and occurred before the incident, if I recall correctly)
Fr. Thomas Euteneuer, Exorcism Then And Now interview. Haven’t heard this one.
Matt Baglio, The Making of an Exorcist interview mentioned earlier in the thread. I wasn’t as in to this interview, he followed a priest around in training for exorcism, he gives a few stories, but not a lot of detail as I recall.
Another Fr. Euteneuer, An Evening with an Exorcist.

There was an exorcism workshop in early 2008 lead by Fr. Jose Antonio Fortea, done in 4 sessions + Q&A. The first session was a talk by an escapee of the demonic, Moira Noonan. Here are those talks:

Moira Noonan, talks about her involvement with the occult and her rescue, many stories, interesting talk.
Fr. Fortea, talk 1 - all his talks are fascinating. He gives much detail as he familiarizes his audience with the nature of this subject.
Fr. Fortea, talk 2
Fr. Fortea, talk 3
Fr. Fortea, Q&A session

Books
Fr. Gabriele Amorth’s: An Exorcist Tells His Story He has a sequel which I have yet to read: An Exorcist, More Stories. A caveat on this one - Fr. Amorth is known for sensationalizing.

Fr. Fortea has a book, An Interview with an Exorcist, which is also on my to-read list.

Moira Noonan, mentioned above, her book: Ransomed from Darkness

And Matt Baglio’s The Rite: The Making of an Exorcist. (along with my review of the excellent book and movie )

Article
Here is an article I’ve referenced before by the aforementioned Fr. Gabriele Amorth, The Real Exorcist. He gives different kinds of possession and some definitions.

Video
Betty Brennan, former satanist tells her story. (edit 4/11/11: her talk is available on Lighthouse Catholic Media CDs now, online here, or perhaps in your parish’s lobby)

 

[thistle]

I’m not so sure about that. When Jesus was walking on the water, the disciples thought he was ghost.

It is fact. The souls of those departed do NOT linger around on earth. At death they immediately go to Hell or are saved (Purgatory or Hell).

 

[thistle]

I’ve been very interested in the study of ghosts for a while, and I recently became more interested in the Catholic side of it. I wondered if anyone here had more resources for study, and I am also interested in hearing your comments about ghosts.

The one thing we do know with certainty is that if there are ghosts they are not the souls of the departed who have not crossed over.
The Church teaches clearly that when we die we immediately go to Hell (if we die in a state of mortal sin) or are immediately saved (straight to Heaven or Purgatory first).

 

[Bryan_Greenlee]

The Church teaches ghosts exist. For example

A ghost appeared in Lourdes France. IT was not a physical but ghostly appearance of our Lady.

The Church has authorized many appearances. Many accompany the miracles required for the canonization of a saint.

What The Church “coins” as ghost is totally different than what most outside people use the word ghost as.Most people think of a ghost in terms of a dead person’s sprite manifesting itself,where the word"ghost"used by The Church in reference to God ,such the term the Holy Sprite is not describing a dead person’s sprite because God is alive ,even more alive than we are.The samething can be said about Our Lady’s appearences in Lourdes,and Fatima because she’s not dead but alive .So just like most other words in existence ,the word ghost could mean different things to different people and applied in different ways.

 

[KrazyKat]

When we die we become spirit. When a deceased spirit is permitted to visit us we refer to them as ghosts. Ergo, spirits and ghosts are the same thing.

There are those more in touch with the spiritual realm than others.

There are Catholics who see"dead people" but are advised to not speak of it.

I can attest that this is truth.

 

[thistle]

When we die we become spirit. When a deceased spirit is permitted to visit us we refer to them as ghosts. Ergo, spirits and ghosts are the same thing.

There are those more in touch with the spiritual realm than others.

There are Catholics who see"dead people" but are advised to not speak of it.

I can attest that this is truth.

I do not believe that.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I’ve been very interested in the study of ghosts for a while, and I recently became more interested in the Catholic side of it. I wondered if anyone here had more resources for study, and I am also interested in hearing your comments about ghosts.

IMO, it’s better to just let some things alone than try to mess with the supernatural out of such curiosity. God has absolutely forbidden us to try to contact spirits, etc. I understand the appeal, as I used to be really into reading and speculating about such things, but it ultimately serves no purpose except to try to satisfy an idle curiosity. And that is dangerous, because it takes the place of useful and worthwhile pursuits and keeps our minds off of God, which is exactly what the devil wants. It is not really healthy spiritually.

As to whether they exist or not, I don’t know for sure, I do not discount the possibility, but there will never be actual proof, and I prefer not to subject myself to any supernatural danger.

 

[KrazyKat]

I do not believe that.

 

[Evan]

What The Church “coins” as ghost is totally different than what most outside people use the word ghost as.Most people think of a ghost in terms of a dead person’s sprite manifesting itself,where the word"ghost"used by The Church in reference to God ,such the term the Holy Sprite is not describing a dead person’s sprite because God is alive ,even more alive than we are.The samething can be said about Our Lady’s appearences in Lourdes,and Fatima because she’s not dead but alive .So just like most other words in existence ,the word ghost could mean different things to different people and applied in different ways.

All those who die in God’s grace are alive. But an appearance of the ghost of a Saint (like Saint Mary) can bring a ghostly awakening to those who doubt God’s existence or love. That is why the Church must authorize the cult that would follow a ghostly appearance.

My ghostly life revolves mostly around the sacraments rather than appearances of those already dead (like Mary or Moses or other Saints).

 

[RaiseMeUp]

Quote:
Originally Posted by RaiseMeUp View Post
I’m not so sure about that. When Jesus was walking on the water, the disciples thought he was ghost.

It is fact. The souls of those departed do NOT linger around on earth. At death they immediately go to Hell or are saved (Purgatory or Hell).

From the Ask An Apologist Forum:

You are correct that once a person dies, that person’s soul is immediately judged: You are also correct that there are not “lost souls,” in the sense that there are not souls that are caught between death and eternity unable to “cross over” to “the other side.” After death, a soul is judged and is either saved or damned. A damned soul is in hell; a saved soul is either in heaven or in purgatory.
That said, it may be that purgatory might in some way involve the life one lived here on earth. It is not incompatible with a belief in purgatory to believe that our purgation might include “revisiting” places that were significant during our earthly lives. It may be that occasionally God allows people to see such souls in order to inspire prayers for them or in some way to teach a lesson to the people who see them.

 

[Lochias]

I think that ghosts probably exist, though I am unsure in what form. Some ghosts might be those who are currently working out their Purgatory stuff; my brother said he once saw many ghostly people in a field near our house, all harvesting though there was nothing there to harvest.

Some “ghosts” are assuredly demons, and that stuff is the purview of the Church and an exorcist.

Some others of what we might call “ghosts” could have scientific explanations: some other dimension existing alongside ours, maybe, but just one or two steps out of phase. Who knows?

All I know for sure is that I’ve had some very creepy experiences, and I believe.

 

[thistle]

Quote:
Originally Posted by RaiseMeUp View Post
I’m not so sure about that. When Jesus was walking on the water, the disciples thought he was ghost.

From the Ask An Apologist Forum:

You are correct that once a person dies, that person’s soul is immediately judged: You are also correct that there are not “lost souls,” in the sense that there are not souls that are caught between death and eternity unable to “cross over” to “the other side.” After death, a soul is judged and is either saved or damned. A damned soul is in hell; a saved soul is either in heaven or in purgatory.
That said, it may be that purgatory might in some way involve the life one lived here on earth. It is not incompatible with a belief in purgatory to believe that our purgation might include “revisiting” places that were significant during our earthly lives.** It may be that occasionally God allows people to see such souls in order to inspire prayers for them or in some way to teach a lesson to the people who see them**.

I certainly have no problem accepting that.

 

[Lasting_faith]

I certainly have no problem accepting that.

Me neither. One thing though. Sometimes I have a feeling that my first dog, my beloved Rottweiler, are still around, keeping and eye on how my present dog, my dear and very much loved East-Siberian Husky, are taking care of me. (She do a great job, in her own and very personal way.) Can’t help having that feeling. It is nothing “ghostly” about it, just a very pleasant and comforting feeling.