How active is the devil?

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I understand the doctrine of free will. I was wondering where free will and temptation from the devil mesh. We all make decisions, but is the devil an active antagonist that suggests poor moral decisions? How active is the devil in today’s society? Is his role important or not in Catholicism?
 
No matter how active the devil is, our bad choices are our own bad choices. yes, the devil is active. Yes, he tempts us. But our temptations come from our own inordinate desires. All he does is prod us towards those desires. It is up to us to bite the bait. Whether there are 10,000,000 hooks in the water or only 1; the fish that bites is the one who is caught in the net of sin.
 
‘The number of devils active in the world is greater than that of all the human beings who have lived since Adam.’

St. Padre Pio
 
I have found after a lot of soul searching that, the most cunning way the devil does his work is - by letting a person to remain aloof from another person.
There are so many ways of understanding this point of view.
If you are serious the way I see this, let me know.
Keep praying for each other.
Tiny 12 04 12
 
Tiny_A_D said:
I have found after a lot of soul searching that, the most cunning way the devil does his work is - by letting a person to remain aloof from another person.
There are so many ways of understanding this point of view.
If you are serious the way I see this, let me know.
Keep praying for each other.
Tiny 12 04 12
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What do you mean by aloof and soul searching? That it’s a sin not to get married?
 
The devil is more active now than ever before in the history of mankind.

I recall the story of a young monk who sought counsel from an old, wise, holy hermit monk. He asked the old monk, “Father, will people of the future fast and pray for days like we do?”

The old monk answered, “No, my son. In future times, people will scarcely be able to pray one hour or fast for one day. But, they will be greater than us, because we fight Satan chained. They, will fight Satan unchained!”
 
Heavy_Cross said:
I understand the doctrine of free will. I was wondering where free will and temptation from the devil mesh. We all make decisions, but is the devil an active antagonist that suggests poor moral decisions? How active is the devil in today’s society? Is his role important or not in Catholicism?
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The enemy is VERY ACTIVE in today’s society. Knowing this is VERY important to the Catholic Church, as the enemy is well aware of who we are (namley the true faith and the true church). And make no mistake, the enemy will do everything in his power to destroy the Catholic church. This is why we are/will be persecuted in this world. Indeed, a church in my town was broken into last night, they set fire to the alter and sacred scriptures. I would ask for prayers for the priest and members of that parish. The good news is, however, THE ENEMY WILL LOSE! Keep faith and keep praying.

God bless
 
Does this question really have to be asked??? The devil is as active as, well, hell. The Bible describes him as roaming to and fro on the earth seeking whom he can destroy. He is also described as the one who accuses the bretheren day and night. So that seems pretty darn active to me. All you have to do is see all of the evil that is in the world and know that everything has to have a source. In the case of evil Satan is its source.
 
coachkfan1 said:
Does this question really have to be asked??? The devil is as active as, well, hell. The Bible describes him as roaming to and fro on the earth seeking whom he can destroy. He is also described as the one who accuses the bretheren day and night. So that seems pretty darn active to me. All you have to do is see all of the evil that is in the world and know that everything has to have a source. In the case of evil Satan is its source.
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I do need to ask this question because some people I talk to in the Church believe he is just a myth. Then again it also said his greatest talent was to keep himself hidden.
 
Look around! He’s here and he’s active!!! Especially in the media.
 
The devil’s most powerful accomplishment is to convince people that he doesn’t exist.
 
coachkfan1 said:
The devil’s most powerful accomplishment is to convince people that he doesn’t exist.
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Couldn’t agree more. Sadly some christians don’t even believe in hell, let alone believe they could go there (and what I mean by that is, having a pretense of faith but living prodigal lives, dressing immodestly, having sex outside of marriage, supporting or even having an abortion).
 
Eagelswings said:
Couldn’t agree more. Sadly some christians don’t even believe in hell, let alone believe they could go there (and what I mean by that is, having a pretense of faith but living prodigal lives, dressing immodestly, having sex outside of marriage, supporting or even having an abortion).
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Code: 
 I agree totally also.  Christ called Satan the prince of this world.  The Bible uses the imagery of a serpent to represent Satan.  Anyone who has seen a squirrel  running down a tree and darting back up again while screaming loudly  going lower and lower each time understands this.    The whole forest becomes silent as this goes on  then suddenly as the squirrel  nears the bottom of the tree bang as a rattlesnake uncoils and bites the hapless squirrel.   So one may say the squirrel is beguiled by the serpent.  The scene is a bit different for a rat in a barn who runs and then freezes as a rat snake approaches.  I don't have anything against snakes except  I don't think it is a good idea to have venomous snakes loose in the outside living area of a human dwelling.

   Satan always wants to one to give him something that is God's alone. In this he is extremely clever.  You can't resist him alone, you need the indwelling and graces of the Holy Spirit. Of course by having the Holy Spirit you will if you listen gain many Blessings and Graces of God, all the Divine Persons of the Holy Trinity.

  Also, Satan will separate you from other humans and destroy human relations especially  those formed  by and within the Church.  We need the Church Community to survive with our Faith in tact.  

  In each successive phase of human life as we grow older,  Satan designs his attacks. He also designs an attack personally for you.

   This is why we must follow Christ.  Then we can live a happy and free life.  We put Christ first and He will provide everything for you that is good.   I mean we have to work and struggle but Christ will provide for you in all things good and your life will be happy.

   Satan wants to destroy God's Creation.  Surprisingly the number of criminal arrests in  the  USA has  trended downward since 1994 or so according to FBI statistics.  The record of the number of criminal arrests in major crime areas have been recorded by the FBI since 1939. This is about 21 years after Roe vs. Wade  Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal.  Some say this is one of the benefits of the brutal removal of unwanted children from society; but at what price,  probably one greater then one can imagine.  How many minds that God intended to bring blessings to our country and the world were not only lost but thrown away?  The potential of  a human being is inestimiable, da Vincis, Einstiens, and some that may have brought inovations that would have benefited the whole world.
BP
 
Heavy_Cross said:
I understand the doctrine of free will. I was wondering where free will and temptation from the devil mesh. We all make decisions, but is the devil an active antagonist that suggests poor moral decisions? How active is the devil in today’s society? Is his role important or not in Catholicism?
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Who needs the devil to tempt people when people behave so avariciously and act so iniquitously of their own accord?
 
I think Marxism is a tool of the devil to shape society. Right now Christians are mocked openly, but in the future Christians will be imprisoned or killed openly.
 
Dakota_Roberts said:
Who needs the devil to tempt people when people behave so avariciously and act so iniquitously of their own accord?
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Agreed. It’s sad how some people get obsessed with blaming the devil for everything to the point that accountability is not in their dictionary.

Honestly, what is so wrong in believing that there are just really, really bad people out there?
 
Lost_Wanderer said:
Agreed. It’s sad how some people get obsessed with blaming the devil for everything to the point that accountability is not in their dictionary.

Honestly, what is so wrong in believing that there are just really, really bad people out there?
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It’s the whole nature vs. nurture theory; Natural instinct vs. learned behavior. Scientists have been trying to unlock THAT riddle for some time now, and we may never fully know what really causes “evil behavior.” What we DO know is that it happens, and happens way more often than you’d think.
 
This past weekend in my city area, a previously perfectly normal man walks into a Cracker Barrel with a gun and shoots his wife and two young daughters. As the man would not surrender, the police had to shoot him.

3 people slain ~ a mother, daughter, and the husband ~ another daughter in critical condition.

The wife was leaving the husband, and was celebrating her daughters birthday at Cracker Barrel.

What makes a man kill his family? What makes people go momentarily insane?

Is it the Devil?..who seeks to breed greed, jealously, deceit… you tell me. Who else puts these thoughts and temptations into our minds so that we cannot see clearly and are blinded by the path from God?
 
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