Hungry Ghosts = Lost Souls?

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At a recent RCIA session, we were discussing the Taoist(?) practise of apeasing “the hungry ghosts” during the 8th lunar month.

They usually leave food offerings, burn joss paper, etc to keep these “ghosts” happy and away.

The priest then came out with a shocker that “hungry ghosts” are souls of non-baptised deceased searching for God.

I thought that Catholic theology only specify heaven, limbo, purgatory or hell and no such thing as running around like Casper.

But the priest insists that the above states only apply to baptised Christians and that Catholic theology is open on the souls of the un-baptised.

A Catholic exorcist - Fr. Gabriele Amorth (“An Exorcist Tells His Story”) believes that ghosts are manifestations of the demons, not souls who either go up north or down south upon death.

Can anyone enlighten me on this?

:confused:
 
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bob:
At a recent RCIA session, we were discussing the Taoist(?) practise of apeasing “the hungry ghosts” during the 8th lunar month.

They usually leave food offerings, burn joss paper, etc to keep these “ghosts” happy and away.

The priest then came out with a shocker that “hungry ghosts” are souls of non-baptised deceased searching for God.

I thought that Catholic theology only specify heaven, limbo, purgatory or hell and no such thing as running around like Casper.

But the priest insists that the above states only apply to baptised Christians and that Catholic theology is open on the souls of the un-baptised.

A Catholic exorcist - Fr. Gabriele Amorth (“An Exorcist Tells His Story”) believes that ghosts are manifestations of the demons, not souls who either go up north or down south upon death.

Can anyone enlighten me on this?

:confused:
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HEY! … let’s don’t knock Casper… 😃
 
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jimmy:
Your preist is wrong. Everyone either goes to Heaven or Hell.
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lets don’t write off the ghosts to quick here… 😃

i have a special place in my heart for the ghost… 👍
 
Your preist is wrong. Everyone either goes to Heaven or Hell.
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or at the moment before the 2nd coming might be in Purgatory.

Bob, remember that not all priests are perfect in giving the 100% authentic Catholic theology. So if in doubt, consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church–always. Anything outside the Catechism is pure heresy. That priest (may God enlighten him and bless him) must be drawing up conclusions based on his own ideas and not the mind of the Catholic Church.

God bless,

Pio
 
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Apologia100:
IMO, there’ no such thing as a friendly ghost. 😉
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yep… you’ve been at the forums thing tooooooo long my friend… might i suggest a little down time… say maybe some wild turkey, a good book, visit a nursing home… we got to work on your positive outlook… 👍

…sheese, what an old ****… just kidding… :eek:
 
space ghost:
yep… you’ve been at the forums thing tooooooo long my friend… might i suggest a little down time… say maybe some wild turkey
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I am poultry intolerant
a good book
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name one, they are all blathering dibble IMO
visit a nursing home…
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visit? I live in one.
we got to work on your positive outlook… 👍
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We? WE! Do you got a french mouse in your pocket or something?
…sheese, what an old ****… just kidding… :eek:
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:mad:

😦 That’s it, I’m telling my mommy!!! :crying:
 
The Sufferings of Hungry Ghosts

*“For the benefit of sentient beings, please tell us now about the sufferings of the Hungry Ghost.”

In reply, Milarepa sang:*

Hungry Ghosts, seeing all forms as foes,
Run from each successive terror.
Wild beasts fight and eat each other.
Who of them is to blame?
The sufferings of the Hungry Ghosts
Grow from their stinginess.
Like a rat is he who fails
to give alms when he is rich,
Begrudges food when he has plenty,
Gives no food to others, but checks
Them over, counts and stores them—
Discontented day and night.
At the time of death he sees
That his hard-earned wealth
Will be enjoyed by others.
Caught in Bardo* by the agony of loss,
As a hungry Ghost he lives his life.
Due to his delusive thoughts
He suffers thirst and hunger.
When he sees his goods enjoyed by others
He is tormented by avarice and hate.
Again and again will he thus fall down (to Hell) …

Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’

Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Matt. 25:41-46
 
This is as crazy as feeding Buddah Pepsi and hot Cheetos at the nail salon. If there are ghosts, they aren’t hungry, and there probably isn’t any anyway.
 
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bob:
At a recent RCIA session, we were discussing the Taoist(?) practise of apeasing “the hungry ghosts” during the 8th lunar month.

They usually leave food offerings, burn joss paper, etc to keep these “ghosts” happy and away.

The priest then came out with a shocker that “hungry ghosts” are souls of non-baptised deceased searching for God.

I thought that Catholic theology only specify heaven, limbo, purgatory or hell and no such thing as running around like Casper.

But the priest insists that the above states only apply to baptised Christians and that Catholic theology is open on the souls of the un-baptised.

A Catholic exorcist - Fr. Gabriele Amorth (“An Exorcist Tells His Story”) believes that ghosts are manifestations of the demons, not souls who either go up north or down south upon death.

Can anyone enlighten me on this?

:confused:
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I am now reading"An Excorcist" and “An Exorcist Tells His Story”, both by Father G. Amorth. Father Amorth is John Paul II’s exorcist. He lives in Rome of course. The Pope is his Bishop.

I just read that this very experienced Exorcist said there are just two kinds of Spirits in the air of this earth. There are the Evil ones (demons or fallen Angels) and the spirits of the Angels, The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

This post tells us what a priest said. That does not make it true. If I understand correctly, the priest said that unbaptised souls hover around looking for God. Common sence tells us it is folly to hover here to look for God. “Hungry Ghosts” would have been discussed by theologians IF they existed. I will agree with the poster. This is unsubstatiated poppycock. Again, Amorth says there are two kinds of spirits, the Evil Demons and The Spirits from ( that is FROM) Heaven. No wandering unbaptised souls are discussed in any of my Catholic reading. Perhaps the local priest comes from a strange culture, possibly from Latin America. He needs some help.
 
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jimmy:
Your preist is wrong. Everyone either goes to Heaven or Hell.
Click to expand...
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hlgomez:
or at the moment before the 2nd coming might be in Purgatory.

So if in doubt, consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church–always. Anything outside the Catechism is pure heresy. That priest (may God enlighten him and bless him) must be drawing up conclusions based on his own ideas and not the mind of the Catholic Church.

God bless,

Pio
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Exporter said:
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Perhaps the local priest comes from a strange culture, possibly from Latin America. He needs some help.
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Thanks for your support guys. We all agree that my priest (ulp, my ex-classmate too!) is wrong.

He claims that the Church is coming out with a document about unbaptised souls…

Can we quote some ofiicial Church document on this? I need to convince him but I need solid proof to convince him.
 
space ghost:
lets don’t write off the ghosts to quick here… 😃

i have a special place in my heart for the ghost… 👍
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Hope you’re not hungry as well…
😃
 
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Exporter:
… Common sence tells us it is folly to hover here to look for God. “Hungry Ghosts” would have been discussed by theologians IF they existed. I will agree with the poster. This is unsubstatiated poppycock. … No wandering unbaptised souls are discussed in any of my Catholic reading. Perhaps the local priest comes from a strange culture, possibly from Latin America. He needs some help.
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Agreed.

Background cultural briefing for you guys/gals/ghosts:

The “Hungry Ghosts” Festival is a big do in Chinese parts of Asia - China, Taiwan, Singapore (where I am), etc.

I understand from another priest who as been in Taiwan that the Church there allows the celebration of a similar festival BUT in a Catholic way. No praying to ghosts but for deceased relatives and friends. Part of the in-culturation process.

The priest is Indian Singaporean by the way, an old class mate of mine. Traditional (old school) strict Catholic thinking. Part of the reason why I was shocked by his views.

🙂
 
The Apostles believed in the existence of ghosts:

When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Matt. 14:23-26

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Luke 24: 33-37
 
The idea that there are earth bound spirits is not alien to Christianity.“There are, also, souls neither in heaven, purgatory, nor hell, but wandering the earth in trouble and anguish, aiming at something they are bound to perform. They haunt deserted places, ruins, tombs, and the scenes of their past misdeeds. They are specters.”

The Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

Carl E. Schmöger, C.SS.R. The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Volume 2, p. 206. Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford, Illinois

For those interested in learning how to pray for the release of earth bound spirits: Dr Kenneth Mcall, Healing The Haunted
His Remarkable Encounters With Ghosts. Who They Are. How He Cures Them. How He Stops Them Haunting People And Places, Darley Anderson, London, 1989.

1st printing, out-of-print protected softback, 8vo, viii + 103pp, clean bright uncreased wraps, no owner’s inscriptions, unblemished txt. VG++. £9.50 ($18.00)

Queenship Publishing is reprinting Dr. Kenneth McAll’s book Healing the Haunted .​
 
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Matt16_18:
The idea that there are earth bound spirits is not alien to Christianity.“There are, also, souls neither in heaven, purgatory, nor hell, but wandering the earth in trouble and anguish, aiming at something they are bound to perform. They haunt deserted places, ruins, tombs, and the scenes of their past misdeeds. They are specters.”

The Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

Carl E. Schmöger, C.SS.R. The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Volume 2, p. 206. Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford, Illinois
…
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Not everything a saint or blessed says is infallible. Even St. Augustine, St. Jerome, etc… had controversal opinions.
 
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bob:
Agreed.

Background cultural briefing for you guys/gals/ghosts:

The “Hungry Ghosts” Festival is a big do in Chinese parts of Asia - China, Taiwan, Singapore (where I am), etc.

I understand from another priest who as been in Taiwan that the Church there allows the celebration of a similar festival BUT in a Catholic way. No praying to ghosts but for deceased relatives and friends. Part of the in-culturation process.

The priest is Indian Singaporean by the way, an old class mate of mine. Traditional (old school) strict Catholic thinking. Part of the reason why I was shocked by his views.

🙂
Click to expand...
Bob, All Souls Day ( Our Holy Day) does have some rather odd manisfitations in Mexico. Food and objects loved ones like when they were alive are set out. In Mexico it is called “The Day of the Dead”. But no ghosts are supposed to appear. These Hungry Ghosts are a good story but a story they are: not real at all.
 
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