Okay, you said “How dare any of us here think we have the right to be afraid or superstitious of an Evil Eye or Ouija Board.” What do you mean by “the right to be afraid”? The reason the Church warns us against such things is that they work. Believing in “Ethnic Superstitions” damages the soul, and blocks Christ’s grace. I’m not making it up. There are evil spirits that manipulate them. I was the one that said the battle is over, that Christ has already won. But the devil and his fallen angels know that they’re going down, and the only way they can hurt God (albeit indirectly) is by hurting us, by tempting us away from him. I have a healthy fear of fire, because it will burn me and leave its mark upon me if I’m not careful. But I can use fire to keep warm, cook food, etc. Occult practices do not work that way. There is no benefit to them. “We are nobody to fear them because Christ is all powerful.” Christ is all powerful; you’re not. I don’t know you personally, but I was really reacting to the few things I know about you from your posts, and as I said, I was sleepy and probably should have just turned off the computer and gone to bed. I’ve already apologized for my overreaction.
What happens if the shepherd creates a pasture for the sheep and says “Stay here, and I will protect you” and the sheep go willfully walking into the wolf’s den thinking “I’m a sheep! I belong to the shepherd and he will protect me.” There is a reason that obedience is a virtue. I’m warning you not to think you can play in the devil’s sandbox and not get sand in your hair, your shoes, your pockets. If you go where Christ has forbidden you to go, that is tantamount to making the choice for Hell, even if you think you’re doing it in God’s name for some greater good.
I happen to be interested in Eastern Theology as well, in those Churches that are still in communion with Catholicism. Deacon Ed B pointed out (and I followed up on it) your by-line and the seeming ambiguity of it. I understand what you mean now.
I have no shame about this. You are not chastizing me. I’ve watched friends lose their souls to this stuff, well meaning souls no longer in communion with the church. I’m warning you, that’s all. Find a mentor, preferably an ordained mentor. Just because Christ is with you does not mean that you are always with Christ.
You also said “Christ and many angels always repeatedly said “Be not afraid”…so I’m not. I’m just shocked at how easy it seems that all of you are scared by the servants of the evil one.” CS Lewis once wrote that it is often the angels that said “Be not afraid” when visiting a mortal, which seemed to suggest something about the experience of meeting angels. I don’t imagine meeting an angel is the warm and fuzzy experience that many believe in today.
Scared of the servants of the evil one? It depends on the situation. I’m not afraid of a lion so long as it is in a cage, and I’m standing where I am *told *to stand: outside of the cage! Without a pure soul and the *authority *of the Church behind you, one has cause to fear. But any sin on your conscience when dealing with the evil one will be used against you to cause you to despair. You’re young and I admire your bravado somewhat, but your attitude borders the foolhardy. Be wise. You need the power of Christ AND the authority of the Church to face demons. Having one without the other is to tempt your own damnation. Maybe you have a vocation to be an exorcist. But you are not one now. If you do have a vocation to be an exorcist, that’s all the more reason for the fallen angels to pay special attention to you, to try and trip you up before you become ordained, and even prevent it if they can. The boastful tone of your “rebuke” of me already suggests a character flaw. Where is your humilty? Your patience? If I’m really so ignorant, why chide me rather than gently correct me? I don’t have to tell you which of the seven deadly sins is called “the sin of the devil.” No, I didn’t think I did.
I’m not embarrassed to tell you this. I’m sure there will be those reading in CAF that will think that we’re both kooks. But you and I know different. And I know a little more than you, I’d bet. I hope I clarified some things for you, at the very least, where I’m coming from.
FYI to other posters: The minor orders (porter, lector, cantor, acolyte, exorcist, subdeacon, deacon) were once the “steps” to ordination, but no longer. The orders have been broken up and given to the laity. We no longer have to be candidates for priesthood to be “lectors” “cantors,” “acolytes” etc. An exorcist is assigned, as Deacon Ed B said, and I stand by what I said on an earlier post: if you want to be an exorcist, that’s a sure sign that you shouldn’t be one. I could be wrong. I don’t think I am.
)
) and it was late and I freaked. Weariness and the Evil Eye do not mix. You mentioned thinking it looked cool as a fashion piece or something, but then immediately said you’d never wear one. Good for you (but beware of thinking things like that “look cool” Remember the words of the Mass–we actually ask to be protected from “the glamor of sin.” That’s no joke).