Pope Francis speaks about the Devil

[commenter]

I find it SO encouraging that he speaks of the devil as he does. It seems that much of our society, even those who consider themselves religious, have tried to forget that Satan even exists.

Francis causes discomfort in Christians who have forgotten the reality of the devil. I, too, find it encouraging that he reconfirms what I have always believed. But he is saying a lot of other things that I have tended to forget - the need of dying to self, to take up our crosses, to reject sin, and specifically, to reach out to the poor. There are many sides to this fisherman, I suspect none of us will ever be totally comfortable in his papacy, but we will always be encouraged.

 

[Michele_Boyer]

Francis causes discomfort in Christians who have forgotten the reality of the devil. I, too, find it encouraging that he reconfirms what I have always believed. But he is saying a lot of other things that I have tended to forget - the need of dying to self, to take up our crosses, to reject sin, and specifically, to reach out to the poor. There are many sides to this fisherman, I suspect none of us will ever be totally comfortable in his papacy, but we will always be encouraged.

I find him encouraging. This is the Catholicism that I remember. This is so different that what we’re accused of believing. Though I’m sure those accusers would find plenty of fault with this version, too.

These critics seem to all be members of what my husband calls the “church of what’s happenin’ now.”

We may not be comfortable with all that he reminds us of, but what I’m finding is that I’m not totally comfortable with life, and am more comfortable with it the more I adhere to these so called “restrictions.” The way is narrow, for sure, but since it works for a peaceful heart, then it’s better and easier than free-falling.

 

[AndyP2010]

I’m not familiar with Unusual Suspects. Is that a book, or some other writing? And where could I find it. I believe I heard it, oddly, from a Catholic friend who has since become an agnostic.

Youtube

 

[Michele_Boyer]

I believe that was from the Usual Suspects.

Referring to the statement that satan’s greatest conquest was for us not to believe he exists (or something like that), it may have been part of that movie, but they got it from somewhere, too. I heard it in the 60s when I was in college. That idea has been around a long time.

 

[edwest2]

I totally agree…look what the so called sexual revolution of the sixties caused…promiscurity is rampant…so are STD"s…(sexually transmitted diseases)…abortion on demand…one out of two marriages end in divorce…that’s if couples bother to get married at all…single parent homes where children have different fathers…music videos where so called singers use foul language and gyrate around in next to nothing…movies and TV where sex…violence…alternate lifestyles are glorified…not to mention every second word blasphemes the name of our savior…video games for kids that glorify violence…homosexuality is seen as normal…same sex marriage is accepted more and more…greed and corruption in government and society …violence in society…drugs…mass killings…pornography…the “look out for me first” mentality…etc…so why… if we call ourselves a christian nation is there so much evil in our society…the obvious answer is that we are NOT a christian nation…even some who call themselves christians would not consider many of these things listed as either bad or evil…and even if they did they would not be concerned as long as it didn’t interfere with their life…so Satan claims more souls because many christians are to apathetic and centered on themselves to see what is happening…how much longer will our Blessed Mother be able to hold back the righteous anger of her son.

You need to look at history, carefully. This did not happen overnight. The Body of Christ was gradually poisoned over a 40 year period by outsiders and dissidents in the Church. It was a series of events that infected the media which gradually, slowly, turned up the volume of sex, profanity and actors portraying terrible role models with their live-in boyfriends.

I lived through it. We did not open Porn Bookstores around the country. We did not open Strip Clubs and Topless Bars everywhere. We were not for No-Fault Divorce. The dissidents, radicals and Hippies had to live their dysfunctional, dope smoking, anti-family lifestyle openly and woe to any parent, relative or neighbor who tried to point out the error of their ways. I watched as bookstores opened near Universities filled with books about Eastern religions - gotta get rid of Christian thinking and follow the East.

Before 1968, the Federal government acknowledged our Judeo-Christian Heritage. Their words, not mine. And as far as the Russians, they told us we were in a struggle with “Godless Communism.” Things were functional, we didn’t lock our doors at night and even though we all did not go to the same Church, we had shared values, and mostly good neighbors and role models. I viewed some of them as extensions of my family. People were on the same page, and those who weren’t were quiet until the sex without love or commitment revolution. 1968 was the turning point. I was there. Everything after gradually changed from the good and wholesome, and as the decades passed, a little bad, a little more bad and a little more bad, so that today, too many Catholics are living like pagans. I heard a priest say that on Catholic Radio.

Pope Francis is saying the exact same things I heard in Catholic school in the 1960s. The exact same things. And there are young people and seminarians who are showing the zeal and holiness that will bring us out of the darkness, because the ‘train wreck’ the dissidents and their outsider allies caused is going to end. People will say NO, more and more.

The Devil is a real being.

Jesus - His real presence - is in the Eucharist.

Pope John Paul II, then Pope Benedict and now, Pope Francis. God has sent us these men to set the ship of His Church on the right course. To remind us of basic and timeless truths.

God be with you every day,

Ed

 

[dividus]

Originally Posted by Qwikness
I believe that was from the Usual Suspects.

I

'm not familiar with Unusual Suspects. Is that a book, or some other writing? And where could I find it. I believe I heard it, oddly, from a Catholic friend who has since become an agnostic.

Over forty years ago I clearly remember the teacher at my primary school telling us, during a Religious Instruction class that “the devil’s cleverest trick is to persuade us that he doesn’t exist”

 

[Avila123]

I am glad that Pope Francis is reminding us of the depth and breadth of our faith as it is time to move away from swinging pendulums and get a solid grounding in the Truth.

Whole generations were taught in catholic schools that God was vengeful and punished sinners. Those of us who tested this and weren’t instantly struck down by lightening started to doubt, observe adults more closely and realized, faith was for an hour on Sundays only. On return to the church as an adult, I noticed that the emphasis was on God’s love for us (which is great) but the words satan, hell and temptation had vanished. Feeding the flock on sweet and pleasant things can’t be healthy or responsible? We need a healthy spiritual diet and if that includes unpleasant warnings about eating baked beans and sprouts in an enclosed room, at least we have the knowledge to avoid it, or deliberately suffer the consequences. Loving parents usually warn their children about playing with fire, and when the children disobey and are hurt, the parents nurse their child back to health. Surely our mother church should be giving doing the same for us and then, when needed, heal us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

It is about hearing what we need to hear, and not just what we want to hear. On this last point, I suspect that is why so many people avoid the sacrament of reconciliation, not realizing their great loss or understanding that it is needed in order to receive the Eucharist and to return to a state of grace.

I hope that Pope Francis keeps bringing up the subjects he does, to help us move out of apathy, complacency and thinking that “if its okay for me, then it should be okay for the Church”.

 

[dividus]

I am glad that Pope Francis is reminding us of the depth and breadth of our faith as it is time to move away from swinging pendulums and get a solid grounding in the Truth.

Whole generations were taught in catholic schools that God was vengeful and punished sinners. Those of us who tested this and weren’t instantly struck down by lightening started to doubt, observe adults more closely and realized, faith was for an hour on Sundays only. On return to the church as an adult, I noticed that the emphasis was on God’s love for us (which is great) but the words satan, hell and temptation had vanished. Feeding the flock on sweet and pleasant things can’t be healthy or responsible? We need a healthy spiritual diet and if that includes unpleasant warnings about eating baked beans and sprouts in an enclosed room, at least we have the knowledge to avoid it, or deliberately suffer the consequences. Loving parents usually warn their children about playing with fire, and when the children disobey and are hurt, the parents nurse their child back to health. Surely our mother church should be giving doing the same for us and then, when needed, heal us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

It is about hearing what we need to hear, and not just what we want to hear. On this last point, I suspect that is why so many people avoid the sacrament of reconciliation, not realizing their great loss or understanding that it is needed in order to receive the Eucharist and to return to a state of grace.

I hope that Pope Francis keeps bringing up the subjects he does, to help us move out of apathy, complacency and thinking that “if its okay for me, then it should be okay for the Church”.

:thumbsup:

 

[Michele_Boyer]

I am glad that Pope Francis is reminding us of the depth and breadth of our faith as it is time to move away from swinging pendulums and get a solid grounding in the Truth.

Whole generations were taught in catholic schools that God was vengeful and punished sinners. Those of us who tested this and weren’t instantly struck down by lightening started to doubt, observe adults more closely and realized, faith was for an hour on Sundays only. On return to the church as an adult, I noticed that the emphasis was on God’s love for us (which is great) but the words satan, hell and temptation had vanished. Feeding the flock on sweet and pleasant things can’t be healthy or responsible? We need a healthy spiritual diet and if that includes unpleasant warnings about eating baked beans and sprouts in an enclosed room, at least we have the knowledge to avoid it, or deliberately suffer the consequences. Loving parents usually warn their children about playing with fire, and when the children disobey and are hurt, the parents nurse their child back to health. Surely our mother church should be giving doing the same for us and then, when needed, heal us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

It is about hearing what we need to hear, and not just what we want to hear. On this last point, I suspect that is why so many people avoid the sacrament of reconciliation, not realizing their great loss or understanding that it is needed in order to receive the Eucharist and to return to a state of grace.

I hope that Pope Francis keeps bringing up the subjects he does, to help us move out of apathy, complacency and thinking that “if its okay for me, then it should be okay for the Church”.

Beautifully stated Avila123.