Possible spiritual attack?

[HabemusFrancis]

I apologize if this is in the wrong section, and would be happy to have it moved.

First of , Merry Christmas one and all!

As you all know, I have sort of experienced a rebirth of my Catholocism for the past 3 months. I have felt much greater clarity and inner peace for having done so, but at same time have had rather odd thoughts and feelings which haven’t surfaced before.

At same time I got more into Catholocism, I also aquired an interest in the occult ( mostly tarot and other divination methods/ animal spirit cards etc.) I read about the subjects out of curisoisty, and felt sort of a pull or interest to buy them.

Though I knew they were wrong, I sort of justified myself entertaining the idea of buying them by saying “Oh, the Church teaches a lot of things… they might be wrong on this…” or “it can’t be that bad can it?” I always stopped from buying them though, and the more I prayed or matured in my faith the less the desire became, and now it is gone.

I also aquired sort of an interest in exorcism, a long hushed up and not talked about reality of the Church. What I learned intrigued and enlightened, but also frightened and depressed me. I learned that many such victims of demons become so by being involved in occult (especially ouija board, which I truly never would touch!!!) I think perhaps from here on in it is a subject that is best not to research or think about?

Funny enough, whenever I would puruse the Wicca/new age section in a book store (after my faith matured) I would almost get an allergic reaction. Nothing really physical, just a shortness of breath/ mental fogginess that would recede within a minute of leaving the section.

Lately… I’ve been reading about various marian apparitions (which no one is required to believe.) I read them thinking they’d be enlightening ( and some were) but a few just felt… strange. “Our Lady of Good Success” was one, I hate to say.

I basically took issue with the fact that Mary ( in this apparition) spoke of the need for penance or else the world would be punished greatly by her son. The whole idea of it sort of upset me, and I felt sort of a strange anger and contempt for Jesus that lasted maybe all of 3 minutes. I felt terrible after the thoughts left. I never felt that way before and wonder if maybe it was an unnaproved vision and one I should be wary of?

To top it all off, I believe I met a witch cashier today: a female cashier with a pentacle around her neck!

I don’t find any of this too alarming really. I just find it interesting that this occult interest ( unacted upon) would coincide with my renewed devotion to the Church.

I know I might sound kind of strange telling this, and maybe even reading/thinking about these topics are a bit out there, but I would appreciate some insight/advice.

Thank you all so much

 

[ynotzap]

When ever you get more involved in the spiritual life of your faith, you can be assured that the Devil will do his best to impede your progress. You need to be aware that as an angel he has the power to make suggestions, negative inspirations. To one who is advancing in virtue and faith, he becomes an harassment, where as a good angel becomes an encourager, giving good inspiration. To one in sin, a good angel becomes a spiritual irritant, whereas an evil angel become an encourager to evil You need to pray for spiritual discernment. Read St. Ignatius on his teachings about spiritual discernment

 

[HabemusFrancis]

When ever you get more involved in the spiritual life of your faith, you can be assured that the Devil will do his best to impede your progress. You need to be aware that as an angel he has the power to make suggestions, negative inspirations. To one who is advancing in virtue and faith, he becomes an harassment, where as a good angel becomes an encourager, giving good inspiration. To one in sin, a good angel becomes a spiritual irritant, whereas an evil angel become an encourager to evil You need to pray for spiritual discernment. Read St. Ignatius on his teachings about spiritual discernment

Thanks so much! It is interesting you phrase it that way. Almost seems like obstacle course in advancing in faith at times.

I wonder if perhaps I should not read the marian apparitions as much? I feel that the future, or whatever things Mary says will or will not happen are basically out of my hands, and should focus on just doing God’s will, instead of possible future events.

It is sort of disqueiting to think there is an evil spiritual being who wishes to harm you in whichever way he can, but such is life I suppose:blush:

 

[Josie33]

I wouldn’t call it a spiritual attack, I would simply call it temptation. As another poster stated, Satan will do anything to trip you up as you grow closer to Christ. I applaud you for not falling for his attempts to lure you into the occult. I suggest you read this on The Devil’s Tactics.

Remain steadfast in your faith and stay faithful to Christ. As the article suggests, pray the rosary, spend time with Jesus in Adoration, give alms and help the needy, perform daily works of mercy, read the Bible, praise God and attend daily Mass. I would also add go to Confession on a regular basis. Remember, “[t]hey have no power over us UNLESS we give in to their temptations.”

If you found that article to be interesting I would follow it up with A Memo From the Devil.

I hope this helps. God bless,

Josie

 

[pianistclare]

You’re playing with fire. Stop dabbling in occult things or even giving them thought immediately.can’t stress it enough.

 

[Arizona_Fat_Gir]

As far as punishment goes, it may have started already. Look at the terrible storms we have been having recently.

Punishment can come from other people as well. With all the crime happening, it wouldn’t be a surprise that it is happening because of people not loving or obeying God.

We have been warned not once that God may punish mankind, and of course in what ways is a good question; of course there are people who do not believe this; they think God is too nice to do anything punitive. He held back quite a bit over the years but it’s possible time is of the essence. Sooner or later, there very well may be some repercussions. (On the news today, Oklahoma had 3 earthquakes. Could it have anything to do with the Satanic activities of recent years?)

 

[HabemusFrancis]

^ But then… if God’s punishment is as you say, would that not make Him guilty of mass murder?

I hate to make this comparison, but if that is the threat God is holding over us… wouldnt that make us God’s fearful, battered wife in a sense?

I mean no diresepct… it just seems that way…

 

[808Catholic]

^ But then… if God’s punishment is as you say, would that not make Him guilty of mass murder?

I hate to make this comparison, but if that is the threat God is holding over us… wouldnt that make us God’s fearful, battered wife in a sense?

I mean no diresepct… it just seems that way…

Man did not create man; God created man. We are His to do with as He pleases. He has great love for all of us (or He wouldn’t have offered us salvation via the sacrifice of His Son or even created us to begin with.) He tells us the consequences and gives us free will to choose the action.

 

[Spritus1]

The world of spirit and the world of matter are mysteriously linked. Where there is disorder in the spiritual realm it tends to be manifested in the physical realm. I think here of Shakespeare’s Macbeth as an example albeit a literary one and not to be taken as scientific.

The war in the heavenly realm is intensifying as Satan gains more ‘legal’ power because of sin. Sin fuels him and in a sense gives him certain ‘rights’. We can expect to see more and more natural disasters, violence and general disorder and chaos until the penny drops and mankind turns back to God, if indeed it does. God does not wish or will any of these disastrous events but there are laws in creation and when those laws are ignored or broken, there is a price to be paid. God is tender, merciful, patient, slow to anger, loving and our Father and I am certain takes no pleasure in human suffering.

God cares for our spiritual welfare and our salvation ultimately and if it takes calamities and disasters for people to wake up (as often it does) then God may permit them to help guide people (His children) back on the right path.

There are worse things than losing your home, car etc. in a flood, earthquake, tornado etc. There is Hell. Material goods can be replaced. Once in Hell it is irrevocable and forever. God does not wish to see anyone end up there. He will do all He can to make sure we choose Him and not Hell. But He will not force us to love (choose) Him.

That is my understanding. Hope it helps.

Peace.

 

[tonyrey]

We live in such a violent universe it is miraculous that life has survived for billions of years after almost becoming extinct on this planet several times. There is no need to explain natural disasters as the result of diabolical intervention. In his wisdom Shakespeare put it in a nutshell:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish’d.

• Hamlet

But he finishes his soliloquy with a prayer:

Soft you now! The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remember’d.

We should follow his example and ask God to liberate us from all forms of evil.

 

[HabemusFrancis]

My “spiritual attack” aside, I hate to say it, but I find it somewhat implausible that a great, God-sent chastisement is about to happen.

Not because people in this age aren’t offending him (we are) but we have done so ever since Christianity’s founding.

There were other terrible events in history (Black death, Spanish Flu, Both world wars).

There were things like the protestant reformation, where many people actually believed the world was about to end.

We live in an era that places an unprecedented value on human life ( abortion not withstanding.)

It is this very recent era that has made domestic abuse illegal and has promoted the rights of women to be autonomous. The disabled are given rights an opprotunities that would have been unthinkable 40-50 years ago, when many of them were institutionalized or forgotten:blush:

It is also an era where cruel and unusual punishment, religious persecution and genocide are condemned by the world (if not always practiced by the world.)

I say all this because it’s worth noting that while there is a lot of bad and impiety in our world today, there is much good as well. At times much more than the pious and devout middle ages.

I could be wrong, and don’t insist on being right on this, but for aforementioned reasons I find it hard to think there will be a “God sent” chastisement.

Also, the world has existed for 6 billion years. If there is some calamitous event it will from just a failure of world leaders IMO.

 

[runningdude]

I apologize if this is in the wrong section, and would be happy to have it moved.

First of , Merry Christmas one and all!

As you all know, I have sort of experienced a rebirth of my Catholocism for the past 3 months. I have felt much greater clarity and inner peace for having done so, but at same time have had rather odd thoughts and feelings which haven’t surfaced before.

At same time I got more into Catholocism, I also aquired an interest in the occult ( mostly tarot and other divination methods/ animal spirit cards etc.) I read about the subjects out of curisoisty, and felt sort of a pull or interest to buy them.

…

The word “Occult” literally means “Secret Knowledge”. The premise of the occult is that there are secret powers that can be manipulated for personal objectives.

The simple truth is that this is all a lie.

God created the universe, all that is seen and unseen. He revealed the scripture to us, and this tells us everything we need to know about the “unseen”. There are no secrets omitted from scripture. No magic powers, no talismans, no crystals. No curses, spells, or incantations. It is all fake. Every bit of it.

To pursue the occult is to pursue a lie, and to deny the truth as revealed by God. That is the simple, and primary, reason that pursuit of the occult is sinful.

Scripture does tell us there are demons. The bible tells us exactly what we need to know about demons, and what we need to know to exorcise a demon; a priest must simply command the demon to leave an individual in the name of Christ and his holy church. There is a formalized ritual for exorcism, but no secret knowledge is required of the perform the exorcism; he must simply perform the exorcism according to the lawful customs of the church, and the demon will be expelled.

The “danger”, and this is a vanishingly remote danger, of the occult, is that demons could theoretically simulate magic, etc. The simulation of the occult magic could lead an individual to believe the magic is real, and thus distance himself further from God. This is not the reason that pursuit of the occult is sinful, is simply a possible consequence of pursuing a sinful activity. The occult is sinful, because the occult is a lie.

Satan is the Father of Lies. We reject him and his lies in our baptismal vows.

 

[runningdude]

The word “Occult” literally means “Secret Knowledge”. The premise of the occult is that there are secret powers that can be manipulated for personal objectives.

The simple truth is that this is all a lie.
…

So, to get back on topic, perhaps your sudden interest in the occult simply reflects doubts about your new found faith, and is simply a means of distraction. Stay strong!

This is a good site to learn about the true faith. Gaining Knowledge of the true faith is best way to overcome this unhealthy interest.

 

[J_Peterson]

I basically took issue with the fact that Mary ( in this apparition) spoke of the need for penance or else the world would be punished greatly by her son. The whole idea of it sort of upset me, and I felt sort of a strange anger and contempt for Jesus that lasted maybe all of 3 minutes. I felt terrible after the thoughts left. I never felt that way before and wonder if maybe it was an unnaproved vision and one I should be wary of?

I feel the same way when I hear those types of things because I don’t believe Jesus or Mary would say that. If you feel any contempt it should be towards those that put those words in the mouth of Jesus and His mother. Where in the Gospels did Jesus say He would punish sinners and send his mother warning everybody like some sort of street preacher that only one or two people can see?

All in all, ignore the occult because you’ll never get any deeper than your self by using it. God is about humility and submission, magic is about pride and control.

 

[J_Peterson]

My “spiritual attack” aside, I hate to say it, but I find it somewhat implausible that a great, God-sent chastisement is about to happen.

Not because people in this age aren’t offending him (we are) but we have done so ever since Christianity’s founding.

There were other terrible events in history (Black death, Spanish Flu, Both world wars).

There were things like the protestant reformation, where many people actually believed the world was about to end.

We live in an era that places an unprecedented value on human life ( abortion not withstanding.)

It is this very recent era that has made domestic abuse illegal and has promoted the rights of women to be autonomous. The disabled are given rights an opprotunities that would have been unthinkable 40-50 years ago, when many of them were institutionalized or forgotten:blush:

It is also an era where cruel and unusual punishment, religious persecution and genocide are condemned by the world (if not always practiced by the world.)

I say all this because it’s worth noting that while there is a lot of bad and impiety in our world today, there is much good as well. At times much more than the pious and devout middle ages.

I could be wrong, and don’t insist on being right on this, but for aforementioned reasons I find it hard to think there will be a “God sent” chastisement.

Also, the world has existed for 6 billion years. If there is some calamitous event it will from just a failure of world leaders IMO.

Exactly. The world is getting less violent.

 

[HabemusFrancis]

^ Funny you should say that but I believe it is.

People keep saying that more people have been killed in 20th century than in any other.

That could be true, but people often fail to look at the death toll from previous centuries and see what percentage or so it really was.

I do have a theory about the visions of Mary. I feel even the more outrageous ones aren’t out and out frauds, just done by very pious and holy people, who feel some sense of distress or sorrow at the sins of the current age.

Also, I strongly believe that these visions could be embellished or edited by other people at some point down the line to make them seem more factually accurate than they are.

Even if it is true, I find it hard to believe that the BVM would appear in such a way and say such things. She would know that the people most likely to believe it in full are the ones most suceptible to gullibility and the ones who use critical thinking and research skils the least:blush:.

This is meant only as a joke, but has SSPX, “Tradition in Action” and other sedevecantist sects considered establishing a devotion to “Our Lady of Perpetual Vexation?”

Anyway, aside from the occasional indulgence of Harry Potter, The Wizard of Oz, Camelot cycle, LOTR,and the Magic School Bus, I am certifiably occult free

 

[runningdude]

Anyway, aside from the occasional indulgence of Harry Potter, The Wizard of Oz, Camelot cycle, LOTR,and the Magic School Bus, I am certifiably occult free

Not that it matters, but none of those are occult in the least; they are fantasy universes where magic is simply a fact of nature. There would be nothing inherently sinful about a hypothetical Harry Potter using his natural abilities. As a natural gift, the origin of these powers would be God himself…

 

[mikekle]

I remember someone once telling me, " if Satan is not distracting you in daily life and trying to mess with you, its probably because he is not worried about you", meaning he feels you are safely on the ‘wrong’ path and need no distracting or encouraging.

I do agree though God will soon send a warning (at the very least) on the planet, they cannot go on doing things like this forever, look at what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah…I wonder how long it took before God decided to destroy them? I was actually surprised something significant did not happen the day SSM was legalized, and/or the time when the number of aborted babies outnumbered those killed in WW2, the list goes on and on, eventually, God WILL act, I have a feeling when he does, its not going to be a good day for a good part of the secular world, huge companies whose only concern is money, Govts whose only concern is control (and money), God cannot let this go on unchecked for too long.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Thanks so much! It is interesting you phrase it that way. Almost seems like obstacle course in advancing in faith at times.

I wonder if perhaps I should not read the marian apparitions as much? I feel that the future, or whatever things Mary says will or will not happen are basically out of my hands, and should focus on just doing God’s will, instead of possible future events.

It is sort of disqueiting to think there is an evil spiritual being who wishes to harm you in whichever way he can, but such is life I suppose:blush:

If you’re going to read Marian apparitions, stick to the officially approved ones, and ignore the rest.

Which means you probably should start by downloading a list of approved Marian apparitions, printing it out, and making sure you only refer to those.

This is one possible source. Note that it only goes back to 1531, Guadalupe in Mexico. Quite possibly there were apparitions before that which could have been approved were there sufficient evidence, but I don’t know how long the Church has had a formal method of approving Marian apparitions.

carm.org/what-are-the-approved-mary-apparitions-of-the-roman-catholic-church

The devil can be very tricky. And leave the occult alone - that’s just asking for trouble.