"The devil's workshop for the pious"

[Lormar]

I heard the phrase “the devil’s workshop for the pious” yesterday used in conjunction with an unapproved Marian apparition.

What does the phrase mean to you? I’m asking because I’m not sure how to interpret it.

God reward all who answer me.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

it means that whoever made the statement thinks the unapproved Marian apparition might lead devout people astray if they put too much credence in it.

 

[Lormar]

I just gave the context of where I heard the phrase. Thank you for answering, but your answer is not what I wanted. I could have figured that out myself.

What I wanted to know is what the phrase meant to others in general.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Sorry if I don’t understand, but “what the phrase meant to others in general” to me means pretty much the same as what I wrote.

If someone else sees a different meaning, then perhaps they will post.

 

[Wampa]

I haven’t heard the phrase before just now, but if I hadn’t know the context, I think I would have answered with a generalized version of what Tis said: it’s a trap set up by the devil specifically geared to ensnare/appeal to those who are devoutly religious.

The sorts of traps normally used for the non-pious probably wouldn’t do the trick. For example, your stereotypical partying celebrity is going to fall for drugs and sex, but those are probably not the most efficient traps for the pious.

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

What I wanted to know is what the phrase meant to others in general.

I don’t know what other interpretation you could be looking for. Bears’ seems to be pretty straightforward.

Are you asking whether people agree with the speaker that unapproved apparitions can lead pious people astray? I don’t know what you mean by “what the phrase means in general.”

 

[Beryllos]

What does the phrase mean to you?

To me it means that if a person is excessively (inordinately) concerned with certain kinds of pious acts, he may neglect to follow Christ. This may happen, for example, if he thinks his salvation is earned by pious works, or if he does not love his neighbor.

Think of the holy men who neglected the traveler who was noticed by the Good Samaritan. They desired more to keep themselves pure for religious rituals than to care for the man.

 

[Beryllos]

I have also met good Catholics who are obsessed with Marian apparitions and interpret them in a way that weakens the faith of others and even harms the Church.

Be that as it may, I would only count that as human error, not the devil’s work.

 

[BoskoBadovnic]

I heard the phrase “the devil’s workshop for the pious” yesterday used in conjunction with an unapproved Marian apparition.

You note that this apparition is unapproved by the Church. Do you mean that it might not really have been Mary that appeared, but some malign spirit in disguise who meant to lead believers astray on some matter of doctrine or morals?

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

I have also met good Catholics who are obsessed with Marian apparitions and interpret them in a way that weakens the faith of others and even harms the Church.

Yeah, I’ve definitely met Catholics who seem way more into Marian apparitions than, you know, the actual Gospel.

 

[Lormar]

I had never heard it either, and I was intrigued by it when I did. Kept repeating it to myself but was unsure as to what it meant exactly.

I think though you nailed it. Thank you, Aampa.

 

[stpurl]

Approved Marian apparitions?
Or unapproved?

 

[Beryllos]

Approved. As I see it, the apparitions themselves are not the problem, but the tendency of some of my friends to use the apparitions to accuse and condemn the Church hierarchy and forecast the end of the world.

Among Catholics of strong faith, we can safely speculate on the meaning of the apparitions to today’s world, but I think talking like that publicly may drive others away from the Church, the Gospel, and the Lord.

 

[mythbuster1]

It is written of the Last Days, “Take care that no man deceive you,” and “Were it possible, they would deceive even the elect.”