Why are vampires traditionally repelled by the Holy Cross?

  • Thread starter Thread starter FatherMerrin
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Me, too! We’re now watching it a second time as there is much that was confusing to us. A friend pointed out that it’s much more understandable if you’ve read the books or played the video game…I’ve not done either. I did find a web site that listed 10 things you need to know about the Witcher before watching…it helped a little.😂
 
Yup

Had to do some background reading to make sense of the series.
 
FatherMerrin said:
The premise of the Holy Cross acting as a ward against vampires is a common trope in horror films and literature (Bram Stoker’s DRACULA being the most famous example), but there never seems to be a consistent explanation about why. I’ve heard a number of possible reasons, which vary from fearing/hating the Cross because it represents eternal life without becoming undead, to a symbol of Good’s absolute triumph over Evil. But do Catholics have a more specific cause in mind?
Click to expand...
Yes FatherMerrin, I have a more specific cause in mind, but unfortunately I can’t direct you to a reference.

Not long ago, I heard in a video that in one of the earliest modern Dracula books (or it might have been Nosferatu, I can’t remember which), that a family was given great power by a generational spirit (generational spirit: a demon passed down through the generations of a family, and also satanic of course), but the deal was that either every 7th generation or every 10th generation or something like that, a member of the family would have to allow himself to be possessed and that drinking blood and killing people was part of that possession. The possession, the power, and the ages and ages of undead existence/possession was an analog of eternal life in heaven. Obviously, then, the horror at the presence of the cross was just like that of any demon or evil spirit in a typical case of possession.

I don’t know whether it was E Michael Jones, Fr. Ripperger, or whoever, but I’m pretty sure it was in a video.

Sorry I can’t do better than that.
 
Last edited:
I’m partial to the original Dracula film myself. Then there are the gems that are so bad they’re good…

Blacula
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter (I saw the trailer for this one in the theater and busted out laughing)
 
Did you watch the new BBC/ Netflix Dracula? The last episode is a bit meh, but the first two episodes are quite entertaining. That show contains a new explanation for the fear of the cross:
In the show, Dracula takes on knowledge and traits from the people whose blood he drinks. He’s been living off peasants for so long that he has taken on their fear of the cross.
 
FatherMerrin said:
The premise of the Holy Cross acting as a ward against vampires is a common trope in horror films and literature (Bram Stoker’s DRACULA being the most famous example), but there never seems to be a consistent explanation about why. I’ve heard a number of possible reasons, which vary from fearing/hating the Cross because it represents eternal life without becoming undead, to a symbol of Good’s absolute triumph over Evil. But do Catholics have a more specific cause in mind?
Click to expand...
This is somewhat related to a topic i’ve been recently thinking about, exorcisms. Why does it always seem like its a Catholic priest that gets called in to do an exorcism? Because it is.
In the gospel we read that Jesus gave his disciples the ability to drive out demons. So given the RCC is the biggest authority of exorcisms today it gives me great confidence that this is the Church of Christ.

As to your curiosity on vampires, im not sure how much truth is behind them but I would think much the same. Vampires are evil and so they’re threatened by the appearance of Christ.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top