Why is Pope Francis so obsessed with the devil?

[Dorothy]

I think foreign priest still acknowledge diablo

Thankfully, there are many priests in my diocese who do so as well.

 

[edwest2]

I know what you are saying, my parish is the same way, I tend to think my CC, and some others, are sort of ‘catering’ to the majority of the parish, people dont want to hear about being punished for doing things or taking part in whats considered normal, enjoyable, popular things in modern society, they want to hear happy things, they want to be justified in the things they do (especially if its popular), even if God would call it sinful or wrong. They want to be seen at church every week, driving nice cars, wearing nice clothes, they like talking about their cul de sac lives, their great jobs/ incomes, where they are going on vacation, etc.

I think what alot of people in my parish would love to hear the priest say is something like “Dont get too down on yourself for indulging in popular, sinful cultures, dont worry too much about following Gods laws, God understands times have changed, he will understand and give us a pass if we are good people”. These people are fair weather christians imo, they are religious, but to a certain extent, they do have their limits, if religion/faith gets in the way or , or conflicts with something popular in society, they look for something, anything, to justify it, trying to ‘get around’ following Gods rule, but still being able to call themselves good christian people.

These are the people the devil really loves, he knows when the time comes, they will likely deny their faith, if it means loosing their incomes, homes, families, freedom, etc. they will turn on their faith in a heartbeat.

I dont like saying that,especially about my own parish, but I have known many of these people since childhood, I know what their lives are like outside of the CC, I know how they think. I wonder about this alot, how they got to this point, Ive tired talking to one of my own family members about this before, they are content just going to mass one hour a week and leaving it at that, they dont really LIVE the faith, job, family, come absolutely first.

I was very fortunate to live through a time period where our Catholic faith was lived by the majority of our neighbors and even for those who were Christian but not Catholic. Decency, civility, respect, raising children right… We lived in a community of believers. And that’s what’s missing today. Communities of good neighbors who shared and helped. And Christmas - what a wonderful time. We put up our trees, sent out Christmas cards. NO, it was not perfect but we didn’t lock our doors at night. Sure, we had a few bad apples but our parents never told us to bother those people. To be polite to them. Our parish had various banners for the various Church societies.

Then, slowly, gradually, outsiders came to change things. To offer us sin they called freedom. Cohabitation, use illegal drugs, porn is OK, No-Fault Divorce as opposed to divorce for cause, legalizing abortion.

The media that could not say certain words or show certain things, slowly began adding questionable to obviously bad material. Just watch TV from the late 1950s and early 1960s. Clean, wholesome. Anyone could watch it. Today? No, not really. And all those bad things? I think people did some bad things and began to isolate themselves. They still wanted to be Catholic, but what about that abortion, or divorce or two divorces? I recall a Catholic friend saying she did not want to go through the annulment process after she remarried “because then my kids would be bastards.”

And divorce hurt the children who had reason to fear marriage. “How could mom and dad split up? How?” And what about in-laws? Bitter feelings? To be never heard from again?

I watched the Body of Christ in the West being slowly poisoned starting in the late 1960s. And there were dissidents inside the Church doing what they could to help scatter and confuse the flock. And dissidents outside the Church, today, working hard to do the same.

I heard on Catholic Radio that we were like frogs in pots of cool water on a stove. Then someone turned up the bad a little, and then a little, and a little more and we are now boiling in those pots. Once the media included the Church as being a good thing, now the opposite is generally true.

So, at least some Catholics still put in that one hour a week. God is there but His works? They are lacking in too many Catholics I grew up with. It’s easier to follow the crowd. Since porn, abortion and other things are legal, that makes them OK. Or, “Why bother with anybody? I’ll just go to work, live my life and whatever.” I mean “What will I do if I realize I can’t watch 90% of what’s on TV?”

I have friends who’ve been asked: “So, what’s your favorite TV show?” When the answer is “We don’t watch TV,” it’s like, noooo, really?

Society is not a person. Only persons can change society. And I watched living a Godly life, the family and the Church being attacked over and over, all in the name of “freedom,” which means, “My will be done. No one can tell me what to do.” As if no one or nothing has or is influencing them right now.

Have hope. There’s still time. Get rid of the bad - yes, it may take a while - and return to the Godly life.

Ed

 

[Memaw]

Thankfully, there are many priests in my diocese who do so as well.

Same here in the Omaha Archdiocese. Our Pastor has wonderful right on target Homilies. Thank God. Memaw

 

[JRS_88]

Yesterday, our priest spent his entire homily on Satan. It was excellent.
He pulled no punches, so to speak. I feel blessed to have our priest because he
is not afraid to speak out on the hard subjects.

 

[Dorothy]

Yesterday, our priest spent his entire homily on Satan. It was excellent.
He pulled no punches, so to speak. I feel blessed to have our priest because he
is not afraid to speak out on the hard subjects.

It is so good when our shepherds tell us what we are up against, and that Jesus is Victor!

 

[pnewton]

This intelligent Jesuit Pope is diving into deep theological waters, places where very few modern Catholic clerics wish to tread.

cnn.com/2015/07/20/living/pope-francis-devil/index.html

This is your answer

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We are at war, and have been since the time this statement was written by St. Paul. We have so many mistaken ideas about who our enemies are; the abortionists, the Muslims, the homosexual activists, the humanists, we often forget that these people are first and foremost victims. Our one, true enemy remains the one that wishes to destroy souls and to take people to Hell.

As far as hearing this at Church, every baptismal vow incorporates a rejection of Satan by name. This is not just rhetoric.

 

[mikekle]

This is your answer

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We are at war, and have been since the time this statement was written by St. Paul. We have so many mistaken ideas about who our enemies are; the abortionists, the Muslims, the homosexual activists, the humanists, we often forget that these people are first and foremost victims. Our one, true enemy remains the one that wishes to destroy souls and to take people to Hell.

Yes, you are right, this reminds me of an earlier post in another thread, someone mentioned, when the second coming happens, the ‘curtains’ will be parted and everyone will see whats been happening behind the scenes with all these evil things, they will see who has been pulling all the strings.

 

[multitude]

We are at war, and have been since the time this statement was written by St. Paul. We have so many mistaken ideas about who our enemies are; the abortionists, the Muslims, the homosexual activists, the humanists, we often forget that these people are first and foremost victims. Our one, true enemy remains the one that wishes to destroy souls and to take people to Hell.

Our one true enemy is treated like some sort of myth, or a joke, or someone with no real power or influence. Or even some sort of empowerment device. All he has to do is say to people, “I don’t exist, I’m just a figment of the religious imagination. Or maybe I do exist, but c’mon there’s no harm doing this. There’s no harm thinking that. You’re good enough.”

These types of people do not know just how much he hates them. We will always have a chance to change our minds and hearts, to repent in this life. He can’t stand that, because he lost that chance a long time ago.

 

[Dorothy]

I was going to Catechism class in the forties when our pastor explained about the war in heaven before mankind came on the scene. He explained it clearly and it was easy to understand, and I never forgot it.

Children need to be taught about this part of the truth. And that the angelic spirits are bodiless spirits, and don’t look like how they have been depicted in art. If that is explained to them they can understand.

(and yes, it is true they can appear to us if God so desires for his reasons, and if they have wings it is because they depict the speed at which they get around…also, we can sometimes entertain angels unawares…there are many stories about that.)

 

[multitude]

There’s something else as well. Even he can appear as an angel of light. It’s not hard for him to do so; he was originally made good, until he decided to rebel.

 

[Dorothy]

And, thanks be to God, we were given all the treasures in our Church to overcome any deceit the evil one presents to us.

And, if we fall, we have the means to start over. (prayer, sacraments…)

 

[Aim4TheMark]

I’m reminded of the well known saying, the devil’s greatest trick was convincing the world he didn’t exist.