May 2 Sat
10 Ways you might be letting the Devil slip in without even realizing it
Here are 10 things considered harmless by many that are ways that the devil has slipped into the culture.
1. Horoscopes. Horoscopes claim a power to know the future that is not from God. It is a pagan practice that goes against the First Commandment.
2. Mediums. Some claim to speak with the dead. Psychics, fortune tellers, mediums, and the like are either swindlers or drawing their power from the devil. The Old Testament in Deut. 18:10-11 and Isaiah 19:3 condemn conjuring up the dead.
3. Paranormal tourism. Visiting ‘haunted houses’ has become popular. The would-be ghost hunters use paranormal equipment that taunts spirits to get a response.
Real haunted houses may be either souls in purgatory in need of prayer or evil spirits. If there are souls in need of prayers, they should be respected, and if there are evil spirits, they should not be visited.
4. Wishing for someone to burn in hell. The devil wants as many souls as possible to spend eternity in hell. Despite how horrible a person is, we should never desire anyone’s damnation since it aligns us with the devil and pits us against God’s will.
5. “Knock on wood” and other superstitions. You may say it in jest. Or not. Rabbit’s feet, good luck charms, and other superstitions may seem harmless, but they seek to use powers not of God. Instead of knocking on wood or making a wish, say a prayer instead.
6. Fortune tellers, palm readers, Tarot card readers, and the like. They seek to manipulate the known world by tapping into a power that is not God.
7. Consumer products that offer powers. Crystals and essential oils — perfectly good and natural materials — are sometimes used and sold by companies claiming they have supernatural powers. For real power, talk to the Creator of the Universe and receive supernatural graces through the sacraments.
8. Unforgiveness. Jesus told us multiple times to forgive others. Praying for someone and letting go of hatred and anger with the help of God helps to heal the wound. To intentionally hold on to unforgiveness gives a toe-hold to the devil to influence you against God’s will.
9. Pornography. Everything about pornography is from the evil one, yet it has a hold on our culture. Pornography enslaves people and destroys relationships — just as the devil wants.
10. Following apparitions condemned by the Church. The devil uses false apparitions to lure people away from the Church. The Church investigates claims of private revelations cautiously, because the devil can use them to ensnare otherwise serious Catholics. The devil can use a ruse, pretending to encourage them for a time, for the sake of landing his victim in exaggeration and oddities.
This list is not exhaustive, but simply points out ways the devil slips into even Catholic circles as harmless. Yearning for the supernatural is inborn, but entering through the wrong door leads to spiritual harm. The Church and the light of Jesus Christ shine a light onto the darkness to reveal it for what it is — snares of the devil.
Excerpts from Patti Maguire Armstrong