Discerning the Spirits: Warnings Against the New Age and Occult Practices and How to Recognize the Action of the Holy Spirit

Divination tools and occult practices

Today's post is the first in a series of posts that I will be publishing on the subject of spiritual deceptions and discerning the spirits based on a book, Spiritual Deceptions in the Church and the Culture: A Comprehensive Guide to Discernment, written by Moira Noonan, OSB, Oblate and Anne Feaster.

With so many aspects of today's modern culture inundated with the New Age and occult practices, some of which has infiltrated into the Catholic Church, I thought it fitting to continue to draw from this comprehensive guide and write about how Catholics (and Christians alike) can not only identify the New Age and occult practices, but also "discern the spirits" and better recognize what is from God and what is not. 

For those who have been following my blog, you may recall my initial post on this book, New Age Alternative Therapies and Medicine: A Need For Discernment, published in November'2014.

The content of today's post focusses on chapter eight, Discerning The Spirits, which has an extensive amount of information and serves not only as a warning against the New Age and occult practices, but provides the reader with the practical help to recognize the workings of the Holy Spirit. By providing the truth about the New Age and occult practices, the authors have better enabled readers to fight the good fight against the deception and enticements of the demonic in the "dramatic situation," the spiritual battle we all live in.

Included in Discerning The Spirits, are personal testimonials that reveal the infiltration and influence of the New Age and occult practices in the workplace, education, fitness and recreation centers, Catholic retreat centers and parishes.

By co-authoring this book, Moira Noonan has also drawn from her own personal experiences with her involvement in the New Age, providing readers with a first hand account of how the New Age deceives many unsuspecting souls.

It is my hope that this book will encourage Christians and all people of good will to adopt a preventive approach against the New Age and occult practices by becoming better informed and knowledgeable of the many dangers, some of which I have written about and published on my blog, listed under the labels of: "New Age," "Occult," and "Demonic Investigation." 

If you are new to the New Age and occult practices, may I recommend my post, The New Age: A Basic Introduction.

Need For Discernment

Discerning The Spirits begins with scriptural references that set the tone for the remainder of the chapter. I have included one of the four scriptural references that, in my view, best reflects our current society, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in after times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of the devils, speaking lies hypocritically, and having their conscience branded." (1 Tm 4:1-2)

Discernment couldn't be more necessary in today's world with the New Age and occult practices rampant in mainstream culture. It doesn't take much effort to discover this within your own community, if you haven't done so already. A ten-to-fifteen minute drive within your community's business, medical and community centers, will surely result in the discovery of the New Age and occult practices: psychic readings, yoga, tai-chi, reiki, acupuncture, holistic and preventive medicine, and homeopathy just to name a few. Perhaps you might recognize some of the euphemistic language and deceptive titles specifically associated with these practices such as: oasis, sanctuary, mind body and spirit, wellness, holistic therapies, remedies, weight loss, massage therapy, natural and herbal, preventative and alternative medicine. This is but a partial list, and one that is growing.

The New Age: A Counterfeit Response to Spiritual Thirst

It is proper for us as human beings to have a spiritual dimension in our lives, one that includes a thirst for an encounter with the divine. Seeking that encounter does require an understanding that due to original sin, the devil has acquired a certain dominion over man even though man does remain free. Noonan and Feaster instil in the reader the importance of this basic human condition by quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "...Ignorance of the fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action, and morals. (CCC, 407) The Church calls it the "dramatic situation" of the whole world being in the power of Satan (1 Jn 5:19), making our lives a battle. (CCC, 409)" (117)

To further spotlight the importance and reality of this basic human condition, the authors have also quoted from Second Vatican Council document, Gaudem et Spes: 

The whole of man's history has been the story of the dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by God's grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity. (117)

So how does the New Age fit into this battle. The authors answer this question with the acknowledgment that the New Age and its growth in the world is primarily a result of man's uncertainties, which they expand upon on by quoting a key resource, the Vatican document, Jesus Christ The Bearer of the Water of Life: A Christian Reflection on the New Age:

...[O]perates more often than not on the level of feelings, instincts, and emotions. Anxiety about an apocalyptic future of economic instability, political uncertainty and climate change plays a large part in causing people to look for an alternative, resolutely optimistic relationship to the cosmos. There is a search for wholeness and happiness, often on an explicitly spiritual level. (117)

The authors state that the New Age Movement seeks to exploit man's desire for the transcendence by supplementing the Christian response to human desires and longings, considered by New Age proponents as deficient and transitory, with one that is focused on the self and answerable to no authority.

The authors also spotlight the two main errors man may fall into, quoting from C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight." (117) Not everyone involved in the New Age considers themselves to be in either group; nor, do they possess the truth about New Age principles. Many engage in these New Age and occult practices without having acquired any knowledge about them, unaware of their dangers!

Noonan and Fester also spotlight how the New Age offers a counterfeit response to the longing and desire for the transcendence, where the goal is not to experience an encounter with God, but rather to become gods.

The authors note that the New Age rejects the reality of sin, absolute truth, and the need for redemption through the Cross. The New Age presumption is that man can achieve union or "oneness" with God through our own power, by using proper techniques and follow prescribed practices passed on from "enlightened" masters to disciples.

This is in stark contrast to Christianity which teaches that union with God is a gift from God, and not the result of man's accomplishment: it is a gift given to us through grace.

The New Age Movement and its Influence in Modern Culture

The task of documenting how the New Age has influenced our culture could be a separate book on its own. Noonan and Feaster have concisely captured this phenomena within a few pages, giving the reader a glimpse of the vast influence of the New Age. 

Drawing from the Mission Theological Advisory Group in London, England, the authors point out that the New Age is on the rise. Amongst this group's findings was that, although many Britons profess a belief in God, Church membership had declined while at the same time there was a growing interest in the New Age with practices such as horoscopes and soothsayers (psychics and fortune tellers).

The Mission Theological Advisory Group suggested that such a finding stems from a well known pattern that when truth is neglected and dismissed, a counterfeit spirituality fills the void. The result, as history tells us, is that when man turns away from God our Creator, he ends up falling prey to the most irrational and primitive forms of idolatry. Every decline in authentic religious beliefs and practices is accompanied by a corresponding rise in the beliefs and practices of superstition, occultism and divination. 

Noonan and Feaster argue that the New Age has influenced every area of modern culture: business, religion, health care, the military and education. They cite many references to substantiate their argument, made simple and easy for readers to verify at their extensive endnotes section, which spans twenty pages and is categorized by chapter. One example in particular, a California school district had accepted over a million dollars in grant money to expand a student yoga program in its elementary schools. The program was funded by the K.P. Jois Foundation, who brings in Ashtanga Yoga teachers to teach children these practices. The authors specifically address the dangers of yoga in chapters four, Yoga-Spiritual Dangers, and five, Effects of Yoga and Martial Arts.

The Church has always heeded the warnings of our Lord and is endowed with the gift of discernment; a gift of the Holy Spirit which leads to the truth. From the time of the apostles, to the desert Fathers, to the great mystics of the Middle Ages (St. John of the Cross, St, Teresa of Avila, and St. Ignatius Loyola), we have available to us, sound guidance that we can apply today.

The authors further spotlight the Church's gift of discernment by quoting from St. Pope John Paul II's encyclical, Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth), regarding the benefit that lay people and religious can receive from the Church's tradition in the area of the discernment of spirits:

...[T]he Church's Magisterium continues to carry out its task of discernment, accepting and living out the admonition addressed by the Apostle Paul to Timothy: "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time will come when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry." (2 Tim 4:1-5) (121)

False Prophets

Noonan and Feaster include a much needed reminder of the scriptural warning against false prophets, who come to us in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Mt 7:15) The authors note that Satan seeks to deceive and catch us when we are most vulnerable and searching, offering false answers to life's deepest questions. Satan is extremely subtle and cunning so as to catch us off guard. One way that he attempts to do this is by masquerading as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14)

Further spotlighting Satan's deception, the authors cite from St. Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises, the Rules for Discernment of Spirits:

It is a mark of the evil spirit to assume the appearance of an angel of light. He begins by suggesting thoughts that are suited to a devout soul, and ends by suggesting his own. For example, he will suggest holy and pious thoughts that are wholly in conformity with the sanctity of the soul. Afterwards, he will endeavor little by little to end by drawing the soul into his hidden snares and evil designs. (121) 

The Church has responded in many ways to the increasing spiritual problems caused by Satan and his ministers, one of which is the annual course, Course on Exorcism and Prayers of Liberation, available since 2004, at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University in Rome. It is a much needed response to the growing interest in Satanism, especially amongst the youth. The younger generations have also been heavily influenced by the New Age and occult practices in the media. Noonan and Feaster point to a prime example, the Harry Potter phenomena, that has contaminated an entire generation. It is a phenomena that I have written about in my post, The Dangers of Harry Potter: The Occult Controversy.

What has resulted from the media's influence upon the youth has been the inability of many to distinguish between right and wrong due to a "universal climate of moral relativism." For unsuspecting children and teenagers (adults as well), the Harry Potter phenomena (book and movie series) has desensitized many to occult practices, which in itself, may be a "stepping stone" to further involvement, tempting many to take their interest to the next level. It is understandable that children and young teenagers, who due to their age and inexperience, can not recognize what is Christian and what is not, but this should not be the excuse for older teenagers and adults. Sadly many parents have failed to recognize the truth about Harry Potter's character; that is, he is a sorcerer and the story of his life is essentially a manual on witchcraft. Noonan and Feaster elaborate on the Harry Potter controversy in detail in chapter nine, Doorway to the Occult: Popular Culture, Media and Youth.

The authors also stress the importance of recognizing Satan's deception by noting the ability of Satan and his demons to mimic the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is especially dangerous for those who engage in occult practices, who fall into the trap of accepting demons masquerading as "spirit guides."

In striving for a holy life, it is essential to know how the demonic operate because they seek to place obstacles on our spiritual path, to steer us off it and entice us into their world of darkness.

New Age Techniques: Gateways to the Demonic

Scripture tells us that we are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16), but sin defiles those temples and allows demons to wreak havoc in our lives. The New Age and occult practices act as the doorways to the demonic, which scripture refers to as divination: astrology (star gazing), consulting psychics, New Age counselors, and energy healers, wizardry and sorcery, necromancy, seances and calling up the spirits of the dead.

The ouija board is perhaps one of the most well known forms of a seance (the calling to a demonic spirit to be communicated with), the dangers of which I have written about in my previous post on demonologist Ralph Sarchie and his demonic investigations (Halloween Horror case). Below is a partial list of additional New Age beliefs and practices to avoid:

[A]strology; astrocartography; tarot cards; yoga; Eastern meditation; visualization and guided imagery; spirit guides; rock music (heavy metal, acid rock); use of crystals/pendulums; extra sensory perception (ESP); long distance healing; channeling; astral-projection; Transcendental Meditation; using mantras (names of demons); psychics; clairvoyants; chairaudients; clairsentients; trance mediums; Human Potential Movement; The Anthony Robins Teachings and Werner Erhard's est and the Forum and Neuro-linguistic Programming; Life Spring; Arica Training; Enneagram; Christian Science and its off-shoots such as Science of Mind, Scientology, Unity Church, Unitarian; chakra balancing; reiki; bio-energy therapy; aura cleansing; some Native American practices (Shamanism); Ekankar soul travel; I Method; Higher Self meditations or meditation journeys to meet your angel or spirit guide; pendulum dowsing; psychic surgery; automatic handwriting; table tipping; Wicca or white witchcraft; fire walking; hypnotism/creative visualization; numerology; rebirthing; past-life regression therapy; palm reading; face reading; tea leaf or coffee ground readings; out-of-body meditations; UFO seeking, and many computer and video games which have Satanic themes, teaching young people that evil is good, desensitizing them from moral discernment. (123)

God has warned us through scripture that the above practices are the offspring of the same mortal sins: idolatry, lust, pride, and rebellion. Even though God grants us his free will, we as his created beings do not have to succumb to the demonic deception of psychic phenomena and mind control; instead we can choose to do God's will which comes with it, true freedom. As the authors note, "Living in the truth leads us to living in God's will and in the overflow of goodness that God has given us, in the power of the Holy Spirit." (123)

All occult activities steer man away from God's will and true freedom, seeking to empty and influence a person's mind, or give power and authority to any source other than the Triune God. This opens up individuals to diabolic activity, as the author's note, "When the mind is unguarded and open, the Devil can weaken a person's will and use it to his advantage." (123) They note that this can also occur with addictions to mind-altering drugs, alcohol, and pornography. The guidance of St. Peter (1 Peter 5:8-9) serves as well here, in that we should remain sober and alert to the workings of the devil who would like nothing more that to have us enter his camp. We must resist the devil, solid in our faith and disciplined in our prayer life.

God commanded us to "...[H]ave no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3) When asked by one of the Pharisees about which commandment in the law was the greatest, Jesus replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Mt 22:37) Sadly, many have done the opposite with their involvement in the New Age and occult practices, creating false gods in the process. Noonan and Feaster note that, "Satan and his demonic agents descend upon those practicing evil just as tenaciously as Our Lord watches over his faithful ones. (123) In keeping with God's greatest commandment, the Church warns the faithful against occult practices in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility. 

All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone. 

All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity. (2115-2117)

The prayer of St. Michael the Archangel, given to the Church during the papacy of Pope Leo III at one point reads, "...[T]hrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen." By referring to this prayer, Noonan and Feaster alert readers the the strategy of the Evil One, "The Devil desires to deceive us and, through his lies, confuse us to such an extent that we are unaware of his existence, do not believe that he is real, do not know that a spiritual battle exists or that he is the real enemy." (124)

The authors go on to explain that this confusion and disbelief in the enemy helps explain the emphasis on self-improvement and self-motivation in modern culture. Most of the New Age principles are based on self-idolatry, incorporating  self-actualization, self-realization, and self-enlightenment with the belief in self-redemption. (124) Eventually, idolatry of self leads to the worship of Satan.

Authentic Spiritual Gifts and Their Fruits

In this section of the chapter, the authors shift the focus to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. What follows is a brief summary of the Catholic understanding of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

So what are the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These can be found in Isaiah: "And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirt of knowledge, and of godliness. And he shall be filled with the spirit of fear of the Lord." (Is 11:1-3)

These gifts are extended to all through Baptism and especially Confirmation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1303-1304) and are meant for the sanctification of the individual. The catechism states that, "The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit...They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations" (1831)

The gifts of the Holy Spirit also prepare us for the reception and practice of charismatic gifts and help us to grown in virtue. These gifts must be nurtured through prayer, the Sacraments and an active life of charity, part of which entails the need to be detached from the world and on guard against worldly wisdom. Charismatic gifts can be found in 1 Corinthians 12:

...Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. (1 Cor 12:4-11)

The above list is not the only charisms found in scripture, but due to their extraordinary character, a lot of attention is given to them, which makes the need of discerning these gifts greater as people are more prone to illusion.

Charisms are distinguished from the Isaian gifts, even though some do overlap. The gifts listed in Isaiah are meant for personal sanctification; the gifts found in Corinthians are gifts given to build up the Church. 

Fruits of the Holy Spirit vs. the Works of the Flesh

Scripture tells us, "...[D]o not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1) One way to test the origin of a spirit is to look at its fruit, what it produces. Jesus told us this, "By their fruits you will know them."(Mt 7:16) Saint Paul identifies what are works of the flesh and those of the spirit:

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucifed the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another. (Gal 5: 19-26)

My next post will focus on a section of the chapter that Noonan and Feaster have given considerable thought to and written about in great detail; the counterfeit gifts of divination and magic and St. Thomas Aquinas Three Species of Divination from his well known work, Summa Theologica.







 

Demonologist Ralph Sarchie and Two Cases of Demonic Investigation: The Halloween Horror and The Mirror

A photomontage of images and symbols representative of these two cases

If you have been following my blog for some time, you may recall a post on demonic investigations by former New York City Police Sergeant Ralph Sarchie. That post was about one man's quest to help deliver people from the clutches of the demonic and based on the book he co-wrote, Beware The Night, a very candid recounting of his demonic investigations. I published it in November'2014 to coincide with the release of the movie version, Deliver Us From Evil, on my local cable provider's "on demand" movie listing. Today's post continues with two cases of demonic investigation; one from Beware The Night and the other, a recent case from Sarchie's new television series, The Demon Files.

The first case, The Halloween Horror, is also the first case in Beware The Night and it revealed how the demonic deceived a young teenage girl into "playing" with the ouija board at a party. As a consequence, several demons were unleashed upon her and her family terrorizing everyone in the process. It was a scenario where the initial diabolic activity of infestation was completely bypassed and the demons moved into the second stage, oppression. There was also an attempted possession on one member of the family.

The second case, The Mirror, is the first case from The Demon Files. In this case the demonic entered into a family's life as a direct result from the daughter's Satanic worship; the making of a pact with the devil. Add to this her involvement with witchcraft and others aspects of the occult and it secured her and her family as targets for the demonic. 

The cases in Beware The Night and The Demon Files are a first hand look into how the demonic entices and deceives many into their dark world, horrifying their victims in the process and making life so unbearable that it eventually prompts many reach out to Sarchie and his team. Both the book and the television series are key learning resources for anyone seeking to understand this subject matter and how to prevent such influences from coming into your life. At the core of both cases in today's post, as in all cases where the demonic were expelled and peace was restored, is God's love and mercy given not only to Sarchie and his team, to those innocent family members, but also to those who intentionally rebelled against Him with their involvement in the occult.

Beware The Night - The Halloween Horror

This case was about the investigation of a haunted house, the Villanova residence in Westchester County, New York. Sarchie described it as one of the most "harrowing supernatural investigations" that began on October 31, 1991, at the request of Father Hayes, an exorcist from another diocese. Sarchie and his partner in "the work" Joe Forrester, arrived at the residence, a modest two-family house in Yonkers, a couple of days later on All Souls Day. 

Sarchie noticed a few things right from the very beginning. The first was that the Villanova residence was not far from a Catholic chapel. The significance being that the devil likes to operate in the shadows of the Church. If any type of satanic ritual was performed in the area, drawing the demonic to it as a result, the demonic's hatred and fury would be heightened by the presence of a holy place so near by.

The second thing that caught Sarchie's attention was the first meeting at the front door with Dominick Villanova and his young son, Dominick Jr. The shellshocked demeanour of Dominick coupled with the look of bewilderment from Dominick Jr., was a key indication that this family had been living in horror for quite some time.

The initial investigation's purpose was to obtain a video interview for Father Hayes. Unaware of the danger they were about to enter into, Ralph and Joe arrived with a minimal amount of holy water, sacramentals and without their usual investigative team. Sarchie later described the situation as synonymous to "...[P]atrolling a high crime area with a gun loaded with only one bullet." (5) In the spirit of brotherly love and with a desire to help this family, Ralph and Joe proceeded with the investigation.

After they were led into the living room, both Ralph and Joe realized there was something terribly wrong with this family. The living room resembled a refugee camp; amongst the sad and exhausted faces were piles of clothing and rolled-up bedding. This was the result of the demons' torment, which had so unnerved the Villanovas that they were unable to sleep alone.

After establishing a rapport with Dominick, his wife Gabby and their four children, Ralph and Joe began their inquiry. It was during this time that Joe's background in law enforcement as a polygraph examiner was particularly useful. He had the gift of knowing when to interject, end any unnecessary rambling and get to the pertinent facts of the matter; the truthful details needed to ascertain what had happened to this family.

It was during this initial discussion that the most powerful demon (amongst the other demons in the home) made its presence known. The incident occurred after everyone had been given a Saint Benedict medal to wear around their neck. Immediately after Dominick Jr. placed the medal around his neck, the demon had flung it off. It was an incident that served to identify what they were dealing with. As Sarchie noted, most demons flee from holy water, religious medals and relics; only the most powerful demons can manipulate objects.

It did not take long in the investigation for Sarchie and Forrester to discover the demonic strategy and accelerated efforts for possession. Initially the demon (the most powerful one) appeared in stealth mode in Gabby and Dominick's bedroom in a "hellishly inspired Halloween disguise," deceiving Gabby as a woman named Virginia Taylor. Dominick was not fooled and understood it to be a demonic presence in the home. As the investigation progressed, it was clear to Ralph and Joe that this family was deceived by a demon mimicking a human spirit. 

The purpose of these initial stealth appearances was part of a typical demonic strategy of divide and conquer. It took effect by sowing seeds of panic, confusion and self doubt. As Sarchie noted, victims in such circumstances often wonder, "Is this really happening---or am I just imagining it?" (8) From such doubts, victims are reluctant to tell others, fearing that they will be regarded as someone who has lost their mind. What typically results is a withdrawal into self and a feeling of being more alone in dealing with the ongoing "bizarre" incidents. This is exactly the goal of the demonic as it weakens the will and paves the way for possession.

Sarchie noted that up to that point of the investigation, it was all standard operating procedure for the demonic, but he and Joe soon discovered that instead of rattling Gabby's nerves with infestation (midnight knockings, peculiar phone calls or tormenting animal cries), the first stage of diabolic activity, this demon plunged right into full blow oppression (terrifying mental and physical attacks) from the very beginning.

Under the disguise of Virginia Taylor and the use of a basement mirror, the demon had developed a relationship with Gabby, where it appeared in the mirror, and had lengthy conversations with her. The more Gabby spoke with Virginia, the more intrigued she became by the details of the conversation. After hearing all this, Ralph and Joe quickly understood the ploy of the demon, trying to create an intricate tale, "...[L]ike a spider spinning a web to catch unwary prey." (9)

After further investigating the matter, Ralph and Joe had to "clue these people in" as to what was happening. They identified VIrginia for what she truly was, a demonic spirit. Joe explained the nature of demonic spirits and debunked the entire tale told to Gabby about Virginia's supposed life on earth.

One of the most interesting aspects of the investigation was Sarchie's walk through the home. This is standard procedure for Sarchie and he does this to form an impression of the people that live there, what religious articles are present, how the home is kept and discover any signs or reasons for the demonic presence, such as occult items. Here in Sarchie's own words is what he discovered during his walk through:

With my tour of the house, I can sometimes pick up vibrations about the situation. I'm not psychic, so I can't rely on my intuitions 100 percent, but every human being is born with some degree of a sixth sense, as a gift from God. My big mistake, in this case, was walking through the house alone. I started with the upstairs, where there was a recently vacated apartment the family had been renting out. As I walked into the apartment, a doorknob in one of the rooms started rattling. I've run across this kind of low-level bullshit from the demonic in other homes, so I noted the location for further investigation. 

The rooms inside were unusually dark. When I found the light switch, I saw why: Everything was painted a deep, vivid black. Even the windows were so thickly coated that no light from the outside could penetrate. I searched the place, but the former occupant had left absolutely nothing behind. I would have loved to get a look at his possessions, because I was ready to bet my next paycheck that this guy, whoever he was, sure as hell didn't spend his spare time praying the rosary! I made a mental note to ask the family about their ex-tenant. (17)

Sarchie eventually made his way to the basement where he had an encounter with the demon, one that further revealed just how powerful this demon was:

...I resumed checking the house. The remaining rooms were normal enough, though the kitchen was rather messy and the sink was piled with dirty dishes, I headed downstairs. I didn't have any sense of evil when I first entered the basement, but when I got to a storage room with double doors, I could feel menace from eight feet away. The feeling was so powerful that I stopped dead in my tracks, so afraid that I couldn't move. I've been a cop for a long time and have been scared plenty of times before, but I always have acted aggressively---that's how I trained myself. This was different: I couldn't take my eyes off those doors, my heart started racing one hundred miles a minute, and I couldn't catch my breath. Then the pain started in my head---it wasn't like a headache, but a piercing pain in my right temple that I've sometimes experienced on other cases or during exorcisms. 

As the pain in my head got stronger, my stomach churned and I felt like I was going to vomit. There was no outward sign of anything I could see---just a felling of hellish terror and absolute evil. I was too frozen to move my lips or speak, so in my mind I commanded the demon to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. It released its hold on me just enough so I could reach the bottle of holy water in my pocket. I threw holy water at at the doors and was able to back away to the stairs---not daring to take my eyes off those dreadful doors. 

Once I reached the living room, where the family was waiting, the pain and sick feeling disappeared. I took Joe aside and told him what had happened...(18)

To make matters worse, Ralph was informed by Joe that on the previous night that the same demon had dictated a message to Gabby, "Harm will come to those below. Beware the night!" (19)

Sarchie dedicated a second chapter to this case, Nightmare's End, where he not only detailed the increased suffering this family had to endure, but the successful expulsion of all demonic spirits from the Villanova residence. Here is just some of the horrific experiences the Villanovas endured: increased agitation especially at night; Gabby's daughter, Luciana, experiencing the scratching of images on her stomach such as a pentagram and the word "Beast 666" written on her arm in huge red welts; an unsuccessful incubus attack (the raping of a woman by a demon); items were thrown around; books flying off bookshelves; heavy furniture moving on its own, sometimes shaking up and down and at other times levitating off the floor; entire beds smashed against walls; the blaring of the television or stereo in the middle of the night; horrible moans and growls coming from the basement; and messages in the bathroom mirror.

At times, family members experienced a temporary reprieve that came to a quick end with the sudden drop in temperature (cold spots), alerting them to the demons' presence amongst them. So terrified was this family in the end that they did not even go to the bathroom alone. Sleep was virtually non-existent. Add to this the discord amongst the family, which piqued when one of the two teenage daughters admitted to using the ouija board. It was "played" at a party and upon hearing this, Luciana who was targeted for many of the attacks, flew into a rage, blaming her younger sister in the process for all the horror they experienced.

After gathering all the facts and assessing the information from the interview, both Ralph and Joe felt that the family was not totally to blame for the demonic nightmare they experienced. The former tenant in that black painted apartment was rumoured to be into a lot of strange stuff including the occult. This together with what Sarchie described as a "brazen attack," a red gash down one of Luciana's cheeks, right in front of him and Joe, prompted them to begin the ritual to expel the demons.

The ritual began with the recitation of Pope Leo XIII Minor Exorcism Prayer. Immediately upon its recitation, sounds of howling and barking occurred, so deafening that the family was asked if this had ever happened before; the answer was no. Upon hearing the answer, both Ralph and Joe realized that this was the sound of demons fleeing the house; there were several demons terrorizing the family, but the most powerful demon would not go.

This most powerful demon was close to fully possessing Gabby and so, it decided to stay and fight, while the lesser demons ran from the presence of holy water and relics. The dramatic attempt to possess Gabby occurred right in front of Ralph and Joe, even with the holy water present and the recitation of the Minor Exorcism Prayer. Sarchie remarked that they knew they "...[W]ere in the presence of one of Hell's more dangerous devils." (34) Ralph and Joe held up relics of the True Cross, touched Gabby's head and commanded the demon, in the name of Jesus Christ, to depart and leave Gaby in peace. As powerful as the demon was, it could not withstand this ultimate torment and released its grasp on Gabby.

Although Ralph and Joe had halted Gabby's possession, weakening the demon in the process, their efforts were not enough to completely rid it from the Villanova residence. In order to accomplish this, they needed either a trained exorcist or their investigative team.

Reluctant to leave the family, Ralph and Joe remained with them until Fr. Williams, the parish priest arrived. After a briefing of the case, he took the family under his care until Fr. Hayes performed the exorcism. Ralph and Joe eventually left, but it would not be the last time they would be placed at the service of the Villanova family.

Several months later, the Villanovas contact Ralph for his help once again; they were still besieged by the demon. It was not due to any lack of care from the parish priest or any neglect from the exorcist whose health did not permit him to perform the exorcism. To get this family the immediate help they so desperately needed, Ralph, Joe and their investigative team returned to the Villanova residence to expel the demon. This time they came fully prepared for a major battle. Here is how Sarchie described it, "Joe and I had learned a lesson or two from our first visit, and after intense spiritual preparations, we returned on a Saturday afternoon with three investigators and enough supplies to exorcise an entire city block." (35)

Before beginning the exorcism, the women and children were placed in a church nearby for their safety. Below is Sarchie recounting the climax of this case; the successful expulsion of the last demon:

We worked in pairs, so one person could focus on the conducting the ritual, while the other was alert for any sign of demonic activity. And more important still, the backup investigator kept a close watch on his partner---to make sure that the person doing the exorcism wasn't being attacked himself. External phenomena don't need to be taking place: The attack also can be psychological, like the stark terror that seized me in the basement of this house on our previous visit. If an investigator has any psychic abilities, he or she could be assailed through those powers. Since an attack could come at any time, to either partner, everyone must be constantly on guard. 

We began by opening every closet, cabinet, and drawer in the room we were exorcising, leaving no dark, enclosed space for the demonic to hide. Because they are spirit and have no physical bodies, malignant beings can conceal themselves anywhere. Next, we lit blessed incense, which helps dispel negative vibrations and repel evil spirits, since they are tormented by anything holy or blessed. As always, we started the ritual with the St. Michael prayer...Pope Leo XIII's second prayer, 'Exorcism Against Satan and the Rebellious Angels,"...is extremely powerful against the demonic. The Holy Father [Pope Leo XIII] exhorted priests to say this prayer as often as possible to curb the Devil's power and prevent him from doing harm. He gave the faithful permission to say it in their own name, as they would any approved prayer, 'whenever action of the Devil is suspected, causing malice in men, violent temptations, and even storms and various calamities.' That is exactly what we did in the Villanovas' home, moving from room to room as we prayed. We sprinkled all four corners of each room and the interior of every closet with holy water to consecrate the area, then repeated the process with blessed salt, which has the same effect, except that it has the virtue of lasting longer. 

As we performed the ritual, we burned so much blessed incense that the place looked like it was on fire...sweet-smelling fumes of holy incense and the sound of fervent prayers, which made the house so hostile to the demonic that 'the lady' [Virginia Taylor] was forced to disappear, this time for good. A feeling of peace pervaded the home, signalling that we'd succeeded in evicting the spirit. (39)

After having completed the ritual, the women and children returned to their home and all rejoiced that the nightmare was over. Sarchie noted that the family's gratitude was a humbling experience because he and his team knew that it was not them, but God who granted them the authority over the demon in His name. To honour God, all gathered together in prayer to praise and thank God who is, "above all."

The Demon Files - The Mirror

This case was about a family from Fayette City, Pennsylvania, who experienced "darkness" for reasons unbeknownst to them. After the teenager daughter made a pact with the devil, their lives spiralled out of control. Demonic infestation began this family's horrific experiences that quickly intensified with the second stage of diabolic activity, oppression. The family was so terrified that by the time they contacted Ralph Sarchie, they were all at their wits end.

Sarchie's investigations always begin by attempting to establish a rapport with victims, that has the dual purpose of getting to know them better and putting them at ease with the investigative process. As the team "invades" the home and sets up their monitoring equipment (camera and audio recorders and sensors), Sarchie walks around the home to get his impressions, and tries to discover what may have brought the demonic into victims' lives, such as contact objects (objects that the demonic are connected to), occult items or something blatantly Satanic.

During Sarchie's "walk through" of this family's home, he became intrigued by the Halloween decor, which as Bonnie (the mother) explained, existed as an accommodation to Leigh-Ann's fondness for Halloween. It was ironic that the family had so many Halloween decorations and trinkets because as Sarchie soon discovered, this family's troubles became more severe close to Halloween and it was at this same time of the year, that Leigh-Ann tried to take her life.

One of the many things that really stands out about Sarchie and his team, is their thoroughness and professionalism as they go about their investigations; equally matched by their compassion and desire to help people who are victimized by the demonic. The "work" as it is referred to, not only involves identifying the problem, but providing the solution. It is another aspect of Sarchie and his team's work that really impresses me; what is the point of identifying a problem if you don't provide a solution. Sarchie and his team take care of both!

In many cases, the solution is the expulsion of the demonic from someone's home; at other times the matter is of the worst case scenario, possession, where an official Catholic exorcist is called in to perform the exorcism ritual on a person. This differs from what Sarchie and his team do, in that they also perform an exorcism ritual, but it is an "exorcism of place." In simpler terms, if demonic spirits have taken residence in someone's home, Sarchie and his team drive them out. This is always accomplished in the name of Jesus Christ and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Add to this their arsenal of spiritual weapons: holy water, blessed incense, relics, blessed salt and St. Benedict medals, and the demons don't stand a chance. Some stay and fight, but in the end they lose the battle and are expelled.

Part of the compassionate help that Sarchie provides involves educating the victims as to why the demonic had enter into their lives. It is a process that brings new awareness and understanding as to the causes of the horrific circumstances that many have endured for several months. This coupled with the team's presence and overall encouragement, provides the necessary support for victims to endure the final hours of their ordeal with the demonic.

At the center of this case is the twenty six year old daughter, Leigh-Ann whose facial expression clearly indicated that she was living in a state of terror. Referring to the demon as "the entity," here is what Leigh-Ann revealed to Sarchie about some of the horrifying experiences she had to endure: shadowy figures making themselves known to her, scratching noises, big bangs that rattled the wall or the floor; all of which left her constantly fearful wondering what would happen next. Add to this the discord that occurred amongst the family, a typical strategy of the demonic, and it eventually drove Leigh-Ann to an attempted suicide.

Prior to this family's move into the home, a teenage boy had committed suicide. Was it just a coincidence that Leigh-Ann attempted to do the same thing. For Sarchie, this was definitely a sign of demonic influence. To be certain, he and his team set out to determine if the problem stemmed from the spirit of a teenage boy or a demonic spirit.
  
Part of the investigation revealed that a mirror left in the house from the previous family, used to hang in the second storey bathroom and it was suspected of having something to do with the phenomena that occurred in the house. After the tech set up by the mirror, the team attempted to contact the deceased teenage boy.

Successful communications with the teenage boy's spirit occurred, convincing Sarchie that the mirror was in fact a "contact object" which the demon used to influence Leigh-Ann to commit suicide. The teenage boy's spirit could have been a demon mimicking a human spirit, which is similar to what happened in the previous case (Virginia Taylor at the Villanova residence), but audio recordings seemed to suggest that it was in fact a human spirit. This wasn't Sarchie's main concern because he suspected the problem in the home was due to a demonic spirit.

Before proceeding with the exorcism ritual," Sarchie questioned the family further to find out what they may have done to invite the demon into their lives. The session quickly focussed on Leigh-Ann as Sarchie began probing for any involvement in witchcraft or any form of the occult. Sarchie soon discovered that Leigh-Ann had made a pact with the Devil, deceived into thinking that by doing so, life would be "easier" under the Devi's rules, which as Sarchie quickly pointed out, there are no rules for the Devil. 

Part of the problem also stemmed from the fact that Leigh-Ann had drawn an Anarchy A "anti-government" symbol (see image published with this post) on a wall in her room, which Sarchie quickly pointed out again, that this was a symbol used by Satanists, much to the astonishment of Leigh-Ann.

It didn't end there. Leigh-Ann had been involved in the occult for a few months where she admitted to Sarchie of drawing blood from her finger with a girlfriend who did likewise and dripping it upon a pentagram (another Satanic symbol). Some in her close circle of friends also happened to be Wiccans (people involved in witchcraft) and Leigh-Ann in the past had verbalized rebellious expressions against God, something to the effect of, "I hate you, I don't believe in you." 

Sarchie then inquired about the old mirror in the house, left by the previous residents. Leigh-Ann revealed that she spent a lot of time in front of that mirror, looking at it while thoughts of hatred about her life streamed through her mind. It was during one of those "mirror sessions," that Leigh-Ann attempted to take her own life by swallowing a bunch of painkillers, which is exactly what happened to the teenage boy that previously lived there.

After acquiring the information that revealed why the demonic entered into this family's life, Sarchie and his team immediately proceeded with the ritual to expel the demon. What continued to impress me about Sarchie was his consistent compassionate approach amongst the discovery of all the ugly details that caused this demonic influence. It was abundantly clear just by watching Sarchie that he understood Leigh-Ann had struggled and coupled with her vulnerability led him to conclude that she was probably confused and had made mistakes, unaware of the consequences.

By the end of the inquiry Leigh-Ann understood her mistakes and accepted Sarchie's offer to "take her words back," an opportunity to renounce Satan and reestablish her relationship with God. Fundamental to this was for Leigh-Ann to have the intention of no longer belonging to the devil and to consciously decide for God. The video—no longer available—captured this moment that together with the successful expulsion of the demon, finally put closure to this nightmare.

The ritual was captured in dramatic fashion with the lighting of two candles; the kissing of a crucifix; the recitation of exorcism ritual; and the burning of blessed incense at all levels of the home. Sarchie made it clear that the ritual would send the demon back to hell, but he didn't know if this would happen quietly or if it would put up a fight. Sarchie made it known that during the ritual everyone is in danger: physically, psychologically and spiritually, because the demon will try to destroy everyone. Thankfully, no harm came to Sarchie, his team, or the family.

Afterward, Sarchie recommended that the family should praise and thank God on their knees. He also gently admonished them to never get involved in witchcraft or any aspect of the occult or Satanism. He then expressed the long awaited for words of comfort, letting the family clearly know "...[Y]ou own this house, walk around this house like you own it, and you are children of God."

Perhaps a most fitting end to this case; Leigh-Ann's mom had walked around the house and gathered all the Halloween decor items for their permanent removal.

May God's blessings and mercy be granted in abundance to Ralph Sarchie, his team and to all victims of the demonic.

Laetitiae Sanctae: Pope Leo XIII's Encyclical Commending Devotion To The Rosary

Pope Leo XIII

With October being the Month of the Rosary, I thought it fitting to close out the month with a second post on devotion to the Most Holy Rosary and in the process, share one of the documents that I read in an effort to further my own understanding. That document is Pope Leo XIII's encyclical Laetitiae Sanctae, issued on September 8, 1893.

Although written over a century ago it remains relevant for the Church today as a much needed reminder of the importance of the Rosary Devotion. This encyclical focusses on the many advantages obtained from its devout recitation, its healing power and remedy for societal evils. Laetitiae Sanctae was the result of inspiration from the Blessed Virgin Mary, that prompted Pope Leo XIII to write and issue this document commending devotion the Rosary.

Arising from this inspiration was a joy that Pope Leo XIII expressed in the form of his gratitude to the Blessed Virgin Mary, acknowledging Her intercession at work in the life of the Church, "At the same time We love to offer Our thanks for this signal benefit to the august Mother of God, whose powerful intercession We feel to have been exercised in Our behalf...For us it is once more a joy as well as a duty to respond to her inspirations." (2) What ensued from Pope Leo XIII's exhortations was, an "awakening" that made itself felt in the increased number of confraternities instituted for the purpose of the Rosary Devotion, voluminous literature written on the subject and artistic tributes.

The thrust of this encyclical was not to add further recommendations to a method of prayer so praiseworthy in itself, nor to press upon the faithful the necessity of practising it more fervently, but rather to point out how  "...[W]e may draw from this devotion certain advantages which are essentially valuable and needful in this present day." (2) The remainder of Laetitiae Sanctae and my post today, elaborates on these advantages.

Pope Leo XIII identified the three main influences (evils) of his time that had caused a "downgrade movement" in society: first, the distaste for a simple and laborious life; second, the repugnance to suffering of any kind; and third, the forgetfulness of the future life. The answer to these influences was the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries respectively. Pope Leo XIII dedicated three sections addressing each influence: Dislike of Poverty - The Joyful Mysteries, Repugnance to Suffering - The Sorrowful Mysteries, Forgetfulness of The Future - The Glorious Mysteries. 

Dislike of Poverty - The Joyful Mysteries

Beginning at the fourth paragraph, Pope Leo XIII elaborated on what he meant by the "distaste for a simple and laborious life." He noted how there was a growing contempt for homely duties and virtues, which are considered to be the beauty of a humble life. The contempt manifested itself in the form of children withdrawing themselves from the natural obligation to the parents; workmen deserting their trade to shrink from toil, discontented with their lot, fixing their gaze upon things well above them; and the eagerness of those in rural areas to exchange their lives for pleasures of life in towns. The result was the destruction of society's equilibrium amongst the classes of the community, whereby, "...[M]en's minds become a prey to jealousy and heart-burnings, rights are openly trampled under foot, and, finally, the people, betrayed in their expectations, attack public order, and place themselves in conflict with those who are charged to maintain it." (5)

The Joyful Mysteries, when prayed devoutly, are a meditation on life of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary; the remedy for the "distaste for a simple and laborious life." Pope Leo XIII wrote that the Joyful Mysteries serve as lessons of the virtuous life to be drawn from the House of Nazareth. From the Holy Family's example we can learn how sweetly attractive and abundant are the lessons from an honest life. Referring to House of Nazareth as the "perfect model of domestic society," Pope Leo XIII wrote:

Here we behold simplicity and purity of conduct, perfect agreement and unbroken harmony, mutual respect and love - not of the false and fleeting kind - but that which finds both its life and its charm in devotedness of service. Here is the patient industry which provides what is required for food and raiment; which does so "in the sweat of the brow," which is contented with little, and which seeks rather to diminish the number of its wants than to multiply the sources of its wealth. Better than all, we find there that supreme peace of mind and gladness of soul which never fail to accompany the possession of a tranquil conscience. These are precious examples of goodness, of modesty, of humility, of hard-working endurance, of kindness to others, of diligence in the small duties of daily life, and of other virtues, and once they have made their influence felt they gradually take root in the soul, and in course of time fail not to bring about a happy change of mind and conduct. (6)

What should follow from the example of the Holy Family is a transformation of attitude and conduct that will no longer consider work as lowly and irksome, but grateful and lightsome. As a direct result of this transformation, prevailing in society will be gentler manners; home-life will be loved and esteemed; relations between man and a woman will be esteemed; and amongst gentlemen there will be a larger infusion of respect and charity. Pope Leo XIII concluded this section by stating that if this betterment would go forth from individuals to families to communities, then society at large would be lifted up to this standard.

Repugnance to Suffering - The Sorrowful Mysteries

The remedy for the "repugnance to suffering," is the Sorrowful Mysteries. Pope Leo XII referred to this evil as especially pernicious, "...[O]wing to the increasing mischief which it works among souls." (7) The repugnance of suffering is an eagerness to escape whatever is hard or painful to endure, which robbed many of the peace and freedom of mind. This was made worse by the dream for a chimeric civilization; that is, a civilization that is hoped or wished for, but in fact, is impossible or illusory to achieve. What resulted was an increased desire for the removal of all things unpleasant and for all things pleasant to be supplied. Pope Leo XIII noted, "By this passionate and unbridled desire of living a life of pleasure, the minds of men are weakened, and if they do not entirely succumb, they become demoralized and miserably cower and sink under the hardships of the battle of life." (7)

Recitation of the Sorrowful Mysteries is a powerful means of renewing courage. It is during the meditations of these mysteries that we learn from Christ's example, how to bear our burden of labour and sorrow. In addition to Christ's sufferings, we also contemplate the sorrow of the Blessed Virgin Mary and learn from Her witness as well. Pope Leo XIII noted, "Witnessing these examples of fortitude, not with sight but by faith, who is there who will not feel his heart grow warm with the desire of imitating them?" (8)

Pope Leo XIII also pointed out that there is no earthly scenario that can fall upon an individual or community, over which we shall not triumph by the patience of suffering. Putting a fine point on this, he stated, "For this reason it has been truly said that 'it belongs to the Christian to do and to endure great things,' for he who deserves to be called a Christian must not shrink from following in the footsteps of Christ." (9) 

Forgetfulness of The Future - The Glorious Mysteries

The remedy for the "forgetfulness of the future," is the Glorious Mysteries. Pope Leo XIII referred to this third evil as, "chiefly characteristic of the times." He noted that men of his day, although they had the advantage of Christian instruction, pursued false goods of this world and in the process discarded the thought of eternal salvation to the point that it had been banished from their memory.

Pope Leo XIII noted that those who devoutly pray the Glorious Mysteries are happily rescued from such forgetfulness. For the meditation of the Glorious Mysteries brings to the forefront of man's conscience, by the light of faith, that death is not "...[A]n annihilation which ends all things, but merely a migration and passage from life to life." (14)

As to the causes of forgetfulness, he first identified the false notion that any thought and attention placed on eternal salvation would somehow diminish the love of country and potentially negatively impact the prosperity of the commonwealth. He referred to such thinking as illusory and foolish.

In response to this illusion, Pope Leo XIII stressed that striving for eternal salvation does not demand a dismissal of the interests and needs of our earthly pilgrimage:

Christ commands us, it is true, to seek the Kingdom of God, and in the first place, but not in such a manner as to neglect all things else. For, the use of the goods of the present life, and the righteous enjoyment which they furnish, may serve both to strengthen virtue and to reward it. The splendour and beauty of our earthly habitation, by which human society is ennobled, may mirror the splendour and beauty of our dwelling which is above. Therein we see nothing that is not worthy of the reason of man and of the wisdom of God. For the same God who is the Author of Nature is the Author of Grace, and He willed not that one should collide or conflict with the other, but that they should act in friendly alliance, so that under the leadership of both we may the more easily arrive at that immortal happiness for which we mortal men were created. (12)

Emphasizing the seriousness of the forgetfulness of the future life, Pope Leo XIII gave the following admonition, "We may doubt if God could inflict upon man a more terrible punishment than to allow him to waste his whole life in the pursuit of earthly pleasures, and in forgetfulness of the happiness which alone lasts for ever." (13)

Confraternity Of The Rosary

In an effort to further spotlight the importance of the Rosary Devotion and how to better obtain the many advantages from its devout recitation, Pope Leo XIII dedicated a section on the Confraternity of the Rosary. In it, he affirmed the confraternity's efficacy when he stated how the many advantages of reciting the Rosary are "...[S]ecured in a higher and fuller measure by those who band themselves together in the sacred Confraternity of the Rosary, and who are thus more than others united by a special and brotherly bond of devotion to the Most Holy Virgin." (16) Members of the confraternity are, so to speak, "...[T]he battalions who fight the battle of Christ, armed with His Sacred Mysteries, and under the banner and guidance of the Heavenly queen." (16) So efficacious is the confraternity that Pope Leo XIII attributed the victory at the Battle of Lepanto, to their prayers for securing the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, granting Christians forces a complete victory over the Ottoman Turks.

Pope Leo XIII made an appeal to both the clergy and laity, for a renewed zeal to continue the growth of the confraternities:

It is, therefore, to be desired that renewed zeal should be called forth in the founding, enlarging, and directing of these confraternities, and that not only by the sons of St. Dominic, to whom by virtue of their Order a leading part in this Apostolate belongs, but by all who are charged with the care of souls, and notable in those places in which the Confraternity has not yet been canonically established. We have it especially at heart that those who are engaged in the sacred field of the missions, whether in carrying the Gospel to barbarous nations abroad, or in spreading it amongst the Christian nations at home, should look upon this work as especially their own. If they will make it the subject of their preaching, We cannot doubt that there will be large numbers of the faithful of Christ who will readily enrol themselves in the Confraternity, and who will earnestly endeavour to avail themselves of those spiritual advantages of which We have spoken, and in which consist the very meaning and motive of the Rosary. From the Confraternities, the rest of the faithful will receive the example of greater esteem and reverence for the practice of the Rosary, and they will be thus encouraged to reap from it, as We heartily desire that they may, the same abundant fruits for their souls' salvation. (17)

The Rosary Devotion and its growth, in particular through the Confraternity of The Holy Rosary, was the hope Pope Leo XIII; the answer to the evils of society. It was at the Conclusion of this encyclical that he invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the authoress and teacher of the Rosary, for the fulfilment of this hope. 

Pope Leo XIII wrote several documents on the Rosary, available at the Vatican's web site. For those who are not familiar with Pope Leo XIII, you may know of the prayer attributed to him, a prayer that he received in a vision during Mass at the Vatican, the Prayer To Saint Michael The Archangel. He is also known for the composition of the Minor Exorcism Prayer.

If you are new to the Rosary Devotion, I would like to recommend a previously published post, The Rosary - An Introduction that will help you to discover the beauty of this devotion given to us by Our Lady through the life of Saint Dominic.

For those who are just discovering the Rosary, there is one thing that I would like to spotlight regarding Laetitiae Sanctae's publication; the fact that it does not include the Luminous Mysteries. At the time of its publication, there were only three sets of Rosary mysteries: the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries. The Luminous Mysteries were added to the Rosary in 2002, when Saint Pope John Paul II wrote and published an Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae. Although Pope Leo's encyclical predates the Luminous Mysteries, there is no reason why you should not recite them as well, in your effort to help remedy the evils of society.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary guide you to a daily and devout recitation of the entire Rosary, helping you to complete the Marathon of Grace.

The Confraternity Of The Most Holy Rosary

St. Dominic receiving the Rosary from Our Lady

If you are Catholic and pray the Rosary, you no doubt have made some effort to improve upon your Rosary Devotion during this month of October being the Month of The Rosary. This may have resulted in the reading of books or documents on the Rosary; the setting of new goals to pray the Rosary with greater frequency and renewed zeal; or striving to pray all four mysteries everyday and complete the Marathon of Grace. One of the things you may have not considered is joining the Confraternity of The Most Holy Rosary, an international association of faithful Catholics committed to reciting the entire Rosary, who pray for themselves and the needs and intentions of each member.

The many fruitful advantages derived by those who practice the Rosary Devotion is, as Pope Leo XIII stated in his encyclical Laetitiae Sanctae, "...[S]ecured in a higher and fuller measure by those who band themselves together in the sacred Confraternity of the Rosary, and who are thus more than others united by a special and brotherly bond of devotion to the Most Holy Virgin." (16) Pope Leo XIII went on to further state that members of the confraternity are, "...[S]o to speak, the battalions who fight the battle of Christ, armed with His Sacred Mysteries, and under the banner and guidance of the Heavenly queen." (16)

If Pope Leo XIII's statements were not enough, perhaps you will be further encouraged by considering the following benefits that each member receives:

1. The special protection of the mother of God.
2. A share in the prayer of countless thousands of members the world over, and this even after death. (Each member includes deceased fellow members as well; and thus he/she knows that in turn he/she will be included in the prayers of hundreds of thousands both now and hereafter)
3. A share in the prayers, Masses and apostolic works of the entire Dominican Order.
4. The intercession of the entire heavenly court.
5. Various plenary and partial indulgences.
6. Six times a year Novenas of Masses are offered at the Rosary Center for members of the confraternity. A notice of these Novenas is sent to members, along with the publication The Rosary, Light and Life to those members who have requested it. Its purpose is to provide sound doctrine and spiritual guidance for readers everywhere.

If you are a Catholic and do not pray the Rosary, nor understand its significance, I would like to share a previously published post, The Rosary - Its Importance For Your Salvation. Consider the Fifteen Promises given by the Blessed Virgin Mary to those who faithfully pray the Rosary. In particular, the Thirteenth Promise that is specific to today's post, "I have obtained from my Son that all the members of the Rosary Confraternity (and all advocates of the Rosary) shall have as their intercessors, in life and in death, the entire celestial court."

As for the obligations once becoming a member, it really is an extension of what you are hopefully already doing; praying the Rosary consistently. Here are the specific obligations: each member strives to pray fifteen mysteries (if prior to joining the confraternity, you already pray the required fifteen mysteries, that is, the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries, you do not have to add another fifteen after you become a member) of the Rosary at least once a week (this does not bind under sin), and must have his/her name inscribed in the register of the confraternity. There are no meetings, no dues. It couldn't be more easier to join!

There is one aspect of the obligations that does require some clarification. In 2002, Saint Pope John Paul II wrote and published an Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae that served the dual purpose of ushering into the Church, the Year of The Rosary (October'2002 to October'2003) and introducing a fourth set of mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. Although the confraternity has yet to receive an official notification regarding the recitation of the Luminous Mysteries as part of the fulfillment for the reception of member benefits, this should in no way deter anyone from including them, simply as a matter of personal devotion to Our Lady. 

A few additional points to consider regarding the Luminous Mysteries. The fact that these mysteries were introduced by Saint Pope John Paul II, should alone suffice for inclusion in your Rosary Devotion. As a general encouragement, here is what Saint Pope John Paul II stated in Rosarium Virginis Mariae, that in praying the Rosary, "...[T]he faithful receive an abundance of grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer." (1) He also noted that when we endeavour to pray the Rosary each day more effectively, we as Christians sit at the "School of Mary" allowing Our Lady to lead us to contemplate the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. He emphasized the importance of the Rosary when he stated the Rosary is "...[A] prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness." (1) Keeping all this in mind, it would not be wise to omit the Luminous Mysteries simply because an official notification has yet to be given to the confraternity.

Further encouragement to join the confraternity comes to us from another great advocate of the Rosary Devotion, Pope Leo XIII, who wrote an encyclical, Augustissimae Virginis Mariae, on the Confraternity of The Holy Rosary. It was issued on September 12, 1897, the twentieth year of his pontificate and continues to be relevant and necessary in furthering one's understanding of the spiritual warfare we are all engaged in while on our earthly pilgrimage. The document is five pages printed and is certain to instil in the reader the importance and significance of the Rosary Devotion and membership in the confraternity. With today's post, I am going to focus on two paragraphs in particular: paragraph seven, The Rosary Sodality: Its Excellence and paragraph eight, Special Efficacy of Public Prayer.

The encyclical begins with a beautiful praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary, "Whoever considers the height of dignity and glory to which God has raised the Most August Virgin Mary, will easily perceive how important it is, both for public and for private benefit, that devotion to her should be assiduously practised, and daily promoted more and more." (1)

Paragraph seven, The Rosary Sodality: Its Excellence, is one that is sure to impress upon the reader the significance of the confraternity, also referred to in his encyclical as the Rosary Sodality. Pope Leo XIII first begins by properly attributing its origin to St. Dominic, who founded the confraternity and described it as "distinguished by its antiquity." Taking it to a higher level, he described the association as one whose very soul is the "Rosary of Our Lady." Further to this he stated, "...[T]he virtue and efficacy of the Rosary appear all the greater when considered as the special office of the Sodality which bears its name." He explained that, "[P]rayers acquire their greatest efficacy in obtaining God's assistance when offered publicly, by large numbers, constantly, and unanimously, so as to form as it were a single chorus of supplication." He went on to state that the Rosary Sodality pray in such a manner and by doing so, "...[N]ever fail to obtain certain fruit." To further spotlight the efficacy of the confraternity, Pope Leo XIII made an excellent comparison between the recitation of the Divine Office and the Rosary, "Just as by the recitation of the Divine Office, priests offer a public, constant, and most efficacious supplication; so the supplication offered by the members of this Sodality in the recitation of the Rosary, or "Psalter of Our Lady," as it has been styled by some of the Popes, is also in a way public, constant, and universal."

Paragraph eight, Special Efficacy of Public Prayer, continues from the previous paragraph by not only further elaborating on the efficacy of the confraternity's prayer, but provides real life examples from the history of the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIII began by stating that public prayers are much more excellent and more efficacious that private ones, describing the Rosary Sodality as, "...[T]he army of prayer, enrolled by St. Dominic, under the banner of the Mother of God, of her, whom sacred literature and the history of the Church salute as the conqueror of the Evil One and of all errors." Further on he noted that the "...[R]osary unites together all who join the Sodality in a common bond of paternal or military comradeship, so that a mighty host is thereby formed, duly marshalled and arrayed, to repel the assaults of the enemy, both from within and without." Pope Leo XIII quoted St. Cyprian to emphasize the efficacy of group and public recitation of the Rosary, "Our prayer is public and in common; and when we pray, we pray not for one, but for the whole people, for we, the entire people, are one." Citing examples from history, he noted how the victories at the naval Battle of Lepanto, at Temesvar in Hungary and the island of Corfu, bear testimony to the power and efficacy of this form of prayer.

Pope Leo XIII's Concluding Exhortation (paragraph twelve) is an especially important inclusion in today's post because he encouraged both the laity and the clergy, to promote membership to the confraternity, serving to unite everyone in the Church, and to better empower them with a most efficacious weapon against mankind's enemy:

We also, Venerable Brethren, moved by the example of Our predecessors, earnestly exhort and conjure you, as We have so often done, to devote special care to this sacred warfare, so that by your efforts fresh forces may be daily enrolled on every side. Through you and those of your clergy who have care of souls, let the people know and duly appreciate the efficacy of this Sodality and its usefulness for man's salvation...We have gladly blessed this devotion, and We earnestly desire that you would sedulously and strenuously encourage its growth. (12)

I hope that today's post has encouraged you to join the Confraternity Of The Most Holy Rosary. In the words of St. Jean Marie Vianney, "If anyone has the happiness of being in the Confraternity of the Rosary, he has in all corners of the world brothers and sisters who pray for him." 

If after reading this post, you are seriously considering joining the confraternity, you can do so on line at the followings links:

• American residents - http://www.rosary-center.org/conformenrm.htm
• Those outside the United States - http://www.rosary-center.org/conformenre.htm

Our Lady of The Rosary, pray for us.