October 26-27, 2024
Dear parishioners,
About a week-and-a-half ago, at a weekday Mass, the first reading of the day was Galatians 5:18-25. This passage is fairly well known, because in it, St. Paul lists the fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” In fact, we are probably accustomed to priests always preaching on that topic when this reading comes up in the lectionary, because it is indeed low hanging fruit for a homily (pardon the pun!).
Now, the fruits of the Holy Spirit are always something worth reflecting on. But, it is a timely coincidence that Galatians 5:18-25 was read at Mass in the middle of October. I say this because in the first half of the passage, St. Paul lists the sinful “works of the flesh,” which are opposed to the fruits of the Holy Spirit listed above. Among those works of the flesh, St. Paul mentions “sorcery.” I mention that sorcery as a sinful work of the flesh is a timely thought in October because of some of the dangerous “spiritualist” activities that can surround Halloween.
Please, do not misunderstand what I am saying here; dressing up in costumes, going to family parties, and trick-or-treating is not sinful. The dangerous activities I am referring to here that fall into the category of sorcery include any activity by which one intentionally seeks out, and tries to communicate with spirits. Sadly, contemporary culture in the United States has increasingly encouraged these activities and has presented them as fun and harmless. However, it cannot be understated that these activities are in fact harmful and are not the games that they are often presented to be.
Specific activities that fall under the sinful practice of sorcery include any practice of witchcraft/wicca, psychics, fortunetellers, ouija boards, consulting horoscopes, and calling on spirits. These activities are actually gateways by which evil spirits truly gain a foothold within one’s soul. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states,
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. (CCC n. 2116-2117)
Other sinful sorcery activities include “ghost hunts,” which sadly take place at the old Paulding Jail on Williams Street (now privately owned). In fact, last weekend, there was a “Psychic Witches Fair” at the old Paulding Jail, which included seances to conjure spirits. This is immensely disconcerting! Please do not go to these events or anything else like them in other locations!
On a happier note, don’t forget that this Friday, November 1- All Saints Day- is a Holy Day of Obligation!
Blessings,
Fr. Ammanniti
