Author Topic: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?  (Read 2879 times)

Lorenzo

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Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« on: September 17, 2013, 03:41:56 PM »
Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?

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Lorenzo

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2013, 03:46:00 PM »
Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?

Answer: The ghosts that inhabit haunted houses, graveyards, or any other place may indeed be real entities and not always the figment of imagination.

However, the popular idea that they are the spirits of human souls who have died and are trapped here for some reason is not possible. They are much more likely to be demons disguising themselves as the “ghost” or spirit of a human being for the purpose of leading people away from the true faith.

For instance in the book, The Beautiful Side of Evil, Johanna, a young woman gets caught up in a form of New Age religion down in Mexico City, where her father worked for an American company. She is eventually encouraged to ask for Spirit Counselors to aid her in her meditation. They are told they may choose two people. Johanna chose Jesus and Sarah Bernhardt. Through meditation her counselors come to her and they were Jesus and an elderly Sarah. But the next time she does this, after a prayer to God to reveal her counselors, God answers her prayer and she sees instead of Jesus …

“The hair was wild and matted, the forehead was covered with a coarse fur and the eyes were slanted, gleaming and wild…Fresh blood smeared the muzzle and oozed down long white fangs; the droplets spattered down the front of the same tunic” Jesus wore the last time. Then, another time the demonic faces appeared and then the kind and gentle face of Jesus would flash on–then the demonic face would flash on. The same thing happened with Sarah–on and off–on and off.”

Now I realize this is not the same as seeing a ghost. It is just an example of how a demonic entity can deceive by appearance.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

In fact, the Church believes that spirits, do exist. There is the visible physical realm all around us but also unseen there is a spiritual realm.

    2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal

    Ephesians 6:11 Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.

So, yes the Catholic Church absolutely does believe in a spiritual realm. This realm is inhabited by Angels and Demons, Our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And the souls of those who have died are also part of this spiritual realm but not allowed to contact living humans without the express permission of God.

    Luke 16:22 The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and his soul went to the place of the dead….27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ 29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ 30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’

    31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”



Reference:
http://bfhu.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/does-the-catholic-church-believe-in-ghosts/

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islander

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2013, 05:06:42 PM »
true, lorenz.  there's a thin line between a ghost of a certain appearance and and the evil one (a priest had told me to use this term instead of devil or demon) who can take any form.  but first things first... what, indeed is a ghost?  good old wikipedia tells it thus:

In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost, sometimes known as a spectre (British English) or specter (American English), phantom, apparition or spook, is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to realistic, lifelike visions.

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2013, 05:17:19 PM »
more from wikipedia (i chose this source because it is more generalized and objective and does not lean on any particular religious belief)...
 
The Hebrew Torah and the Bible contain a few references to ghosts, associating spiritism with forbidden occult activities. The most notable reference is in the First Book of Samuel, in which a disguised King Saul has the Witch of Endor summon the spirit/ghost of Samuel.

In the New Testament, Jesus has to persuade the Disciples that He is not a ghost following the resurrection, Luke 24:37–39 (some versions of the Bible, such as the KJV and NKJV, use the term "spirit"). Similarly, Jesus' followers at first believe Him to be a ghost (spirit) when they see him walking on water.

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2013, 05:18:29 PM »
Most of the Christian Church considers ghosts as beings who while tied to earth, no longer live on the material plane. Some Christian denominations teach that ghosts are beings who linger in an interim state before continuing their journey to heaven. On occasion, God would allow the souls in this state to return to earth to warn the living of the need for repentance. Jews and Christians are taught that it is sinful to attempt to conjure or control spirits in accordance with Deuteronomy XVIII: 9–12.

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2013, 05:20:19 PM »
Some ghosts are actually said to be demons in disguise, who the Church teaches, in accordance with I Timothy 4:1, that they "come to deceive people and draw them away from God and into bondage." As a result, attempts to contact the dead may lead to unwanted contact with a demon or an unclean spirit, as was said to occur in the case of Robbie Mannheim, a fourteen-year-old Maryland youth. The Seventh-Day Adventist view is that a "soul" is not equivalent to "spirit" or "ghost" (depending on the Bible version), and that save for the Holy Spirit, all spirits/ghosts are demons in disguise.

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2013, 05:34:31 PM »
Most of the Christian Church considers ghosts as beings who while tied to earth, no longer live on the material plane. Some Christian denominations teach that ghosts are beings who linger in an interim state before continuing their journey to heaven. On occasion, God would allow the souls in this state to return to earth to warn the living of the need for repentance. Jews and Christians are taught that it is sinful to attempt to conjure or control spirits in accordance with Deuteronomy XVIII: 9–12.
Some ghosts are actually said to be demons in disguise, who the Church teaches, in accordance with I Timothy 4:1, that they "come to deceive people and draw them away from God and into bondage." As a result, attempts to contact the dead may lead to unwanted contact with a demon or an unclean spirit, as was said to occur in the case of Robbie Mannheim, a fourteen-year-old Maryland youth. The Seventh-Day Adventist view is that a "soul" is not equivalent to "spirit" or "ghost" (depending on the Bible version), and that save for the Holy Spirit, all spirits/ghosts are demons in disguise.

from these i drew the conclusion that christians, as well as jews, recognize the existence of ghosts, be they spirits of the dead who had not finished their journey to the light or the evil one in disguise.  what these faiths discourage is for the faithful to call on these ghosts as we may not be able to tell the difference between the real one from the evil one.  obviously, the seventh-day adventists have a stricter take on this.

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Lorenzo

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2013, 05:35:03 PM »
Tita,

Its also interest to read about the writings / experiences of St. Teresa of Avila regarding the devils. It seems that even the saints were also visionaries in spirits.

Very interesting and spine tingling, actually.

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2013, 05:40:10 PM »
St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), the Discalced Carmelite nun who was also the first woman to be made a Doctor of the Church, described in her Autobiography some of the devils who appeared to her. On some occasions her sisters were witnesses to what was taking place and they assisted the Saint through the use of holy water, which was instrumental in dispersing the evil spirits.

St. Teresa writes,

"Once when I was in an oratory, the evil appeared on my left hand in an abominable form; as he spoke to me, I apid partiular attention to his mouth, which was horrible. Out of his body there seemed to be coming a great flame which was intensely bright and cast no shadow. He told me in a horrible way that I had indeed escaped out of his hands but he would get hold of me still. I was very much afraid and made the Sign of the Cross, whereupon he disapearred, but immediately returned again. This happened twice running, and I did not know what to do. But there was some Holy Water there, so I flung some in the direction of the apparition, and it never came back."


Reference:



Cruz, Joan Carroll. (1999). Angels & Demons. Rockford: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc.
page 173-174

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2013, 05:40:21 PM »
i will, thanks.  at this point in time, i know i'll get more from it.  (i brushed through it before not as a matter of faith but as a subject of literature, hehe.  sorry.)  she's too high up spiritually, i feel too earthbound by her standards, to be honest.  imagine, defying gravity by levitating...

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2013, 05:42:10 PM »
she was hounded by the evil one because she posed a great challenge, someone said.  she's like a prize catch.

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Lorenzo

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #11 on: September 17, 2013, 05:43:47 PM »
To be honest, as i comb through this book and type the accounts of the saints, i am getting a bit scared. May Michael the Archangel scatter any spirits who dare to give me the spirit of fear.

St. Michael the Archangel, scatter any spirits that aim to make us anxious, fearful and dread. I have confidence in your power and put myself under thy care under your divine ethereal wings !

Amen.

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #12 on: September 17, 2013, 05:45:05 PM »
she was hounded by the evil one because she posed a great challenge, someone said.  she's like a prize catch.

True, indeed. Reminds me also of St. Padre Pio, who also was blessed with visions...he was capable of seeing demons and angels.

:(

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2013, 05:51:03 PM »
What frightens devils and drives them away


When the Saints were tempted or when suffering the various diabolical torments inflicted upon them, they used various means to force the devil to retreat. Here are some of the methods used by these courageous souls!



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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2013, 05:55:00 PM »
btw, lorenz, if you find the time, how about opening a thread here solely on the 7 mansions of st. teresa de avila and another one about the 7 levels of spirituality of st. john of the cross?  it would be like praying and meditating while reading these, a piece a day, very much like hofelina's minute meditation and saints for the day.

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #15 on: September 17, 2013, 05:57:58 PM »
1. The Sign of the Cross


St. Martin de Porres (1579-1639) was one day climbing the stairs to the infirmary, carrying in one hand a brazier of burning oals and in the other some medical supplies, when halfway up the stairs a devilish monster appeared before him. The livid eyes and horrible form of the apparition easily betrayed the devil.

When the saint asked what he was doing there, the devil replied that he had hoped to destroy a human soul. St. Martin removed his belt and proceeded to drive the devil away with fierce blows, but was only successful in making the evil on retreat a short distance. He then took one of the coals and formed a huge cross on the wall.

The tempter fled at the sight of the Redemption.

The Saint's biographer reports that on the following day Martin placed a wooden cross at the scene of the encounter, "and with this usual practical sense saw to it that a light was always burning on the staircase in the future." (Carroll, 1999, pg. 223).




St. Martin de Porres

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Lorenzo

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #16 on: September 17, 2013, 05:59:09 PM »
btw, lorenz, if you find the time, how about opening a thread here solely on the 7 mansions of st. teresa de avila and another one about the 7 levels of spirituality of st. john of the cross?  it would be like praying and meditating while reading these, a piece a day, very much like hofelina's minute meditation and saints for the day.

Yes, I shall open a thread on these. ;)

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #17 on: September 17, 2013, 06:03:22 PM »
The Cure' of Ars, St. Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859) , was asked one time by his confessor how he repelled the attacks of the demons.

The saint replied, "I turn to God; I make the sign of the Cross; I address a few contemptuous words to the devil."

And then he added, "I have noticed, moreover, that the tumult is greater and the assaults more numerous if, on the following day, some big sinner is due to come to the confessional." (Carroll, 1999, pg. 233)



St. Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney


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Lorenzo

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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #18 on: September 17, 2013, 06:09:54 PM »
St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696- 1787) had the following method of dismissing demons who were annoying him: With great authority he would make a great Sign of the Cross and then order the demons to prostrate themselves and to adore this sign of the Redemption.

He would then  add these words from Scripture: "That in The Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in Heaven, on earth and under the earth." (Philippians 2:10).

The Saint declared, "that the devils have not the patience to endure such words and take to flight." (Carroll, 1999, pg. 233).



St. Alphonsus Liguori


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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #19 on: September 17, 2013, 06:19:59 PM »
2. The Holy Rosary


The Holy Rosary was used on two different occasions by St. Paul of the Cross (1694-1775) to free soldiers from the torments of the devil. In once instance a soldier was in his quarters when the devil started dragging him around. The Saint, who heard the noises adn ran to investigate, immediately detected the devil and ordered him to leave, while placing the Holy Rosary around the soldier's neck. The frightened soldier confessed his sins that night and was enormously grateful for being delivered.

Another soldier was already in the confessional when he was suddenly seized and dragged backward by an invisible power. Because he held tightly to the confessional, the confessional with the priest still in it was almost dragged along with the soldier. St. Paul was quickly notified and rushed to the scene where the witnesses, the penitent and the confessor were trembling with fear.

After placing a rosary around the soldier's neck and after placing his own mantle over the soldier, the Saint took the penitent to the sacristy, where he heard his Confession and released him from his sins.



St. Paul of the Cross




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Re: Does the Catholic Church Believe in Ghosts?
« Reply #20 on: September 17, 2013, 06:27:06 PM »
3. Holy Water


St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) also gives us advice on how to rid ourselves of the devil's annoyances:

"From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like Holy Water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again. They also flee from the Cross, but return; so Holy Water must have great virtue. This saint gives us an example of Holy Water's effectiveness. One night, she reports, "I thought the evil spirits would have suffocated me, and when the sisters threw much Holy Water about, I saw a great troop of them rush away as if tumbling over a precipice."

St. Teresa adds that she was tormented so often that later on she was little afraid of devils, "because I see they cannot stir without Our Lord's permission."


St. Teresa of Avila

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