Sunday, February 20, 2022

Preparing for Lent: Do not look for the devil

Do not look for the devil around every corner and on every doorstep. If you do that, you will find him. Fascination with the devil, either in forms of curiosity or defense, opens oneself up to the influence of the devil.  

Remember, temptation comes from three main sources: the devil, the world, and the flesh. Do not flatter the devil, or yourself for that matter, by thinking that the devil is the sole thorn in your side. 

It is far better, far more efficacious, to live a life rich in merit and full of sanctifying grace than it is to constantly worry about demons and devils.  Too often reactionary Catholics, upon learning that they have practiced superstition of some kind, careen from embracing superstition to attempting to actively fight the devil, without the proper spiritual discernment or preparation. 

Our culture is seeped with images, activities, and superstitions that could open us up to the influence of the devil, the world, and the flesh. How often does a Catholic learn that a practice of theirs, or an entertainment of theirs, could potentially lead one down the wrong path? 

For myself, I learn more about the expectations of Almighty God often. And, I comfort myself in that I cannot be mortally held accountable for the things I did when I did not know. For a sin to be mortal, the sinner must know and will to commit the sin of grave matter. An example from myself, when I was young, I did not know that Yoga could be spiritually dangerous. It was merely a form of relaxation and exercise for me. I took a class at a college campus, and as I was taking the class I began to realize that Yoga was a form of spirituality. Then, I did some research on it. I realized that Yoga could be spiritually dangerous. So, I stopped doing Yoga.  If there was sin when I exercised using Yoga, it was not mortal because I did not know. 

Recently, I saw a post online saying that an unnamed exorcist stated that a company curses its religious products before sending them to customers. Although exorcists are usually unnamed for their protection, I have never heard this claim before. Aside from that, I am not fearful of curses. Living a sacramental life, frequenting the sacraments and Holy Mass, should suffice. If you know for sure something is cursed, then by all means, contact a good and holy priest for advice on what to do. 

Looking for the devil gives the devil power over your thoughts. How often have you listened to a song or watched a movie, then thought about that for days later? Worrying about what the devil might do can subconsciously control your thoughts and fill you with unnecessary anxiety more easily than a catchy song can linger in your mind. 

Do not think that this post is to discount the devil. He exists. He is smarter than us. He is stronger than us. He is openly opposed to all that is good, beautiful, and holy. We should not flirt with the devil. We should not antagonize the devil. We should not draw attention to ourselves. 

We should frequent the sacraments. We should live simple, good lives. We should seek to performs meritorious actions. We should do penance in reparation for sin. We should seek to know, love, and serve Almighty God above all else and in all things. 

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