All You Wanted To Know

 The authors are what first attracted me to the book, The Devil..."alive and active in our world."  Corrado Balducci wrote the book and Jordan Aumann, O.P. translated.

Carrado Balducci is a well know theologian, whom I pay attention to, especially on UFOs.  Jordan Aumann is no slouch as a theologian, either, but the fact that he's a Dominican, made me choose this book to read.

Balducci tells us that God created the universe and that includes UFO's and angels.  This book has nothing to do with UFOs, but I like to point out how diverse and open Balducci is.  Although, when it comes to devils, it doesn't take much convincing. Satan's always prowling around like a roaring lion...

The Devil..."alive and active in our world," explains how we are all vulnerable to temptations.  But thanks to God, we have the grace and means to resist the fallen angels. The devil doesn't win, unless we let him. That's the beginning.

Part One of the book, explains the Fall, the nature of devils, and evil.  Part Two proves the existence of devils through Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church. The rest of The Devil..."alive and active in our world," explains the work of the exorcist--diagnosis, procedures, and suggestions.  You could say this book has all you wanted to know about the devil.  I found it interesting and useful.

Reasons

 There is a legend, (I don't think there's scriptural proof.) that the fight between the good angels and the bad, was over us--mankind. When Satan heard God's plan to have His Son become a human being, he objected.  Satan would not worship a Man.

Whether this is true or not, it is obvious that Satan hates us.  Since Satan hates God, then of course he would hate a mankind made in the image of God.  Also, Jesus became one of us, a man.  Aren't we blessed? And we're redeemed by Christ.  Jesus gave His life for us.

Finally, mankind, and not the angels, are heirs to the kingdom of God and eternal happiness.  What a blessing!  Too bad, Satan, you forfeited eternal happiness by your own free choice!  

My "cloistered brothers," would say, "If you can't do the time, don't commit the crime."

P.S. If Satan hates us, he absolutely loathes Mary, the Mother of God.  Makes sense, doesn't it?  She's the one who gave birth to Our Redeemer, Jesus.

Ape of God

 Tertullian was a writer in the early church.  He explains that Satan wished to be God and copied Him.  IOW, he "aped" Him, like a monkey will copy the people looking at him.  Tradition in Tertullian's time saw heretics imitating Christian sacraments, just like Satanists do now, e.i., black masses.

Maybe we should start calling Satanists, "Apes," when they hold their masses and baptisms and mimic the Eucharist.

                St. Dominic and the Devil by Pietro della Vecchiaabout 1630.

Satan's Last Chance

Today is the feast of St. Martin of Tours.  I was reading a letter by Sulpicius Severus on how St. Martin of Tours died (Epist. 3,6, 9-10. 11. 14-17. 21: SC 133, 336-344)

Now you would think that at the hour of death, you would hear heavenly music, feel the flutter of angel wings, see your loved ones waiting for you down that tunnel with a beckoning light.  That's not necessarily so.  That wasn't my near death experience, nor was it Saint Martin of Tours.

Sulpicius Severus writes, "...he saw the devil standing near. 'Why do you stand there, you bloodthirsty brute?'  he cried.  'Murderer, you will not have me for your prey.  Abraham is welcoming me into his embrace.'"

So don't be scared if you don't see angels, scream at Satan, like St. Martin did.  Fr. Nic Austriaco, once explained that Satan often waits to attack then.  It's his last chance.

That's why the Dominican friars sing Salve around a death bed.  They call it the Salve Squad.  And don't forget that St. Michael the Archangel will protect you.  Do not be afraid of death.  God is with you.  St. Michael will walk you to heaven.  Just remember to pray on the way.  It will chase Satan away.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of death.

Satan

For Formation yesterday, our Spiritual Director had assigned, Summa Theologica, Prima Pars, Q. 114.

I couldn't believe it.  Why did he give us this?  This is silly.  Satan?  This is 2011.  C'mon!

But Father was serious.  And so were my "cloistered brothers."

This lesson happened yesterday, and I was going to post it, but I spent the time looking for an appropriate picture.  This is Satan, so I wanted the ugliest picture I could find.  Nothing was ugly enough.  That's why I'm posting, now, minus a picture.

I was shocked to find out that some of my "cloistered brothers" have had personal encounters.  !!!!  And not only with Satan, but with their Guardian Angels.  Some of my brothers even know the names of their Guardian Angels.

I'd tell you more, but I'm still trying to lift my jaw up off the floor.

Attacks on the Church

Kim Yu-na is standing next to Cardinal Cheong Jin-suk in this picture from Rok Drop, the blog about Korea. It's a nice picture accompanied by not so nice comments. The comments saddened me. Instead of honoring Kim Yu-na, the comments were focused on the priest. And His Eminence did nothing to deserve any disrespect. The ridicule was on the church. One commentator asked if the Cardinal had abused her yet. One response was that she was a girl--not a boy. When another commentator suggested that the comments were out of line. The retort was simply, "It's a valid question."

This reminded me of exactly what's happened with Pope Benedict. Of all people, who have worked tirelessly to rid the church of permissiveness of all kinds and at all levels!

Since BXVI has taken office, he has been taken to task: at Regensburg for being an enemy of Islam, forced to cancel a talk at La Sapienza, criticized for reconciliation with Lefebvrists, and TAC, and dialogged with Constantinople, and now accused of covering up the scandals of priests sexually abusing children. Is he going to be blamed for the weather, next?

Would I be accused of paranoia if I expressed a conspiracy to discredit the Church? You do have to wonder. Who benefits from disgracing the Church? Whatever, or whoever it is, comes under the general noun "Satan." Whatever and whoever benefits, does not have the best interests of humankind in mind. That's evil; that's Satan.

Do you know the pray to St. Michael, the Archangel?
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