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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Writing Fiction	sarah	Thursday, January 21, 2010
Question: I like to write fiction stories and am embarkng on a novel at present. The novel is about human tragedy and redemption. There is no sexual content or anything of surperstition in it. The aim is to lift the reader to think about the beauty of life, to give hope and healing. Is it a sin to write fiction as fiction is imagination but also in the taking from your own life experiences. Brother, i am sorry about the last post on Apparitions. I didn't mean it to be smart. There are so many people all over the world claiming to see The Blessed Virgin. I feel its better to just play safe and stick to the ones that are Church approved like Fatima, Lourds and Knock. It was a stupid a thought to have in the first place. The story Begone Satan is truly humbling to think that a girl so pious in her faith could be possessed. Did God premit this to happen? Can it be possible even for a pious person to become possessed by a curse? God had to power to block this curse but didn't. Please dont take offence, but could a Priest or Nun become possessed? Thank you brother for the work you do in helping people. Sarah
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Sarah: No, it is not a sin to write fiction. Some of the greatest novelists in history were devout Catholics, such as Flannery O'Conner, G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien (who wrote Lord of the Rings), Ralph McInerny (who wrote the Father Dowling mystery series), and many others. Imagination and personal experiences can serve for the Greater Glory of God in fiction or any art. I agree about Apparitions -- it is best to stick with those which have been officially approved. If you have read Begone Satan then you have your answer about whether or not pious people can be possessed. That story is a true story that happened in Iowa, about three hours from where I live. Everything that happens is permitted by God. The universe all creatures in it cannot exist without God's permission. God permits evil because He has given us free will. Free will is what allows to love Him and our neighbor. Love cannot be forced, it must be chosen. Thus, when God gives us the ability to choose to love, it automatically means that it is possible for a person to choose evil. The father of the girl in Begone Satan evil. That evil victimized his daughter. God will not stop people from making the choices they make. If He did it would destroy free will. Free will is like pregnancy -- one cannot be 99% pregnant; either she is or she is not. The same with free will. We have it or we don't. God loves us so much that He is willing to risk some people choosing evil so that we can love. But, God can make good come out of evil. In the case of Begone Satan, a lot of good has come from publishing the story. It was inspired people to get closer to God, warned people against straying away from God, informed people of the existence of the devil, and much more. Anyone can become possessed potentially, even a priest or nun. If a priest or nun chooses to invite Satan into their lives, Satan will be glad to accept the invitation. If a priest or nun lives a evil life, then they automatically invite, by their actions, the devil into their lives. Anyone can be caught in Satan's snare... but, God does not leave us defenseless. He provides us with the Church, her Sacraments, her Sacred Pastors, the Saints, and fellow Christians to help us to resist the devil. As St. James said, "Resist the devil and he will flee" (James 4:7) St. Paul said, "But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from evil" (2 Thess 3:3). St. Paul also advised, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph 6:11). God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Writing Fiction

sarah

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Question:

I like to write fiction stories and am embarkng on a novel at present. The novel is about human tragedy and redemption. There is no sexual content or anything of surperstition in it. The aim is to lift the reader to think about the beauty of life, to give hope and healing.

Is it a sin to write fiction as fiction is imagination but also in the taking from your own life experiences.

Brother, i am sorry about the last post on Apparitions. I didn't mean it to be smart. There are so many people all over the world claiming to see The Blessed Virgin. I feel its better to just play safe and stick to the ones that are Church approved like Fatima, Lourds and Knock. It was a stupid a thought to have in the first place.

The story Begone Satan is truly humbling to think that a girl so pious in her faith could be possessed. Did God premit this to happen? Can it be possible even for a pious person to become possessed by a curse? God had to power to block this curse but didn't.

Please dont take offence, but could a Priest or Nun become possessed?

Thank you brother for the work you do in helping people.

Sarah

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Sarah:

No, it is not a sin to write fiction. Some of the greatest novelists in history were devout Catholics, such as Flannery O'Conner, G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien (who wrote Lord of the Rings), Ralph McInerny (who wrote the Father Dowling mystery series), and many others. Imagination and personal experiences can serve for the Greater Glory of God in fiction or any art.

I agree about Apparitions -- it is best to stick with those which have been officially approved.

If you have read Begone Satan then you have your answer about whether or not pious people can be possessed. That story is a true story that happened in Iowa, about three hours from where I live.

Everything that happens is permitted by God. The universe all creatures in it cannot exist without God's permission. God permits evil because He has given us free will. Free will is what allows to love Him and our neighbor. Love cannot be forced, it must be chosen. Thus, when God gives us the ability to choose to love, it automatically means that it is possible for a person to choose evil. The father of the girl in Begone Satan evil. That evil victimized his daughter.

God will not stop people from making the choices they make. If He did it would destroy free will. Free will is like pregnancy -- one cannot be 99% pregnant; either she is or she is not. The same with free will. We have it or we don't. God loves us so much that He is willing to risk some people choosing evil so that we can love.

But, God can make good come out of evil. In the case of Begone Satan, a lot of good has come from publishing the story. It was inspired people to get closer to God, warned people against straying away from God, informed people of the existence of the devil, and much more.

Anyone can become possessed potentially, even a priest or nun. If a priest or nun chooses to invite Satan into their lives, Satan will be glad to accept the invitation. If a priest or nun lives a evil life, then they automatically invite, by their actions, the devil into their lives.

Anyone can be caught in Satan's snare... but, God does not leave us defenseless. He provides us with the Church, her Sacraments, her Sacred Pastors, the Saints, and fellow Christians to help us to resist the devil.

As St. James said, "Resist the devil and he will flee" (James 4:7)

St. Paul said, "But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from evil" (2 Thess 3:3).

St. Paul also advised, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph 6:11).

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.