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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Need a good resource that explains danger of Contacting the dead.	Matthew	Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Question: Brother Ignatius, There are a few people where i work that are talking about how they think it is okay to "communicate with the dead" I've searched far and wide but can't seem to find a good article that explains why one shouldn't do this. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Matthew: How about the Bible as source: "Do not go to mediums or consult fortune tellers, for you will be defiled by them. I, the Lord, am your God" (Lev. 19:31). "Should anyone turn to mediums and fortune tellers and follow their wanton ways, I will turn against such a one and cut him off from his people" (Lev. 20:6). Our Holy Father Benedict XVI just today in a talk at St. Peter's Square said that the "Sacred Scripture isn't merely a text written in the past, but rather the word of God that has within it a personal message directed to each individual Christian." Thus the above verses are the words of God. Need there be any more argument? Rarely, if ever, when someone "conjures" a dead person does the person himself appear. Rather, what appears or speaks is a demon masquerading as the dead person. Trying to conjure dead people risks becoming demonized. I have had many clients who became seriously demonized after trying to communicate with the dead through such things as a séance or Ouija board. One is asking for trouble in trying to communicate with the dead. All they will get is a demon who may attach itself to the inquirer. The belief that one can communicate with the dead is called Spiritism. There is an article on this in the Catholic Encyclopedia. The Catechism reveals the theological reason communicating with the dead is forbidden: Divination and magic 2116 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. 2117 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. In addition, if I remember correctly, Father Amorth warns against Spiritism in his books An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories. Also Father Fortea in his book "Interview with an Exorcist: An Insider's Look at the Devil, Demonic Possession, and the Path to Deliverance" warns against this if I remember correctly. But, frankly the Bible and the Church should be enough to dissuade people from being so stupid as to try to communicate with the dead. 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

Need a good resource that explains danger of Contacting the dead.

Matthew

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Question:

Brother Ignatius,

There are a few people where i work that are talking about how they think it is okay to "communicate with the dead" I've searched far and wide but can't seem to find a good article that explains why one shouldn't do this. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Matthew:

How about the Bible as source:

"Do not go to mediums or consult fortune tellers, for you will be defiled by them. I, the Lord, am your God" (Lev. 19:31). "Should anyone turn to mediums and fortune tellers and follow their wanton ways, I will turn against such a one and cut him off from his people" (Lev. 20:6).

Our Holy Father Benedict XVI just today in a talk at St. Peter's Square said that the "Sacred Scripture isn't merely a text written in the past, but rather the word of God that has within it a personal message directed to each individual Christian." Thus the above verses are the words of God. Need there be any more argument?

Rarely, if ever, when someone "conjures" a dead person does the person himself appear. Rather, what appears or speaks is a demon masquerading as the dead person.

Trying to conjure dead people risks becoming demonized. I have had many clients who became seriously demonized after trying to communicate with the dead through such things as a séance or Ouija board.

One is asking for trouble in trying to communicate with the dead. All they will get is a demon who may attach itself to the inquirer.

The belief that one can communicate with the dead is called Spiritism. There is an article on this in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

The Catechism reveals the theological reason communicating with the dead is forbidden:

Divination and magic
2116 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.
2117 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.

In addition, if I remember correctly, Father Amorth warns against Spiritism in his books An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories. Also Father Fortea in his book "Interview with an Exorcist: An Insider's Look at the Devil, Demonic Possession, and the Path to Deliverance" warns against this if I remember correctly.

But, frankly the Bible and the Church should be enough to dissuade people from being so stupid as to try to communicate with the dead.

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.