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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
The demon of cigarette smoking	Marsilio	Sunday, May 18, 2008
Question: For the last few years I've lived in Europe, where people smoke much more than in the United States. This experience has led me to conclude -- and perhaps we could call this a kind of 'private revelation', as it is not a strictly logical conclusion -- that there is a very real devil or demon of cigarette smoking. Even though I do not smoke myself, I find that I am in constant conflict with this demon -- through the smoking of people. It is not fun! In addition to my own normal spiritual warfare, I have to fight the demons of other people apparently too ignorant to know what's going on. While my first reaction is to be annoyed, or even angered at having to fight this battle, objectively I can admit to a possible advantage: someone, and if nobody else, then I guess me, has to wake up to what an utterly terrible, evil thing cigarette smoking is. It is toxic not just to the body, but to the mind. But even as a health problem alone it is a huge one. Sometimes I wonder why the Church does not take a harder line on this subjectg. In any case, what I really ask for here are two things: first, I ask that people here pray for an end to the scourge of cigarette smoking, which afflicts other countries far more than the United States. Second, I ask for prayers for me.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Marsilio: We must be very careful about seeing demons around every corner. Most of our problems are not caused by demons but by our own concupiscence. Smoking, in-and-of-itself, is not a sin and thus we cannot call it evil or demonic. Excessive use to tobacco, on the other hand, does violate the virtue of temperance. The Catechism states: 2290 The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others' safety on the road, at sea, or in the air. While tobacco is so addictive that most people who indulge in it do so at their peril and the peril of those around them, it is possible to be a "casual" smoker who smoke so little that he suffers no ill health effects. I do believe that addicts usually have demons hanging around. The demons usually are not involved in the addiction itself, but see us addicted to something and exploit our vulnerability. What you have to deal with in being exposed to other people smoking is not a demon, but other people's bad habits. We will certainly pray for you and for all those who may become addicted to tobacco or any other substance. 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

The demon of cigarette smoking

Marsilio

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Question:

For the last few years I've lived in Europe, where people smoke much more than in the United States. This experience has led me to conclude -- and perhaps we could call this a kind of 'private revelation', as it is not a strictly logical conclusion -- that there is a very real devil or demon of cigarette smoking.

Even though I do not smoke myself, I find that I am in constant conflict with this demon -- through the smoking of people. It is not fun! In addition to my own normal spiritual warfare, I have to fight the demons of other people apparently too ignorant to know what's going on.

While my first reaction is to be annoyed, or even angered at having to fight this battle, objectively I can admit to a possible advantage: someone, and if nobody else, then I guess me, has to wake up to what an utterly terrible, evil thing cigarette smoking is. It is toxic not just to the body, but to the mind. But even as a health problem alone it is a huge one. Sometimes I wonder why the Church does not take a harder line on this subjectg.

In any case, what I really ask for here are two things: first, I ask that people here pray for an end to the scourge of cigarette smoking, which afflicts other countries far more than the United States. Second, I ask for prayers for me.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Marsilio:

We must be very careful about seeing demons around every corner. Most of our problems are not caused by demons but by our own concupiscence.

Smoking, in-and-of-itself, is not a sin and thus we cannot call it evil or demonic. Excessive use to tobacco, on the other hand, does violate the virtue of temperance. The Catechism states:

2290 The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others' safety on the road, at sea, or in the air.

While tobacco is so addictive that most people who indulge in it do so at their peril and the peril of those around them, it is possible to be a "casual" smoker who smoke so little that he suffers no ill health effects.

I do believe that addicts usually have demons hanging around. The demons usually are not involved in the addiction itself, but see us addicted to something and exploit our vulnerability.

What you have to deal with in being exposed to other people smoking is not a demon, but other people's bad habits.

We will certainly pray for you and for all those who may become addicted to tobacco or any other substance.

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.