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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
kids and magic, blasphemous thoughts	Melissa	Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Question: I am well aware of the dangers of Harry Potter, and other things like that, to children. My mother got my now 4 year old son a magic set for Christmas last year. Its not real magic- includes tricks like pulling a foam rabbit out of compartment in a plastic hat.. etc. Ive been unsure whether this is good for him, so Ive had it up in the closet not knowing what to do with it. Is this harmful to his soul- should I throw it away? Also what about stories that include witch's and ghosts, monsters etc. Like Hansle and Gretle, snow white, scooby doo, etc. I keep trying to tell family members(mother in law mainly) not to tell him bedtimes stories about witches and monsters. He now likes this subject matter and always ask grandma to tell him these stories because he knows I wont. Am I being ridiculous? If im not , can you please give some suggestions about what I can do to get him to stop liking that kind of subject matter. My next question is about some spiritual direction I received from a priest. He told me to get the book 'Sadhana: A way to God' by Anthony Demello. Im wondering if youve heard of it. This book deals with "awareness" and contemplation. And uses 'body awaress' as a means of prayer or to prepare yourself for prayer. Im not sure if this is considered "centering prayer". I just read some of your article about the dangers of centering prayer and am unsure if thats what this book is. I am convinced I have issues with Demon attachment, blasphemous thoughts come into my mind all the time- especially lately when I try to meditate during the rosary or even in church while going up to receive Our Lord. This started a few years ago right after I had gone to confession to confess many of the same sins I kept felling into, no doubt. I was trying to be chaste but got involved with a guy who I thought" was the one". Long story short- i ended up pregnant and got married a few months after the babies birth. Even though I love my husband, I now realize my horrible mistake in marrying a non catholic. Ive been married alomost 4 years and still have the blasphemous thoughts. Though I have been able to get them lessen significantly by saying the prayers on this website and eucharistic adoration, and special prayers said by a priest after confession. I always comes back. I feel so spiritually worn down by this, any advice ive received from priests has not helped at all. This affliction is such torture- all I want to do is love God and make up for my rotten past- yet I feel like I cant give him the love He deserves because I cant even receive him, or contemplate Him with His holy name being profaned in my mind. The past year and a half I have also had extreme feelings of anger or rage, and I often direct these feelings toward my children. Ages 2 and 4. Im going to try saying the prayers again and re- read your article about self deliverance. But deep down I feel that I need a priest or some serious help in order to get rid of this.Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated. God bless you and I thank God that I found your website! (sorry that this is so long!)
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Melissa: The "pulling the rabbit out of a hat" activity is actual as an illusion and slight-of-hand and not real magic. But, in this day and age in which the lines are so thinly drawn I do not believe it is prudent to indulge a child's curiosity and interest in this sort of activity. St. Paul says that even if something is technically okay, it may not be prudent. I don't this encouraging kids in this direction of a illusionist as that mayh too easily lead into an interest in real magic. Besides, St. Paul also said that we are to avoid even the "appearance" of evil. I would ask you relatives not to give your child magical toys and books (including those cartoons and cartoon characters that use magical powers. Your child may have an interest know that will make it hard on you, but you need to explain to him that he cannot have those sorts of toy or books because they upset God. You need to watch CLOSELY what cartoons he watches. Most of these days seem to be virtual training videos in witchcraft and the occult. Point your child into another direction. After a while, if he is not further exposed to that material, he may lose interest. There are books that are good, such as the Chronicles of Narnia and other stories by C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Hansel and Gretel is actually an adult story and should never be read to a child in its original form. Even in its abridged form the story is awful. Snow White is a morality play where evil is seen as something bad and it loses out to good. There is nothing wrong with fantasy per se, but we must be careful that such fantasy does not cross over to promote evil, or appear to promote evil, or come from a evil worldview. As for Anthony Demello, the Vatican has issued a formal warning against his writing. The priest who referred you to his person should know better. If you have any of his writings, throw them away. As for your blasphemous thoughts, you are not sinning when unwanted thoughts come into your mind. You need to renounce those thoughts and rebuke them when they do come into your head, and do not indulge them, and give your thought life to Jesus Christ. You need to be sure to receive the Eucharist when you are in a State of Grace, and if you are not, then attend to the Sacrament of Confession. But, these unwanted thoughts popping into your head just before receiving our Lord are not sins. Go ahead and receive our Lord in the Eucharist. Doing so will give you strength to resist these thoughts. Perseverance is the key to the Christian life. You may have to persevere in your struggle about these thoughts. The devil wants to wear you down. Surrender your thoughts to Christ and He will take the burden. If you have confessed your sins of the past, then they are forgiven. They are gone. Why hang on to what God has dismissed? Let go of your past and get on with your life in loving God as best as you can. In similar manner with anger. Rebuke the spirit of anger, give your anger to God. If this is effecting your children, however, you may need to talk to a professional counselor who can help you with anger management. In addition, I recommend going through the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance linked below, and use of the Spiritual Warfare prayers in the catalog. If you do not receive any relief from going to Mass, Confession, receiving the Eucharist, going to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at least one hour per week, the Spiritual Warfare prayers, the Seven Steps, and professional counseling, then you may want to ask for a personal consultation from us when our Help Request Form is opened back up. I personally do not accept new clients from April 15th to October 1st, but Joe, the associate director, does year round. He has only a couple of appointment slots, so there will likely be a waiting list. We will pray for you, 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

kids and magic, blasphemous thoughts

Melissa

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Question:

I am well aware of the dangers of Harry Potter, and other things like that, to children. My mother got my now 4 year old son a magic set for Christmas last year. Its not real magic- includes tricks like pulling a foam rabbit out of compartment in a plastic hat.. etc. Ive been unsure whether this is good for him, so Ive had it up in the closet not knowing what to do with it. Is this harmful to his soul- should I throw it away?

Also what about stories that include witch's and ghosts, monsters etc. Like Hansle and Gretle, snow white, scooby doo, etc. I keep trying to tell family members(mother in law mainly) not to tell him bedtimes stories about witches and monsters. He now likes this subject matter and always ask grandma to tell him these stories because he knows I wont. Am I being ridiculous? If im not , can you please give some suggestions about what I can do to get him to stop liking that kind of subject matter.

My next question is about some spiritual direction I received from a priest. He told me to get the book 'Sadhana: A way to God' by Anthony Demello. Im wondering if youve heard of it. This book deals with "awareness" and contemplation. And uses 'body awaress' as a means of prayer or to prepare yourself for prayer. Im not sure if this is considered "centering prayer". I just read some of your article about the dangers of centering prayer and am unsure if thats what this book is.

I am convinced I have issues with Demon attachment, blasphemous thoughts come into my mind all the time- especially lately when I try to meditate during the rosary or even in church while going up to receive Our Lord. This started a few years ago right after I had gone to confession to confess many of the same sins I kept felling into, no doubt. I was trying to be chaste but got involved with a guy who I thought" was the one". Long story short- i ended up pregnant and got married a few months after the babies birth. Even though I love my husband, I now realize my horrible mistake in marrying a non catholic.

Ive been married alomost 4 years and still have the blasphemous thoughts. Though I have been able to get them lessen significantly by saying the prayers on this website and eucharistic adoration, and special prayers said by a priest after confession. I always comes back. I feel so spiritually worn down by this, any advice ive received from priests has not helped at all.

This affliction is such torture- all I want to do is love God and make up for my rotten past- yet I feel like I cant give him the love He deserves because I cant even receive him, or contemplate Him with His holy name being profaned in my mind.

The past year and a half I have also had extreme feelings of anger or rage, and I often direct these feelings toward my children. Ages 2 and 4. Im going to try saying the prayers again and re- read your article about self deliverance. But deep down I feel that I need a priest or some serious help in order to get rid of this.Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated. God bless you and I thank God that I found your website! (sorry that this is so long!)

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Melissa:

The "pulling the rabbit out of a hat" activity is actual as an illusion and slight-of-hand and not real magic. But, in this day and age in which the lines are so thinly drawn I do not believe it is prudent to indulge a child's curiosity and interest in this sort of activity.

St. Paul says that even if something is technically okay, it may not be prudent. I don't this encouraging kids in this direction of a illusionist as that mayh too easily lead into an interest in real magic. Besides, St. Paul also said that we are to avoid even the "appearance" of evil.

I would ask you relatives not to give your child magical toys and books (including those cartoons and cartoon characters that use magical powers.

Your child may have an interest know that will make it hard on you, but you need to explain to him that he cannot have those sorts of toy or books because they upset God. You need to watch CLOSELY what cartoons he watches. Most of these days seem to be virtual training videos in witchcraft and the occult.

Point your child into another direction. After a while, if he is not further exposed to that material, he may lose interest.

There are books that are good, such as the Chronicles of Narnia and other stories by C.S. Lewis and Tolkien.

Hansel and Gretel is actually an adult story and should never be read to a child in its original form. Even in its abridged form the story is awful. Snow White is a morality play where evil is seen as something bad and it loses out to good. There is nothing wrong with fantasy per se, but we must be careful that such fantasy does not cross over to promote evil, or appear to promote evil, or come from a evil worldview.

As for Anthony Demello, the Vatican has issued a formal warning against his writing. The priest who referred you to his person should know better. If you have any of his writings, throw them away.

As for your blasphemous thoughts, you are not sinning when unwanted thoughts come into your mind. You need to renounce those thoughts and rebuke them when they do come into your head, and do not indulge them, and give your thought life to Jesus Christ.

You need to be sure to receive the Eucharist when you are in a State of Grace, and if you are not, then attend to the Sacrament of Confession. But, these unwanted thoughts popping into your head just before receiving our Lord are not sins. Go ahead and receive our Lord in the Eucharist. Doing so will give you strength to resist these thoughts.

Perseverance is the key to the Christian life. You may have to persevere in your struggle about these thoughts. The devil wants to wear you down. Surrender your thoughts to Christ and He will take the burden.

If you have confessed your sins of the past, then they are forgiven. They are gone. Why hang on to what God has dismissed? Let go of your past and get on with your life in loving God as best as you can.

In similar manner with anger. Rebuke the spirit of anger, give your anger to God. If this is effecting your children, however, you may need to talk to a professional counselor who can help you with anger management.

In addition, I recommend going through the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance linked below, and use of the Spiritual Warfare prayers in the catalog.

If you do not receive any relief from going to Mass, Confession, receiving the Eucharist, going to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at least one hour per week, the Spiritual Warfare prayers, the Seven Steps, and professional counseling, then you may want to ask for a personal consultation from us when our Help Request Form is opened back up.

I personally do not accept new clients from April 15th to October 1st, but Joe, the associate director, does year round. He has only a couple of appointment slots, so there will likely be a waiting list.

We will pray for you,

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.