Super-long video one-and-a-half hours so I will just highlight several points in the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPEyZh9pnQQ
—Archdiocese of Manila Office of Exorcism, “Talk 9 The Occult Third Eye-October 12, 2020 Fr Winston Cabading, OP,” YouTube video, 1:24:45 hours, October 12, 2020
Theological exposition is persuasive as far as it goes but its principal deficiency is that it deals only with demonic powers of clairvoyance. It also identifies clairvoyance with the demonically enhanced “third eye” and the demonic generally.
If we examine the definition of clairvoyance, it is neutral in the sense that it is not identified with the influence of either good or evil spirits. Clairvoyance is not by definition demonic in nature.
Furthermore, we know many, many instances and accounts in which clairvoyance in this neutral sense of the word is the result of the action of good spirits and in which, ultimately, God is the salutary cause.
The video fails to address the case in which clairvoyance is the product of the good spirits.
In addition, some who are born with above average psychic abilities use these abilities for the good and presumably in this case if we assume that their abilities are influenced or enhanced by the spirits, we would deduce that the spirits are good.
Apropos of this subject Father Stephen Rossetti says the following:
34:30 Sensitivity to the supernatural
https://www.youtube.com/live/ghM4Fd2lU8c?si=j64qZoIZIUyjsuwn
—National Review Institute, “Diary of an American Exorcist” YouTube video, 1:00:17 hours, Oct 27, 2021
Father Rossetti observes that some have received gifts of clairvoyance (neutral sense) from God and that exorcists in fact use their gifts to assist in exorcisms.
A last point:
The soul is the battleground of good and evil spirits in which the will that morally
chooses is the object of spiritual warfare. Father Cabading (Manila Archdiocese
video) does not deal with the coexistence of good and evil spirits striving to
influence the soul or how to distinguish them and respond to their
consequential influence. He deals only with the influence of the demonic. In
this respect the Manila Archdiocese video is woefully inadequate. The Ignatian
framework for discerning the spirits is more useful and helpful in this
respect.
Public domain image
ReplyDeleteGonzalinho
THE CASE OF OUR LADY OF MEDJUGORJE
ReplyDeleteQuestion:
What is the Church’s official stance on the reported Marian apparitions in Medjugorje?
Answer:
In June 1981, the Blessed Mother reportedly began appearing regularly to several children in the town of Medjugorje, which is located in the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, then part of Yugoslavia. (The diocese is now part of the nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.)
In 1985, Mostar-Duvno’s bishop Pavao Zanic determined that the apparitions were not authentic, i.e., not of supernatural origin.
In 1991, the bishops’ conference of Yugoslavia ruled that the supernatural character of the reported apparitions could not be affirmed. This is different than a definitive declaration that there is no supernatural character.
Bishop Zanic maintained his position until his retirement in July 1993, when Bishop Ratko Peric succeeded him. Throughout his tenure in Mostar, which lasted until July 2020, Bishop Peric consistently reaffirmed the decision of his predecessor.
Bishop Petar Palic is the current Bishop of Mostar-Duvno, and he has not overturned his predecessors’ decisions.
The Holy See, consistent with the rulings of the local bishops, has allowed pilgrimages to Medjugorje, provided they don’t present the reported apparitions as approved by the Church, and has forbidden the faithful from participating in events where the reported seers present their reported apparitions as of supernatural origin [see below].
https://www.catholic.com/qa/the-churchs-current-position-on-medjugorje
—Tom Nash, “The Church’s Current Position on Medjugorje,” Catholic Answers
The head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Gerhard Müller, asked the apostolic nuncio to the United States (i.e., the Vatican ambassador to the U.S.) to send a letter to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The letter, dated October 21, 2013, deals with the Medjugorje phenomenon, and he asked that the letter be sent to all U.S. bishops.
This letter appears to call for a more restrictive policy than the Holy See has insisted on thus far.
To be continued
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THE CASE OF OUR LADY OF MEDJUGORJE
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3) Why was the letter sent?
One of the Medjugorje seers—Ivan Dragicevic—has a residence in the United States and has been conducting a speaking ministry in which he reports receiving apparitions.
The apostolic nuncio (Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano), explains in the letter:
[O]ne of the so-called visionaries of Medjugorje, Mr. Ivan Dragicevic, is scheduled to appear at certain parishes around the country, during which time he will make presentations regarding the phenomenon of Medjugorje.
It is anticipated, moreover, that Mr. Dragicevic will be receiving “apparitions” during these scheduled appearances.
Concern about the reported apparitions during public events is what occasioned the letter.
4) What does the letter say?
Basically, it says that the policy announced in a previous letter, dated February 27, 2013, should be followed.
That policy held that the faithful are not permitted to participate in events in which the authenticity of such apparitions would be taken for granted.
5) How does the letter explain this policy?
The letter explains it this way:
[T]he Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is in the process of investigating certain doctrinal and disciplinary aspects of the phenomenon of Medjugorje.
For this reason the Congregation has affirmed that, with regard to the credibility of the “apparitions” in question, all should accept the declaration, dated 10 April 1991, from the Bishops of the former Republic of Yugoslavia, which asserts:
“On the basis of the research that has been done, it is not possible to state that there were apparitions or supernatural revelations.”
It follows, therefore, that clerics and the faithful are not permitted to participate in meetings, conferences or public celebrations during which the credibility of such “apparitions” would be taken for granted.
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/14-things-to-know-and-share-about-the-new-letter-on-medjugorje
—Jimmy Akin, “14 things to know and share about the new letter on Medjugorje,” National Catholic Register (November 6, 2013)
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THE CASE OF OUR LADY OF MEDJUGORJE
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The alleged apparitions at Medjugorje are a notable example of “clairvoyance” that is not conclusively demonic in origin. The declaration of the Yugoslav bishops with the jurisdiction to pronounce judgment on the alleged apparitions is that the phenomena cannot be affirmed to be “supernatural” in character, i.e. from God. They do not say that the phenomena are “preternatural,” i.e. from the devil.
It is a non-committal conclusion: it cannot be said either way that the apparitions are from God or from the devil. It is also an open-ended judgment in the following sense: it is not final and definitive so that it is possible that it could be revised favorably or unfavorably at some future point in time.
Notably, the apparitions at Medjugorje appear to have produced abundant good fruits:
“The Medjugorje phenomenon, by all accounts, has already produced spiritual fruits in great abundance. Letters, oral testimonies, even medical certificates, attest to miraculous healings, unexpected conversions and renewed faith. In Medjugorje’s wake, Catholic radio and television programs have sprung up, and new prayer groups and religious movements are being formed.”
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/medjugorje-deception-or-miracle-5427
—Antonio Gaspari, “Medjugorje Deception or Miracle?” EWTN. This article was taken from the November 1996 issue of “Inside the Vatican.”
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The ecclesiastical judgments about Medjugorje leave the seers in an unfortunate and difficult limbo. If we look at the fate of Sr. Teresita Castillo—the seer of Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace—the situation doesn’t bode well for the Medjugorje seers. The status of their visions will probably remain in a kind of limbo until well after their deaths.
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THREE SOURCES OF CLAIRVOYANCE
ReplyDeleteThe sources of clairvoyance are three: (1) vestigial preternatural gifts of our fallen human nature; (2) supernatural gifts of God; and (3) preternatural powers of the demons.
“Adam and Eve, before their fall into original sin, were filled not only with the supernatural gift of grace but also with all preternatural gifts. Supernatural gifts are divine gifts that are totally beyond created nature; they come directly from God. Preternatural gifts, on the other hand, are abilities that are not bound by matter or physical nature but are bound by laws of created nature. One of these preternatural gifts that our first parents had was the fully functioning sixth sense or psychic power or ability. …They could easily foresee dangers (ESP) as well as have power over material objects (telekinesis). They also had the capacity to ‘see’ and communicate with the angels by using the power of the mind. After both of them sinned, not only was supernatural grace lost in the souls of both Adam and Eve, this preternatural gift, although not totally destroyed, was greatly diminished. We therefore find among us, persons whom we now call ‘psychic’; they have some vestigial remnant of this preternatural gift. Psychics tend to ‘see’ and ‘sense’ souls and spirits because…this gift was once an instrument to get in touch with the world of the spirits.”
—Father Jose Francisco C. Syquia, Exorcism: Encounters with the Paranormal and the Occult (2006), page 16
“Spiritual power, aside from psychic energy (preternatural), can only come from spiritual sources. There are only two other sources for this kind of power: the Kingdom of God (supernatural power) and the realm of the demonic (preternatural power)—nowhere else. And the power from the Kingdom of God can never be attained through technique or by invoking magic but only through heartfelt prayer in, with, and through Jesus.”
—Ibid., page 39
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THREE SOURCES OF CLAIRVOYANCE
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Clairvoyance, the lives of the saints testify, can work as a means for growth in grace if the supernatural ability is given by God.
“‘Is it good to develop one’s psychic abilities or, as the occultists say, to “open your third eye?”’ Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich…whom [Saint] John Paul II beatified just recently, said, ‘When one becomes a clairvoyant (psychic)…then one of man’s faculties possessed before the fall, a faculty not entirely extinct, is in a certain measure resuscitated…. This state really exists, but it is veiled, because it is a poisoned source for all but the saints.’ What this means is that unless one is a saint and it is God who revives this gift through one’s growth in grace, the opening of the ‘third eye’ which connects us to the world of the spirits becomes a doorway for evil spirits to harass us more directly….”
—Ibid., page 17
On the other hand, when the preternatural powers of the demons are the origin, the effect is the opposite because the source is evil.
Because the ultimate goal of the demons is to damn the soul, the mediate objective of the demons is to bind the soul by leading them into ever more serious sin. The sin of occultism represents one of the easiest points of entry.
“When a person with strong psychic abilities employs magical rites and rituals, then an immediate opening to the demonic realm is created. This person goes beyond the power of the mind into the power of the occult.”
—Ibid., page 40
At some point in the process of enslavement, the demons will ask payment for their services, so to speak. Once they acquire rights over the recruit, which is a consequence of the victim’s direct or indirect consent, the demons will begin to inflict all kinds of temporal harm, not only physical, upon their prisoner.
Question—how do we distinguish between clairvoyance that is bestowed by God and that which collaborates with demons?
Father Syquia of the Archdiocese of Manila Office of Exorcism offers us four evaluative criteria.
“Firstly, the individual or group profoundly lives the Gospel values.
“…Secondly, the psychic or group of psychics performs the services absolutely free, not even accepting donations.
“Thirdly, the practices and means that they use are approved by the Church.
“…Lastly, the fruits must be good. This means that there is growth in the spiritual life of all those concerned.”
—Ibid., pages 150-51
A positive response to all four criteria argues for the supernatural origin of the observed psychic ability or event.
Gonzalinho
THE TALKATIVE TEST
ReplyDeleteYou can distinguish the good from the evil spirits because the good spirit speaks wordlessly to your heart, while you speak—carry on a conversation—with the evil spirit. Normally, the good spirit is not talkative and does not answer you with many words, if at all. The evil spirit, on the other hand, likes to engage you and draw you into a relationship that he can take advantage of and exploit.
God is taciturn—why? God has already spoken, voluminously, we might add, in his inspired Word and through the Church. Moreover, he continues to speak through the Church in fresh, relevant ways. When the words of Scripture or of the Church resonate in our hearts, God speaks to us not in the manner of an involved verbal exchange but rather through the Holy Spirit. Communicating in this way, words aren’t necessary.
Consider, for example, the following items (in quotation marks). They reveal differences between God’s voice and the agitations of the evil spirit.
“God speaks deep within my spirit, the devil speaks to my soul or mind.”
It is only God who can move the will directly; in contrast, the devil exercises his influence outside this faculty of the soul.
When God touches upon the moral character of our thoughts and deeds, he is the voice of conscience.
“God’s voice is gentle and persuasive, free from pressure – Satan is loud and clamoring, always demanding an immediate response.”
God wills that we act freely, so he does not coerce. On the other hand, the devil cannot conceal his true character. He is incorrigibly evil. He acts compulsively, and he compels us to do the same.
“God’s voice is always clear and distinctive, giving us clear direction in which to go. Voice of Satan perplexes, causes confusion, loss of direction.”
God speaks simply, briefly, with direction. The devil speaks in many voices, which muddle and mislead.
God speaks with one voice, while the devil, who seeks to lead sheep astray, speaks with many, causing confusion and misdirection.
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
“God tends to speak when I am seeking and listening for him. Satan breaks into our thoughts uninvited.”
God, who listens to prayers, especially when we pray without losing heart, answers them.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
Always pray without becoming weary. (Luke 18:1)
https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/six-ways-to-discern-between-god-s-voice-and-that-of-satan-part-3-richard-laraviere-sermon-on-growth-in-christ-111665
—Richard Laraviere, “Six Ways To Discern Between God's Voice And That Of Satan. Part 3,” Sermon Central, November 28, 2017
To be continued
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THE TALKATIVE TEST
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God also speaks through our emotions.
“God’s messages may come packaged as emotions we feel. In other words, we sense what God is saying to us. The emotion of the Holy Spirit is felt physically and this in itself communicates a message.”
https://www.godconversations.com/blog/3-ways-god-speaks/
—“3 Ways God Speaks,” God Conversations
It has been said that the devil has the power to affect our emotions directly and to manipulate them. While this observation is correct, it is also true that the good spirit has the same power. Moreover, God has the unique power to affect our will interiorly so that the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, which are originally and entirely spiritual, overflow into the body as emotions. Saint Teresa cites one particular instance in her description of her transverberation.
“It pleased the Lord that I should see this angel in the following way. He was not tall, but short, and very beautiful, his face so aflame that he appeared to be one of the highest types of angel who seem to be all afire. They must be those who are called cherubim: they do not tell me their names but I am well aware that there is a great difference between certain angels and others, and between these and others still, of a kind that I could not possibly explain. In his hands I saw a long golden spear and at the end of the iron tip I seemed to see a point of fire. With this he seemed to pierce my heart several times so that it penetrated to my entrails. When he drew it out, I thought he was drawing them out with it and he left me completely afire with a great love for God. The pain was so sharp that it made me utter several moans; and so excessive was the sweetness caused me by this intense pain that one can never wish to lose it, nor will one’s soul be content with anything less than God. It is not bodily pain, but spiritual, though the body has a share in it -- indeed, a great share. So sweet are the colloquies of love which pass between the soul and God that if anyone thinks I am lying I beseech God, in His goodness, to give him the same experience.” (Autobiography, Chapter 29)
Emotions, like any action of the spirits on the soul, are matter for discernment.
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THE TALKATIVE TEST
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Demons are talkative. Father Winston Cabading, O.P. narrates the curious case of the woman taught by a demon how to cook. She consented to this relationship for decades. See 1:24:
There was one case of a woman who came to us when she was 57 years old…and she had a guardian spirit whom she thought…was her guardian angel who taught her how to cook. ...this was her story, the story of a woman who was taught by the spirit how to cook. She was seven years old when she learned or when she started to experience the spirit, and all that time when she was seven years old this spirit taught her how to cook, what are the ingredients to buy, the amount of spices…and everything to make it taste [good]. …so that was her bread and butter.
Now at 57 years old she came to us and asked for help because she already saw…this guardian spirit or spirit guide is not actually her guardian angel but something else, and how did she eventually come to know that this is not her guardian angel? Because…she already had other experiences…aside from teaching her how to cook the spirit would do something nasty [to] people who would tease her or would mistreat her…one day she and her husband fought and the spirit told her, “Do you want me to teach your husband a lesson?”
…She went to us…and when during the interview we told her to renounce this spirit, explaining to her that this is not from the Holy Spirit this is not her guardian angel…she did not renounce…because she feared that if she did she would lose the ability to cook and therefore they would lose the business…she…agreed that an exorcism be done or a prayer of deliverance be done.
…At home things started to happen and escalated very fast, what happened while they were eating, knives utensils started to move and fly around inside the house, and she understood that…the spirit was upset because…a minor exorcism was done on her…so as a kind of retaliation the spirit did this thing inside the house.
…We told her she needs to renounce from her heart…which she did and she made her consecration to God renewed her baptismal renouncements and renewed her baptismal vows. We prayed over her…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XMDx1jgc-A
—Armor of God: Spiritual Warfare, “A Case in the Philippines: The demon taught the woman how to cook. Fr. Winston Cabading explains,” YouTube video, 8:56 minutes, June 17, 2025
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