Posted on 08/25/2014 2:16:13 AM PDT by markomalley
A couple of years ago I wrote of an unusual experience I had at Mass wherein a person who was troubled by a demon had those demons manifest themselves at the consecration, causing the person to run out of the Church. More on that in a moment.
I thought of that long-ago incident in relation to the current events transpiring in Oklahoma City, where a satanic cult stole the Eucharist from a Catholic parish and announced plans to desecrate it at a satanic mass in September. Archbishop Paul Coakley filed a lawsuit, asking a judge to stop the desecration by requiring the group to return the stolen property. He indicated in the suit that the Host was to be desecrated in the vilest ways imaginable as an offering in sacrifice to Satan.
A spokesman from the satanic group, Adam Daniels, said, The whole basis of the [satanic] mass is that we take the consecrated host and give it a blessing or offering to Satan. Were censoring it, [I think he means using incense], doing all things thats [sic] normally done to bless a sacrifice, which is obviously the host body of Christ. Then were taking that and were reconsecrating it, or the Devil does
[The bracketed comment and the single quotation marks within the above quote are mine.]
In light of the threatened lawsuit, the group returned the consecrated host to the Church. Thanks be to God. But did you notice the satanic spokesmans attestation regarding the host: which is obviously the host body of Christ?
Grave and sad though this incident was (and it wasnt the first), these Satanists obviously consider the Catholic Eucharist to be the Body of Christ. Unless I missed it, there have been no attempts by Satanists to steal and use a Methodist host, or an Episcopal one, or a Baptist one, or a Lutheran one, etc. It is a Catholic host they seek. Here then is an affirmation of the Scripture which says, Even the demons believeand shudder (James 2:19).
Elsewhere, Scripture says of a demon that afflicted a man among the tombs, And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him (Mark 5:6). And in Lukes Gospel, And demons also came out of many, crying, You are the Son of God! But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ (Lk 4:41-42).
Indeed, as many who have assisted at exorcisms can attest, there is wonderful power in holy water, relics, the exorcists cross, the touch of a priests stole, and so forth in afflicting demons and urging them to leave. Yet so many Catholics and others discount these sacramentals (as well as the Sacraments), using them carelessly, infrequently, or not at all. Many people, even faithful Catholics, consider them of little significance. But demons do not. Shamefully, demons sometimes manifest more faith (out of fear) in these things than actual believers who ought to revere them out of loving faith. Even this Satanist in Oklahoma acknowledges that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist and he seeks a host for that reason, although obviously for nefarious and perverse purposes.
And that leads to a story of my own that I published a long while back. Here is an excerpt from that piece:
It was almost 15 years ago. I was At Old St. Marys here in D.C. celebrating Mass in the Latin (Extraordinary Form). It was a solemn high Mass. I dont suppose I thought it any different than most Sundays, but something quite amazing was about to happen.
As you may know, the ancient Latin Mass is celebrated ad orientem (toward the Liturgical East). Priest and people all face in one direction. What this means practically for the celebrant is that the people are behind him. It was time for the consecration. At this time, the priest is directed to bow low with his forearms on the altar table and the host between his fingers.
As directed, the venerable words of Consecration were said in a low but distinct voice, Hoc est enim Corpus meum (For this is my Body). The bells rang as I genuflected.
But behind me there was a disturbance of some sort; a shaking or rustling sound came from the front pews behind me to my right. And then a moaning or grumbling. What was that? I wondered. It did not really sound human, more like the grumbling of a large animal such as a boar or a bear, along with a plaintive moan that also did not seem human. I elevated the host and again wondered, What was that? Then silence. As the celebrant in the ancient Latin Mass I could not easily turn to look. But still I thought, What was that?
It was time for the consecration of the chalice. Again I bowed low, pronouncing clearly and distinctly but in a low voice, Hic est enim calix sanguinis mei, novi et æterni testamenti; mysterium fidei; qui pro vobis et pro multis effundetur in remissionem pecatorum. Haec quotiescumque feceritis in mei memoriam facietis (for this is the cup of my Blood, of the new and eternal covenant; the mystery of faith; which will for the many be shed unto the remission of sins. Whensoever you do this, you do it in my memory.)
Then, I heard another sound, this time an undeniable moan and then a shriek as someone cried out, Leave me alone, Jesus! Why do you torture me? Suddenly there was a scuffling noise and someone ran out with the groaning sound of having been injured. The back doors swung open and then closed. Then silence.
Realization I could not turn to look for I was raising the Chalice high over my head. But I knew in an instant that some poor demon-tormented soul had encountered Christ in the Eucharist and could not endure His real presence displayed for all to see. And the words of Scripture occurred to me: Even Demons believe and tremble (James 2:19).
Repentance But just as James used those words to rebuke the weak faith of his flock, I too had to repent. Why was a demon-troubled man more aware of the true presence and more astonished by it than I was? He was moved in a negative sense and ran. Why was I not more moved in a positive but comparable way? What of the other believers in the pews? I dont doubt that all of us believed intellectually in the true presence. But there is something very different and far more wonderful in being moved to the depth of your soul! It is so easy for us to be sleepy in the presence of the Divine, to be forgetful of the miraculous and awesome Presence available to us.
Let the record show that on that day, almost 15 years ago, it was made quite plain to me that I held in my hands the Lord of Glory, the King of Heaven and earth, the just Judge and Ruler of the kings of the earth. Is the Lord truly present in the Eucharist? Youd better believe it; even demons believe that!
Good point.
Claud,
Your comment: “Is it really credible that Christ would allow His Bride the Church to fall into such grave error that everyone from the Supreme Pontiff to the pewsitter is now manifestly outside it, save for a few straggling remnants, none of whom agree with each other?”
Made me think of Calvin and the pre-destination of souls theory and the 144,000 elect to go to heaven. Neither of which I believe in, as an ultimate destination/definition of “a few straggling remnants.” And I realize that you didn’t infer either.
Satanists are smarter than prots. That is my take away.
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C'mon...give me a break. Below-the-belt comments don't help anything.
I'm not trying to defend Protestants with their spectrum of beliefs regarding the True Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. But a broad-brush statement like that puts every one of them in the same pot overall, not just regarding their understanding of the Eucharist.
There are some very thoughtful Protestants around FR including some of the people who have posted on this thread. And there are total a$$h@ts. You shouldn't denigrate the thoughtful by lumping them together with the a$$h@ts...and you shouldn't elevate the a$$h@ts by grouping them with the thoughtful.
Yep, the temptation is always there. Gnosticism, Montanism, Calvinism, Jansenism, modern sedevacantism—we’ll carve out a little group of elect and stand as the remnant (until we start fighting each other).
Oh boy, not smarts, no no. Satanists gain power and knowledge directly from the demons and thus understand the supernatural reality far better than we mortals.
Horrible, horrible way to learn about the Real Presence, and certainly of no help to salvation. Give me an earnest Protestant who memorializes Jesus with grape juice and crackers any day before that--at least that act is done with love.
It takes God's grace to understand the Real Presence. If we rely on smarts we're all doomed.
You see, the demons, being eternal supernatural creatures, KNOW. They are not constrained by time and space as we are, nor are they in our position of reliance upon faith in the assurance of things hoped for and proof of things not seen.
God wishes our free, willing love and faith . . . not the overwhelming knowledge which afflicts the demons.
Thank you.... Very true...
If you want to know how satan works, just read “Sun Tsu’s Art of War” There are a lot of similar tactics!
A prot on the other hand is vehemently anti-Catholic, will always bring of priestly molestation of children, needs to ping 72 members of their posse because that is their idea of a fair fight, detests Mary, etc.....
Actually you couldn't be more wrong. Satan works using Alynsky's "Rules for Radicals"
I would suggest that you would want to read any of the books by the retired exorcist of the Diocese of Rome, Gabriele Amorth.
Of course it's credible!
Just read up on St Athanasius, Pope Liberius and the Arian heresy.
Actually you couldn't be more wrong. Satan works using Alynsky's "Rules for Radicals"
If you look at the Rules for Radicals you would find the similarities with the "Art of War." They both address creating disruption within your enemy rather than a frontal attack.
I recently purchased both of his books and am currently reading the first. I find it accurate, but kind of boring as it is like reading a book I have already read. He is preaching to the choir!
The experiences are the same or very similar wherever they occur.
It’s amazing how much one better understands the Crisis in the Church when they know Church history and the Traditional Faith.
No “personal vendetta” though your post to me sure sounds like you have one towards me. It is much easier to make me out to be the bad guy doesn’t it?
Like ebbtide said, it also describes the early Church during the Arian heresy. It might behoove you to learn about that time in Church history.
And there’s more.
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