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!
Msgr Pope ping
“In this little Host is the solution to all of the world’s problems.”
Saint John Paul II
“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.”
Your problem is a matter of history. If I remember correctly, nearly everything Martin Luther objected to regarding the Catholic Church except priesthood marriage has since been adopted by the Catholic Church.
So in hindsight, who inspired all of the murders, tortures, and persecutions through the various inquisitions to maintain religious beliefs/power which the catholic church ultimately caved in on?
These persecutions were not authorized by Jesus Christ. There is nothing in his teachings which would have supported these type of actions for the maintenance of power that the Catholic Church once wielded.
I believe that the Catholic Church approved of the murder/martyrdom of William Tyndale for the grievous sin of publishing the Bible in English, so that the common man could read about Jesus Christ!
Don’t get me wrong, I believe that the Catholic Church is better now than it has ever been; however, we know that through scripture once a demon has been thrown out of a host, seven demons more powerful than the first will return to try to reoccupy the host.
I wouldn’t let the testimony of demons assure you of the acceptance/superiority of your gospel to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, maybe their just trying to re-establish what they once so heavily influenced.
I find Fr Pope’s personal experience fascinating. It is no coincidence that it happened in the Latin Mass.
Stationed in Al Hillah, Iraq from 2005-08 - historical Babylon...there are many cold and dark things there...even in the extreme heat...prayer returned the calm and the light...
I don’t believe in Christ - I know him to be true!
I can’t say whether any Lutheran Eucharistic hosts have even been stolen, but the Lutheran assertion of the Real Presence of Christ in the elements sets it apart from the generic Protestant belief in the bread and (usually) grape juice being symbols rather than the Presence Himself. Any demon who showed up at a Lutheran service of the altar would certainly shudder in the Presence.
Which leads to an interesting question, for which I don’t think anyone can honestly say s/he has the answer. If Christ is present in the consecrated bread and wine, would that Presence depend upon the belief of the recipient? To put it another way, is the Presence of Christ to be found in the bread and grape juice of a Baptist or AG or Word of Faith communion, even if the recipient believes s/he is only taking physical food as a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice? The Presence of Christ is under the control of Christ. OTOH, the workings of Christ require our faith to be manifest: cf. the numerous times Jesus told people that it was their faith that healed them, or in Hebrews that without faith it is impossible to please God. (Personally, I lean towards the Presence being in any believer’s communion, but I am not so arrogant as to think I can know for certain.)
I've seen this happen before at N.O. Masses as well.
And if you're familiar with Chinatown DC (particularly 15 years ago when this incident happened), you would likely recognize that location had as much to do with this as the particular rite used for the Mass. Chinatown, even now, is a little bit seedy, but 15 years ago, it was quite the adventure. Old St Mary's (where he celebrated this particular Mass) is right in the heart of Chinatown.
Maybe through the misuse of Scripture you "know" that, but the passage in context was clearly referring to demonic possession of a human being and was specifically addressed to the Pharisees.
As for the Inquisition, which Inquisition are you talking about? The Spanish Inquisition was the worst, and was largely a political abuse of the Spanish government. It was so "Catholic" that, when it ended, the government shut it down with out even bothering to consult the Church.
But even the victims of the Spanish Inquisition got trials and had an opportunity to confront their accusers and mount a defense. Would you like to talk about the victims of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, who were simply murdered by thugs working on the orders of your "prophet" without being given any sort of trial?
One more comment...if a demon were to manifest in the middle of the consecration, I would think the correct action would be to place the host upon the altar, turn towards the demon, and rebuke him in the Name and Power of Christ. It would be, I think, the equivalent of Jesus exorcising on the Sabbath: sending a demon back to hell and freeing one of God’s children takes priority over the sacrament. You can always have the Eucharist, but demons don’t always provide an opportunity to be exorcised.
Happening at the NO Mass, I question.
It's defined Catholic belief that the Presence does not depend on the faith of the recipient. The Eucharist's effect on the recipient does, however.
If Christ is present in the consecrated bread and wine, would that Presence depend upon the belief of the recipient?
No it wouldn't. The validity of a sacrament depend upon valid form and matter as well as the intent of the minister to do as Christ intends for it...they do not depend upon the belief of the recipient.
Consider 1 Cor 11:
[26] For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come. [27] Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. [28] But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. [29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. [30] Therefore are there many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep.
If the validity of the Sacrament depended upon the belief of the recipient, the above verses would be nonsensical, as it would not really be possible to eat or drink unworthily.
Just to make sure, are you calling me a liar?
Or are you calling me delusional?
(I am not depending upon third party accounts, this is something I've seen with my own eyes)
BUMP
Amen
I actually saw this happen at a funeral mass, of all things.
I don’t know how they caught it, but all of a sudden the altar serves etc. hustled over to a woman who was trying to slip out the side door with a eucharist.
I question it happening at a non-Catholic rite. It’s not meant to call you a liar.
bookmark
Great story and great news, mr. O’malley. Yet this Lutheran must also echo the eloquent comments of mr. Teppe.
The Lord’s Supper is the draw that keeps me going to church even when my weak flesh protests. The true body and blood of my savior is the gift served to me every week, which cannot be found elsewhere, and which demons correctly assess as their greatest threat. Our dead and risen Chist conquered all.
My favorite part of the liturgy is the Nunc Dimittus (song of Simeon) sung after communion: Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word . . . For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which Thou has prepared for all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel . . . Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost . . . As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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