I was going to try and comment a little on C.S. Lewis's "A Grief Observed" but it is too much of a masterpiece for me to have much confidence in doing it justice. Nonetheless, I will try.
"No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear" is the first line in the book, and is rather telling of the gravity of Lewis's grief. I myself have only really encountered grief once in my life and while it wasn't a relative so nearly close as one's better half, it took me a good time to get over it. Though it could be argued that one is never completely over grief. There are certain things that might still set me off from time to time but for the most part they are simple memories. A book, per say, of his when encountered might cause me to have a strange sensation. It is something that while like fear is simply not fear. "The same fluttering of the stomach, the same restlessness, the same yawning" as Lewis puts it. I hold the memory in my mind as a glass ball and while it passes with a butterfly's shadow, the emotions linger sticky-sweet. I almost choke on the memory, but I know in time it will pass... but how much time? I try to seek comfort in that while I am still trying to stay on the straight and narrow path, I must hold the belief that he is with God. "In one sense that is most certain. She is, like God, incomprehensible and unimaginable." I cannot imagine the status of my relative, how does one "live" as a spirit? Does he await the resurrection of the dead or is time so meaningless where he is that it is as though we are already all there and Christ has come home? I don't know but then another thought bubble arises ".. was a splendid thing; a soul straight, bright, and tempered like a sword. But not a perfected saint. ... I know there are not only tears to be dried but stains to be scoured. The sword will be made even brighter."
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Demons 悪魔
In talking of the enemy in a direct manner it only seems fit to begin in prayer:
Saint Michael the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell satan and all the evil spirits. Amen
The prayer that you have just read was provided in 1886 by Pope Leo XIII following a devastating vision that he saw. Though details of the vision are few, Leo was shown events surrounding a period of time when the devil was to be given free reign on the world. Before that period, it was as though the devil was being held back by chains. At the appropriate time, as a means of testing the faith of the true believers (not unlike the story of Job) the devil was to be unshackled. What exactly flashed before his eyes shook the Pope so badly he sought out paper and immediately wrote the above prayer. I, personally, think that we very likely are living with an unshackled devil.
That however is not my main topic. The topic is basically the paranormal from a catholic perspective. Many of us have encountered friends who seem to have these "powers" if you will. I, myself, would at one time readily professed a certain capability in this realm as well as having a friend with a certain ability for "healing." What bothers me is; How then are we to ascertain what is of God and what is of the evil one?
Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the head exorcist for Rome writes that "Satan has the authority to give certain powers to his faithful." (Amorth38) And he goes on to further state some of these "powers" and how hard it is to differentiate their origins. Just as Moses "magic" performed before Pharaoh was often able to be replicated by Pharaoh's magicians, the actual "power"/"magic" or whatever word you want to assign to that sort of thing does not directly identify its origins.
There is a great example that is on page 40 in Fr. Gabriele Amorth's An exorcist tells his story on this matter. The parts that are italicized are notes that were added by Fr. Amorth to the newspaper article he was quoting:
"A few years ago, I experienced the game of the glass, without realizing that it was a form of spiritism. The messages that I received during this game spoke of peace and brotherhood (notice how the devil can conceal himself under the appearance of good deeds). Sometime later, while I was in Lourdes practicing my ministry, I was given strange faculties (this is also noteworthy: there are no places, no matter how sacred, where the devil cannot enter).
Parapsychology defines the faculties that I was given as extrasensorial, that is, clairvoyance, mind reading, medical diagnosing, reading of hearts and lives of people both living and dead, and other powers. A few months later I received another faculty: the ability to take away pain merely by the imposition of hands. I could eliminate or alleviate any sort of suffering; could this be "prana therapy"?
With all these powers, I had no difficulty contacting people, but after our meetings, they would walk away, shocked at my conversation and profoundly disturbed because I could see in their soul, and condemning the sins that they committed. However, as I was reading God's word, I realized that nothing had changed in my life. I continued to be quick to anger, slow in pardoning, easily resentful, and given to take offense at nothing. I was afraid to pick up my cross, I was afraid of the future and of death.
After a long journey in search of answers and many painful experiences, Jesus directed me to the renewal movement. There, I found brothers who prayed over me, and we realized that what happened to me was of diabolical origin, and not divine. I recognized and confessed my past sins, I rejected every form of the occult. These powers came to an end and God forgave me; for this, I thank him. "
Saint Michael the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell satan and all the evil spirits. Amen
The prayer that you have just read was provided in 1886 by Pope Leo XIII following a devastating vision that he saw. Though details of the vision are few, Leo was shown events surrounding a period of time when the devil was to be given free reign on the world. Before that period, it was as though the devil was being held back by chains. At the appropriate time, as a means of testing the faith of the true believers (not unlike the story of Job) the devil was to be unshackled. What exactly flashed before his eyes shook the Pope so badly he sought out paper and immediately wrote the above prayer. I, personally, think that we very likely are living with an unshackled devil.
That however is not my main topic. The topic is basically the paranormal from a catholic perspective. Many of us have encountered friends who seem to have these "powers" if you will. I, myself, would at one time readily professed a certain capability in this realm as well as having a friend with a certain ability for "healing." What bothers me is; How then are we to ascertain what is of God and what is of the evil one?
Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the head exorcist for Rome writes that "Satan has the authority to give certain powers to his faithful." (Amorth38) And he goes on to further state some of these "powers" and how hard it is to differentiate their origins. Just as Moses "magic" performed before Pharaoh was often able to be replicated by Pharaoh's magicians, the actual "power"/"magic" or whatever word you want to assign to that sort of thing does not directly identify its origins.
There is a great example that is on page 40 in Fr. Gabriele Amorth's An exorcist tells his story on this matter. The parts that are italicized are notes that were added by Fr. Amorth to the newspaper article he was quoting:
"A few years ago, I experienced the game of the glass, without realizing that it was a form of spiritism. The messages that I received during this game spoke of peace and brotherhood (notice how the devil can conceal himself under the appearance of good deeds). Sometime later, while I was in Lourdes practicing my ministry, I was given strange faculties (this is also noteworthy: there are no places, no matter how sacred, where the devil cannot enter).
Parapsychology defines the faculties that I was given as extrasensorial, that is, clairvoyance, mind reading, medical diagnosing, reading of hearts and lives of people both living and dead, and other powers. A few months later I received another faculty: the ability to take away pain merely by the imposition of hands. I could eliminate or alleviate any sort of suffering; could this be "prana therapy"?
With all these powers, I had no difficulty contacting people, but after our meetings, they would walk away, shocked at my conversation and profoundly disturbed because I could see in their soul, and condemning the sins that they committed. However, as I was reading God's word, I realized that nothing had changed in my life. I continued to be quick to anger, slow in pardoning, easily resentful, and given to take offense at nothing. I was afraid to pick up my cross, I was afraid of the future and of death.
After a long journey in search of answers and many painful experiences, Jesus directed me to the renewal movement. There, I found brothers who prayed over me, and we realized that what happened to me was of diabolical origin, and not divine. I recognized and confessed my past sins, I rejected every form of the occult. These powers came to an end and God forgave me; for this, I thank him. "
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Prayer 祈り
Sorry, this is not the usual fare.
I will digress to talk only of prayer
For many friends and relations and foes
what is needed just the Almighty knows.
If you were at once to attempt to list
everyone you hope that God would assist.
Spending all morning, evening and nighttime
would bring no end ever in our lifetime.
Asking for health, wealth and various things
is not just for what the mockingbird sings.
For where our treasure is so too our heart.
God wants our all, every little last part.
Much to our behest only God knows best
and seemingly leaves us often unblessed.
In times of true darkness, trust in the Lord
and He will place you square back on board
Let not this chalice pass, Thy will, Thy will
that only Your will I aim to fulfill.
Not just me Lord but that within Your plan
All have their role, every child, woman, man
I find it is best to truly unite
with any and all to pray for your plight
So to all of you I make my request
to please pray for these that they might be blessed:
A father who's healing from surgery
A friend suffering from self-injury
For these intentions and for many more
of Thee O Lord we do seek to implore
Amen
I will digress to talk only of prayer
For many friends and relations and foes
what is needed just the Almighty knows.
If you were at once to attempt to list
everyone you hope that God would assist.
Spending all morning, evening and nighttime
would bring no end ever in our lifetime.
Asking for health, wealth and various things
is not just for what the mockingbird sings.
For where our treasure is so too our heart.
God wants our all, every little last part.
Much to our behest only God knows best
and seemingly leaves us often unblessed.
In times of true darkness, trust in the Lord
and He will place you square back on board
Let not this chalice pass, Thy will, Thy will
that only Your will I aim to fulfill.
Not just me Lord but that within Your plan
All have their role, every child, woman, man
I find it is best to truly unite
with any and all to pray for your plight
So to all of you I make my request
to please pray for these that they might be blessed:
A father who's healing from surgery
A friend suffering from self-injury
For these intentions and for many more
of Thee O Lord we do seek to implore
Amen
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Mortal Sin 死に至る罪
”死に至らない罪を犯している兄弟を見たら、その人のために神にお願いなさい。 そうすれば、神はその人に命をお与えになります。これは、死に至らない罪を犯している人々の場合です。死に至る罪もあります。これについては、神に願うようにとは言いません。
不義はすべて罪です。しかし、死に至らない罪もあります。”（ヨハネの手紙一 ５：１６－１７）
"If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal." (1 John 5:16-17)
I kind of had an epiphany with these verses. I was trying to understand purgatory because, while it was obvious to me that there's a need for the expiation of the temporal effects of sins, why there might be a need to forgive sins after death was beyond me. This is the answer: that we may still be alive in Christ but wounded. After all, there are sins that don't kill or rather are not mortal. So, someone could potentially die while still in a non-fatal state of sin. A soul in such a damaged state would be much like a dirty beggar who is entering into the Palace of Heaven. "But sir, might I not be cleansed first?" is all I can imagine being said by such a person. Certainly God "who makes all things new" would renew such a person. That period of renewal is what Catholics call Purgatory. As I may have mentioned before, the length of time one is in purgatory is unknown but it is a temporary state.
”神を愛するとは、神の掟を守ることです。神の掟は難しいものではありません。”（ヨハネの手紙一 ５：３）
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3)
Read 1 John 5 if you ever get the chance, it's just beautiful. We all know that in order to love God we have to keep His commands, but what does this verse mean by His commandments are not burdensome? I am reminded of another verse:"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."(Matthew 11:30) I like to think this is essentially God speaking of "freedom under the law." That is to say that if you truly love God you will be keeping his commands and because keeping his command will be so natural for you, you will find no weight in that burden.
After all, just as someone who truly desires to love God will find no burden in his commandments, so too someone who wants to play a game of chess will find no burden in the rules of the game.
不義はすべて罪です。しかし、死に至らない罪もあります。”（ヨハネの手紙一 ５：１６－１７）
"If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal." (1 John 5:16-17)
I kind of had an epiphany with these verses. I was trying to understand purgatory because, while it was obvious to me that there's a need for the expiation of the temporal effects of sins, why there might be a need to forgive sins after death was beyond me. This is the answer: that we may still be alive in Christ but wounded. After all, there are sins that don't kill or rather are not mortal. So, someone could potentially die while still in a non-fatal state of sin. A soul in such a damaged state would be much like a dirty beggar who is entering into the Palace of Heaven. "But sir, might I not be cleansed first?" is all I can imagine being said by such a person. Certainly God "who makes all things new" would renew such a person. That period of renewal is what Catholics call Purgatory. As I may have mentioned before, the length of time one is in purgatory is unknown but it is a temporary state.
”神を愛するとは、神の掟を守ることです。神の掟は難しいものではありません。”（ヨハネの手紙一 ５：３）
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3)
Read 1 John 5 if you ever get the chance, it's just beautiful. We all know that in order to love God we have to keep His commands, but what does this verse mean by His commandments are not burdensome? I am reminded of another verse:"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."(Matthew 11:30) I like to think this is essentially God speaking of "freedom under the law." That is to say that if you truly love God you will be keeping his commands and because keeping his command will be so natural for you, you will find no weight in that burden.
After all, just as someone who truly desires to love God will find no burden in his commandments, so too someone who wants to play a game of chess will find no burden in the rules of the game.
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