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Pope Francis: The Devil Assails Christians with Vanity and Rage

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Veteran Member
“The devil has two strategies: the seduction of worldly promises, and when this fails, that of rage,”

The first ploy attempted by Satan to separate us from Christ will always be that of a “worldly spirit,” Francis said, where he offers “self-realization, careerism, and worldly success, as ways to cover up the cross of Jesus.”

“there is more, there is humiliation, there is rage. And when there is fury in the persecution of a Christian, the devil is present”

The devil knows no middle ground,” the pope said. “His pride is so great that he enjoys destroying with rage."

Pope Francis: The Devil Assails Christians with Vanity and Rage
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Frankly, since I'm on the lunatic left-wing fringe of Catholicism, I really don't believe in the "devil", as I tend to think that it may have been created to explain why some people act the way they do.

OTOH, neither do I believe that a "devil" cannot exist.

I'm so confused!:(
 

Maximus

the Confessor
“The devil has two strategies: the seduction of worldly promises, and when this fails, that of rage,”

The first ploy attempted by Satan to separate us from Christ will always be that of a “worldly spirit,” Francis said, where he offers “self-realization, careerism, and worldly success, as ways to cover up the cross of Jesus.”

“there is more, there is humiliation, there is rage. And when there is fury in the persecution of a Christian, the devil is present”

The devil knows no middle ground,” the pope said. “His pride is so great that he enjoys destroying with rage."

Pope Francis: The Devil Assails Christians with Vanity and Rage

The Pope is a very wise man. God bless him with long life.
 

Quiddity

UndertheInfluenceofGiants
Frankly, since I'm on the lunatic left-wing fringe of Catholicism, I really don't believe in the "devil", as I tend to think that it may have been created to explain why some people act the way they do.

OTOH, neither do I believe that a "devil" cannot exist.

I'm so confused!:(
Very real.

That would be possible if we didn't see distinctions in the Church's writings, but we do. This is very well documented.


Satan/demons do not often have to work directly on us. Our own fallen inclinations and remnants of bad habits often do the trick just fine.

CCC
391 Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes them fall into death out of envy.266 Scripture and the Church's Tradition see in this being a fallen angel, called "Satan" or the "devil".267 The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: "The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing."268

<snip>

395 The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God's reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature- to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that providence should permit diabolical activity, but "we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him."275
 

Quiddity

UndertheInfluenceofGiants
It's interesting that the CCC claims that "providence should permit diabolical activity" yet at the same time they claim that Adam was created perfect to the extent that there needed to be some super powerful person to cause him to sin.
Why then could God not create man with natural desires that could cause God's law to become weak through those desires?
If God's providence allows for diabolic activity then that would mean that God's providence could permit diabolical activity by the man He had created.... by the introduction of law..
Because allowing man and creating man is not the same.

That would mean man would be ordered to a certain way, which would make God the author of such.
 

Quiddity

UndertheInfluenceofGiants
The man could never had sinned unless there was something that was forbidden of him.
So, was God bad for making something forbidden of the man?

God made an Angel named Lucifer. Lucifer turned bad. Lucifer, being a powerful angel possess certain powers that include possessing animate things. Lucifer does so in a snake.

How is He the author of this?
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Very real.

That would be possible if we didn't see distinctions in the Church's writings, but we do. This is very well documented.


Satan/demons do not often have to work directly on us. Our own fallen inclinations and remnants of bad habits often do the trick just fine.

CCC
391 Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes them fall into death out of envy.266 Scripture and the Church's Tradition see in this being a fallen angel, called "Satan" or the "devil".267 The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: "The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing."268

<snip>

395 The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God's reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature- to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that providence should permit diabolical activity, but "we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him."275
I know the Church's teachings on that, but thanks for posting the Catechism anyway.

But with me, since I am a scientist, now retired, I will always question this and many other matters as well, but I have made a commitment to the Church that I told my priest as he allowed me to resume the sacraments almost 3 years ago. He even has enough faith in me to have had me resume RCIA teaching, which I am now doing again.
 

Quiddity

UndertheInfluenceofGiants
I know the Church's teachings on that, but thanks for posting the Catechism anyway.

But with me, since I am a scientist, now retired, I will always question this and many other matters as well, but I have made a commitment to the Church that I told my priest as he allowed me to resume the sacraments almost 3 years ago. He even has enough faith in me to have had me resume RCIA teaching, which I am now doing again.

Many Catholics struggle all the time......even Saints as you know.

I've struggled, retracted from public forms (this is important), wrestled with it, wrestled with it some more, pray, pray some more and than you make a choice.

I'm not saying something you don't already know...but you will come to a full stop where God isn't what you think He is. Everything we believe is a reflection of Him. No hell, no demons, etc. give you a different God and ultimately reflects how you see the world and interpret things.

I don't understand his decision.
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
I'm not saying something you don't already know...but you will come to a full stop where God isn't what you think He is. Everything we believe is a reflection of Him. No hell, no demons, etc. give you a different God and ultimately reflects how you see the world and interpret things.
I don't honestly think so, but that's at least partially due to the fact that I really don't subscribe to the concept of scriptural inerrancy.

OTOH, truth be told, even my concept of God is likely to be different than yours in some regards at least. Based on a lengthy set of experiences lasting over a three year period and the effects of the Holy Spirit, I definitely believe there is a Something that is involved with our universe/multiverse and, therefore us, but I don't feel qualified enough to know any details. I do believe in love and morality and faith, and I do believe that this "Something" must be behind this and likely the cause of this.

Therefore, Jesus' Two Commandments teaching us of the importance of love of God and love of neighbor strongly resonates with me, and all the rest are side-bars imo.

Just my take.

BTW, I just learned an hour ago that all masses in our archdiocese have been canceled until Holy Week-- disappointing but understandable imo.
 

Maximus

the Confessor
I don't honestly think so, but that's at least partially due to the fact that I really don't subscribe to the concept of scriptural inerrancy.

OTOH, truth be told, even my concept of God is likely to be different than yours in some regards at least. Based on a lengthy set of experiences lasting over a three year period and the effects of the Holy Spirit, I definitely believe there is a Something that is involved with our universe/multiverse and, therefore us, but I don't feel qualified enough to know any details. I do believe in love and morality and faith, and I do believe that this "Something" must be behind this and likely the cause of this.

Therefore, Jesus' Two Commandments teaching us of the importance of love of God and love of neighbor strongly resonates with me, and all the rest are side-bars imo.

Just my take.

BTW, I just learned an hour ago that all masses in our archdiocese have been canceled until Holy Week-- disappointing but understandable imo.


Your post here reminded me of a quote (unusual for a person in his position, in 6th century Constantinople) of Procopius:

"I am fully aware of the disputed points, but I shall by no means go into them. For I think it some kind of senseless foolishness to investigate what sort of thing the nature of God is. For I believe that mankind cannot understand human affairs accurately, much less those questions which bear on the nature of God"

The Religious Outlook of Procopius: A Critical Assessment of the Scholarship
 

Quiddity

UndertheInfluenceofGiants
I don't honestly think so, but that's at least partially due to the fact that I really don't subscribe to the concept of scriptural inerrancy.

OTOH, truth be told, even my concept of God is likely to be different than yours in some regards at least. Based on a lengthy set of experiences lasting over a three year period and the effects of the Holy Spirit, I definitely believe there is a Something that is involved with our universe/multiverse and, therefore us, but I don't feel qualified enough to know any details. I do believe in love and morality and faith, and I do believe that this "Something" must be behind this and likely the cause of this.

Therefore, Jesus' Two Commandments teaching us of the importance of love of God and love of neighbor strongly resonates with me, and all the rest are side-bars imo.

Just my take.

BTW, I just learned an hour ago that all masses in our archdiocese have been canceled until Holy Week-- disappointing but understandable imo.
In my short episodes of coming back here over the years, you get the sense of people you come across and I suspect you are a kind man that genuinely cares for others and you listen, truly listen. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I never reach such level of kindness myself. It is a gift.

A gift I don't possess. I struggle often and even after being catholic for so many years of asking questions, I realized how little I know. I can relate in this regard.

It wasn't until I truly let go that it changed for me. Letting go proved immensely difficult for me.

Wish you the best.
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Your post here reminded me of a quote (unusual for a person in his position, in 6th century Constantinople) of Procopius:

"I am fully aware of the disputed points, but I shall by no means go into them. For I think it some kind of senseless foolishness to investigate what sort of thing the nature of God is. For I believe that mankind cannot understand human affairs accurately, much less those questions which bear on the nature of God"

The Religious Outlook of Procopius: A Critical Assessment of the Scholarship
Thanks for this as I had not read that before.

Have a most Blessed Lord's Day
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
In my short episodes of coming back here over the years, you get the sense of people you come across and I suspect you are a kind man that genuinely cares for others and you listen, truly listen. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I never reach such level of kindness myself. It is a gift.

A gift I don't possess. I struggle often and even after being catholic for so many years of asking questions, I realized how little I know. I can relate in this regard.

It wasn't until I truly let go that it changed for me. Letting go proved immensely difficult for me.

Wish you the best.
I appreciate your compliment and your candor, and I pray that you, I, and others here continue to grow in faith and dedication.

Have a most Blessed Lord's Day.
 
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