On a recent trip to a big name bookstore, while Christmas shopping, I saw in the “Teen Vampire Romance” section there were vampire kits, in the “Wizardology” section there were tarot cards and wizard kits and on a “Family Game Table” were the Oujia boards. Nothing says “happy birthday Jesus” like a bunch of occult items, right?
Of all of this nonsense the Ouija boards were by far the most dangerous items. While a wizard kit may encourage a child to explore the occult and make them familiar with the lingo, a Ouija board actually has the power to introduce your child to the devil himself.
I do not exaggerate. I realize it sounds overly dramatic and smacks of unnecessary panic but I assure you that myself and the few Catholics out there who are trying to educate people about the use of these and other occult items have done the research and know how damaging these things can be. They can rob your children, quite easily, of their chance at eternal salvation.
A Ouija board is a flat board marked with letters, numbers, and pagan-like symbols used to communicate with spirits. It uses a small triangular piece of wood called a planchette to spell out a message communicated by the “spirit.” The premise is that those seated around the board will receive messages that will connect them to people who have died and enlighten them as to the afterlife. There is also the belief that the spirit you summon can help you with obtaining information.
It’s complete idiocy but an idiocy that the devil has taken advantage of. To call upon a spirit is to invite demons to prey upon you and there is no way anyone, particularly a teenager, is going to be able to control them.
“All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others – even if this were for the sake of restoring their health – are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion.” CCC 2117
The Church takes these things very seriously. Many good Catholics will “play” with the board claiming that it is a harmless toy and that they don’t believe in it, but disbelief in the spirits that use the board does not mean that they don’t exist. How many people do not believe in God yet we know that He exists? These demons prey on people’s ignorance and can use the board to easily possess people. Fr. Thomas Euteneurer, exorcist and author of Exorcism and the Church Militant, has said many times and in many interviews that as many as ninety percent of the cases of possession he encounters began with a Ouija board. This makes the pink one available on Amazon marketed to six-year old girls one of the scariest things you could possibly have available to children.
In the Bible, the Lord often condemns any and all occult practices, including divination, which is the purpose of the Ouija board. A good summary of the teachings of Christ is to be found in Deuteronomy:
“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord” (Deut. 18:10–12, NIV).
Occult demons, those that are summoned by a person’s participation in occult practices are, according to Fr. Euteneuer, the most difficult to expel since the devil “disguises himself as an angel of light” and deceives the afflicted into thinking he is there for their good.
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14, NAB).
It is imperative that those in possession of these boards burn them and seek help through confession and penance. Having the home blessed would also help to dispel any lingering evil that may exist.
Evil exists in the world. It is real and present in the form of the devil and it seeks to ruin the Kingdom of God. We know that the gates of heaven shall prevail but rather than assist the devil in his fruitless quest by handing over our children in the form of a game purchased for less than $20, why not prepare them for the possibility of encountering these items in their lives by teaching them of the harm it can and surely will do to them. Then buy them a game of UNO. It’s fun and totally harmless.
2011 Mary Ellen Barrett
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