Soon after Pope Francis explained how evolution is consistent with creationist ideas, he also warned people about the devil being real and urged them to fight him persistently with “God’s armor.” As millions of revelers across the world dressed up in scary outfits to observe Halloween on October 31, Francis used the occasion to tell believers how the Christian way of life is an ongoing battle against Satan.
“This generation, and many others, has been led to believe that the devil is a myth, a figure, an idea, the idea of evil. … But the devil exists and we must fight against him,” Francis told the faithful during mass on October 30 at St Martha guesthouse inside the walls of the Vatican.
Saying his reflections are based on Apostle Paul’s warning that Christians must wear the “full armor of God” if they wish to fight Satan’s temptations, Francis related life to a military endeavor, urging Christians against being distracted by fleeting temptations and passions.
“No spiritual life, no Christian life is possible without resisting temptations, without putting on God's armor which gives us strength and protects us. … The truth is God's armor,” he said.
In the meantime, Italian exorcist Reverend Aldo Buonaiuto said Halloween should be renamed “Holyween” and replaced with a celebration of Christian saints. According to the priest, this is necessary because too many people have misconstrued Halloween to be a mere carnival, when in fact it is an entire subterranean world based on the occult.
“For followers of the occult, October 31 is the satanic new year,” he said. “It's a time for attracting new converts. And it's also a time when exorcists have to work more.”
Buonaiuto believes, on Halloween, there is an imminent increase in cemetery desecrations, black magic rituals, thefts of sacred bones, demonic possessions as well as the revering of Satan. It is important to remember that he is the director of Pope John XXIII Community Association, which is a Catholic establishment responsible for fighting satanic cults and black magic sects. The organization is also involved in various training programs for exorcists.
Additionally, in recent times, religious experts have suggested that there has been a significant increase in the number of exorcisms taking place. Earlier this year, the Vatican recruited a group of 250 priests from across the world to perform the ancient ritual of casting out demons from possessed bodies. The Vatican’s head of exorcists also went on record to say he has exorcised as many as 70,000 demons up till now.
Christians describe exorcism as an eternal battle between good and evil, with both sides trying to acquire more souls on earth. Apparently, exorcisms ensure that demons do not succeed in possessing the living and transferring dark powers to them.
“Demons are fallen angels, evil spirits,” said Sister Madeline Grace. “The devil is using their physical powers in ways they never had before.”
Photo Credits: Comic Vine
