Ghosts?

[Philippe]

on a protestant website i was posting about not being garunteed salvation and someone asked me to post on the "ghost thread" it saidd

[quote]This came up in a halloween thread, but I want to go deeper. You know ghosts and goblins.

What is your favorite Biblical reference?
What is your theological stance?

I'm going to research before I answer, but you guys go ahead. [/quote]

help please

[StColette]

found this on a Catholic site:

What Are Ghosts?
-- from "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Heaven", by Dr. Peter Kreeft (Ignatius Press, 1990).

"Without our action or invitation, the dead often do appear to the living. There is enormous evidence of 'ghosts' in all cultures .... We can distinguish three kinds of ghosts, I believe. First, the most familiar kind: the sad ones, the wispy ones. They seem to be working out some unfinished earthly business, or suffering some purgatorial purification until released from their earthly business. These ghosts would seem to be the ones who just barely made it to Purgatory, who feel little or no joy yet and who need to learn many painful lessons about their past life on earth."

"Second, there are malicious and deceptive spirits - and since they are_deceptive, they hardly ever appear malicious. These are probably the ones who respond to conjurings at seances. They probably come from Hell. Even the chance_of that happening should be sufficient to terrify away all temptations to necromancy."

"Third, there are bright, happy spirits of dead friends and family, especially spouses, who appear unbidden, at God's will, not ours, with messages of hope and love. They seem to come from Heaven. Unlike the purgatorial ghosts who come back primarily for their own sakes, these bright spirits come back for the sake of us the living, to tell us all is well. They are aped by evil spirits who say the same, who speak 'peace, peace, when there is no peace'. But the deception works only one way: the fake can deceive by appearing genuine, but the genuine never deceives by appearing fake. Heavenly spirits always convince us that they are genuinely good. Even the bright spirits appear ghostlike to us because a ghost of any type is one whose substance does not belong in or come from this world. In Heaven these spirits are not ghosts but real, solid and substantial because they are at home there: One can't be a ghost in one's own country."

"That there are all three kinds of ghosts is enormously likely. Even taking into account our penchant to deceive and be deceived, our credulity and fakery, there remain so many trustworthy accounts of all three types of ghosts - trustworthy by every ordinary empirical and psychological standard - that only a dogmatic prejudice against them could prevent us from believing they exist. As Chesterton says, 'We believe an old apple woman when she says she ate an apple; but when she says she saw a ghost, we say 'But she's only an old apple woman.' A most undemocratic and unscientific prejudice."

-- from "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Heaven", by Dr. Peter Kreeft (Ignatius Press, 1990).

I'm still looking though.

[StColette]

Biblical passage

3 Now Samuel had died and, after being mourned by all Israel, was buried in his city, Ramah. Meanwhile Saul had driven mediums and fortune-tellers out of the land.
4 The Philistine levies advanced to Shunem and encamped. Saul, too, mustered all Israel; they camped on Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was dismayed and lost heart completely.
6 He therefore consulted the LORD; but the LORD gave no answer, whether in dreams or by the Urim or through prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, to whom I can go to seek counsel through her." His servants answered him, "There is a woman in Endor who is a medium."
8 So he disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and set out with two companions. They came to the woman by night, and Saul said to her, "Tell my fortune through a ghost; conjure up for me the one I ask you to."
9 But the woman answered him, "You are surely aware of what Saul has done, in driving the mediums and fortune-tellers out of the land. Why, then, are you laying snares for my life, to have me killed?"
10 But Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As the LORD lives, you shall incur no blame for this."
11 Then the woman asked him, "Whom do you want me to conjure up?" and he answered, "Samuel."
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she shrieked at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"
13 But the king said to her, "Have no fear. What do you see?" The woman answered Saul, "I see a preternatural being rising from the earth."
14 "What does he look like?" asked Saul. And she replied, "It is an old man who is rising, clothed in a mantle." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and so he bowed face to the ground in homage.
15 Samuel then said to Saul, "Why do you disturb me by conjuring me up?" Saul replied: "I am in great straits, for the Philistines are waging war against me and God has abandoned me. Since he no longer answers me through prophets or in dreams, I have called you to tell me what I should do."

[12] Human beings cannot communicate at will with the souls of the dead. God may, however, permit a departed soul to appear to the living and even to disclose things unknown to them. Saul's own prohibition of necromancy and divination (1 Sam 28:3) was in keeping with the consistent teaching of the Old Testament. If we are to credit the reality of the apparition to Saul, it was due, not to the summons of the witch, but to God's will; the woman merely furnished the occasion.

[MorphRC]

Animism: [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01526a.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01526a.htm[/url]

Has some stuff on ghosts.

[phatcatholic]

hey, good job everyone!

[phatcatholic]

colette.........where did u find this commentary on samuel? also, were u able to find anything else?

[StColette]

The footnotes to the Bible verses came from my NAB Bible, I had remembered reading about this Biblical passage not too long before Philippe asked the question I'm a heavy Bible reader so I remembered it right away.

The article from Dr. Peter Kreeft came from here [url="http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19980901/ARTICLES/GHOSTS.HTM"]http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC...CLES/GHOSTS.HTM[/url]

I haven't been able to find anything more, but I'll look around some while I'm on a break from class.

God Bless,
Jennie

Edited September 20, 2004 by StColette

[StColette]

Topic: Ghosts & Catholicism

Question:

The following question arose during a discussion at a faith study group of which I am a participant. I am hopeful you will be able to shed some light on the matter. The question: What exactly is the Church's teaching on the existence of ghosts? Firstly, do they exist? If so, what exactly are they? Disembodied souls that...??? My understanding is that they do not exist. A disembodied soul is either in Heaven, on it's way there (Purgatory) or that other place. I'm reminded of St. Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians 5 when he says that being away from the body is being at home with the Lord. Therefore, my gut feel is that it doesn't jive with Catholic theology to say that ghosts exist. I could very well be dead wrong is saying that but that is the very reason I'm sending you the question, to set me straight in my understanding of the topic.

Answer:

Your "gut feel" is quite right. According to the Council of Florence's Decree "Laetentur caeli" (6 July 1439), the souls of those who have been purified from all sin (either in this life or in Purgatory) are immediately (mox) received into heaven and enjoy the clear vision of the triune God (DS 1305), which makes them perfectly happy. As for the souls in Purgatory, the tradition of the Church affirms that they experience a "cleansing fire," which is meant to prepare them for entry into heaven (cf. CCC, par. 1031). The idea of disembodied spirits wandering about the earth--for the purpose of visiting their loved ones, of seeking worldly retribution for the injustices they suffered, etc.--is incompatible with the Christian faith, which affirms that God is the ultimate end of man, such that the faithful departed desire only to be united with him, + have no concern for earthly joys or worldly retribution.

Any paranormal phenomena which allegedly support the existence of "ghosts" should be treated with a healthly dose of scepticism by Christians (+ indeed, by any thinking person). It is not impossible that some of these incidents may be caused by evil spirits, the existence of which is affirmed by the Christian faith. Finally, it should be remembered that the Church condemns all forms of divination and spiritism (CCC, par. 2116-2117).

Father Pierre Ingram
August 21, 2001

[url="http://www.catholic-legate.com/qa/ghosts.html"]http://www.catholic-legate.com/qa/ghosts.html[/url]

[StColette]

[quote]By the time of the Jesuit theologians Francisco Suarez (1548-1617) and St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), it became popular among the laity to request prayers from the souls in purgatory. And by the time of the eighteenth century, St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) is teaching that the Church does not officially pray to them because it is not known if they hear us or not but a Catholic can piously believe that "God makes our prayers known to them."16 Thomas in this context had taught that since the blessed see the Word, he can give them ideas about what is going on in the world but those in purgatory do not see the Word "by which they are able to know what we think or say."17 So it follows that "we do not implore their assistance by prayer. . . ." [b]But, using Thomas's other principles, it is not contradictory for God to give infused ideas to souls in purgatory if he chooses just as it is possible for God to permit a soul in purgatory to appear before others on earth to entreat them for prayers and Masses to be said for them.18 [/b][/quote]

[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=1210"]http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=1210[/url]

[phatcatholic]

hmmm, interesting.......

[StColette]

Okay so what I've read so far is that yes God can allow a soul to return to earth for a certain reason, but this does not mean that every "ghost" or "spirit" we see is allowed there by God, as stated some of those "ghosts" or "spirits" could be evil. So just as we are skeptical and careful with Apparitions so must we becareful with ghosts.

Does this make sense ? lol

God Bless,
Jennie

[phatcatholic]

[quote name='StColette' date='Sep 20 2004, 03:15 PM'] Okay so what I've read so far is that yes God can allow a soul to return to earth for a certain reason, but this does not mean that every "ghost" or "spirit" we see is allowed there by God, as stated some of those "ghosts" or "spirits" could be evil. So just as we are skeptical and careful with Apparitions so must we becareful with ghosts.

Does this make sense ? lol

God Bless,
Jennie [/quote]
yea, that is what i have gathered from this information as well.

thanks!

[StColette]

Yay

lol I was making sure I understood what it was saying correctly lol

and yw

[Theologian in Training]

You can also check out the Q&A board where I posted an excellent article about the "7 Kinds of Ghosts."

God Bless

[phatcatholic]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Sep 22 2004, 11:54 AM'] You can also check out the Q&A board where I posted an excellent article about the "7 Kinds of Ghosts."

God Bless [/quote]
awesome! thanks dude

here's the article he was talkin about:
--http://www.saint-mike.org/library/brojp/7ghosts.asp


[b][u]Seven Kinds of Ghosts[/u][/b]

by Bro. John-Paul Ignatius, Legion of St. Michael
© 2001 Order of the Legion of St. Michael


[b]I. Floating in Time and Space [/b]

If we were to get into a time machine with this computer and a power source and go back 1000 years, we would likely be accused of witchcraft. To the people 1000 years ago this computer machine would have been considered impossible. Its abilities would be considered the power of the devil. To them, this computer is supernatural. To us it is just another machine.

Unless we are to consider ourselves utterly uneducated and primally brutal, we must admit that what we condsider to be supernatural today may to future generations be as natural as home made pie.

Physics has given us some clues into the nature of alledged ghosts and their origin. We suspect from Physics research that it is possible for beings to be in a plane of existance different from our own which may give us a ghostly image when those two planes open to each other in some way. Through this research we may eventually come to understand how angels, (and ghosts) are able to do what they do. Also through this research we may find some kinds of Ghosts that are not Ghosts at all in the way we normally think of them, but an event of time/space distortions or other quantum phenomena.

[b]II. What the Bible Says about Ghosts [/b]

[b]A. Seeking out Ghosts [/b]

We will leave the speculative physics for another time. Now let us discuss the experience of ghosts in this plane of existance. We begin this discussion with an examination of some of the Scripture verses that give us clues on this subject.

Scripture does not have much to say about this and certainly God has made it clear that this is an area we are not to seek out

*Lev. 19:31 tells us to not turn to mediums or to seek out spiritists

*Lev. 20:6, 27 equates the seeking out of mediums with prostitution (doing so is an act of infidelity to God that is not just adultery, but involves a prurient interest in the occult things equating it with prostitution -- a medium also is "hired" which is also an image of prostitution).

*Deut. 18:10-11 Gives a whole list of prohibitions involving the occult and spirit world.

Whatever Ghosts are or are not, it is clear that we are not to seek them out in any way.

[b]B. What do We Know About Ghosts?[/b]

[b]1. Composition of Ghosts [/b]

*What are ghosts composed of? Well, we have a little hint of that in Luke 24:39 where the Resurrected Jesus is mistaken for a ghost. Jesus says "a ghost does not have flesh and bones".

Thus we can know that whatever ghosts are, they are spiritual beings without flesh and bones.

[b]2. Ghostly Vistiations during Sleep [/b]

*Is there an example of a ghostly visitation during sleep? Job 4:15 "A spirit glided by my face and the hair on my body stood on end"

This "spirit" was most probably an angel, but it does give us a clue of the human experience of meeting a spiritual entity and that such entities can and do come to us in that vulnerable time of twilight and dreams. This account is very close to the common experience many have of which can be described in technical jargon as a cataleptic somnambulism with a sensed or visual phantasmic perception.

Also in 2 Maccabees 15:12-16 This passage is about a dream (vision) of the Jewish leader Maccabeus. In this dream the ghosts of the high priest Onias and the great prophet Jeremiah appeared to him and encouraged him concerning the battle to come.

Maccabeus told this dream to his men which encourage his men greatly. Maccabeus and his men afterwards defeated blasphemous Nicanor and his men who thought to destroy the Jewish people.

[b]3. Human spirits in Ghostly Form?[/b]

*Can a human being's spirit be transported? We know from accounts of Padre Pio that bi-location is possible, but those are yet unverified -- But what about in Scripture. Well, there are a couple of verses that indicate this. One is in Rev. 21:10 (17:3) where John was "carried away in the spirit". But the most direct notion of this is in 2 Corinthians 1:22 "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know -- God knows."

From this we know it is possible for man's spirit to be apart from even his living body at God's discretion. In the occult world this is called Astral Projection.

*Can a person's body be transported spiritually? Acts 8:39, after Philip was miraculously running up along the chariot of the Ethiopian, and after Philip baptized him, Philip then disappeared. "When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again..."

This episode appears to be a bodily transport in the spirit, but I suppose it could also be a corporeal bi-location too. Who knows?

[b]4. Other examples of ghostly visitations [/b]

*1 Samuel 28 The Witch of Endor. In this story Saul goes to a medium asking her to contact the dead Samuel. She apparently succeeds and Saul talks with Samuel and Samuel prophecies. The Scripture specifically states that "Samuel said". There is no indication at all that this was a demonic imposter.

*Sirach 46:20. Again Samuel prophecies from the grave.

*The Transfiguration Matt 17:2 Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus to Peter, James, and John

*The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31 In verse 25 Abraham says that there is a great chasm between him and the Rich Man that cannot be crossed. This is not talking about a chasm between the earth and hell; it is a chasm between Abraham's bosom (which, in principle can be likened to heaven), and that of hell. Those in hell cannot come to the place of the saved, and the saved cannot reach down with compassion to those who are lost. It is in the next request from the Rich Man that we have a possible clue. The Rich Man wants Lazarus to go to his brothers to warn them of hell. Abraham says that there is no point in doing so. v.31 "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead".

This passage implies the possibility of at least Lazarus being able to go to the living (it implies the Rich Man in hell cannot), but Abraham refuses the request not because it is impossible to do so, but because there is no point in doing so.

[b]C. Conclusion *So what do we have?[/b]

1) We know that ghosts do not have flesh and bones. (Luke 24:39)

2) We know that the dead can communicate with the living. (1 Sam 28; Sirach 46:20)

3) We know that at least in some context allowed by God, the dead can be conjured in some fashion. (1 Sam 28)

4) We know that it is possible for the dead to appear on the earth (Matt 72; 1 Sam 28)

5) We know that is may be possible for the dead to not only appear on the earth, but appear to people and talk with them (Luke 16:27-31; 1 Sam 28)

6) We know that it is possible for the living to bi-locate (Rev. 17:3; 21:10; 2 Cor 12:2)

7) We know that it is possible for spirits to communicate in dreams and the person to have a bodily reaction to the visitation (Job 415)

[b]III. Comments from Peter Kreeft [/b]

Now, let's take a look at what Peter Kreeft says about this. He wrote at least two books that mention this subject, "Angels (and demons) What Do we Know About Them?" and "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven". His comments stem from his study of Thomas Aquinas, Philosophy, and other Catholic saints and observers on this subject.

Kreeft makes mention that many very reputable people, such as C.S. Lewis, have reported seeing a "ghost" of their wives. There are many instances from reputatable sources of experiences that do not have ANY flavor of the demonic.

Based upon these anecdotal accounts Kreeft and others talk about identifying three kinds of ghosts. I would add a fourth and a fifth category (from Kreeft's material that he talks about but doesn't categorized) and a sixth and seventh type from my own thoughts and observations.

[b]IV. Seven Kinds of Ghosts [/b]

[b]A. GHOSTS OF THE FIRST KIND:[/b] The first kind Kreeft calls the "sad ones" or "wispy ones". These Ghosts seem to be working out some unfinished business of some sort, or suffering some purgatorial purification.

He says that these Ghosts would seem to be the ones who just barely made it into Purgatory, who feel little or no joy yet and who need to learn many painful lessons about their past lives on earth. God, in his compassion, may realize that to allow the person to get through Purgatory that it may be useful for them to learn some lessons on this earth.

[b]B. GHOSTS OF THE SECOND KIND:[/b] A Second kind may be some of these purgatorial ghosts who might have been so material minded in their earthly life that they can't detach themselves from these Material places or possessions. God may allow them to remain attached as they work out their need to "let go".

[b]C. GHOSTS OF THE THIRD KIND:[/b] A third type might be those who don't yet realize their dead. Again, in God's compassion, I can see why He would allow a spirit to linger for a short while so that they may realize their fate before leaving this world completely. In both the "second kind" and "third kind" God could, of course, force the person to let go of the material place or to come on through the "gate" and not linger. But a compassionate Father can also allow for a "little" tolerance to help the person to adjust.

[b]D. GHOSTS OF A FOURTH KIND:[/b] A Fourth type are the malicious and deceptive spirits. These are the one who probably appear at seances and the like and are most likely from hell. And most likely are demons disguised as dead loved ones and not the human persons themselves.

[b]E. GHOSTS OF A FIFTH KIND:[/b] A Fifth type are the bright, happy spirits of dead friends and family who appear unbidden at God's will, not ours, with messages of hope and love. They seem to come from heaven. These type may come to a loved one to say goodbye or to comfort after a funeral for example. Or these type may come to a relative or friend in "great" need. There are very trustworthy empirical and psychological evidence for these phenomena.

[b]F. GHOSTS OF A SIXTH KIND:[/b] A sixth type might be a form of time/space instant replay. We know from Einstein's work and other scientists that it may indeed be possible for events of the past to be in the present in a sort of time/space warp. This gets into some very complicated notions, but the idea is that some "ghosts" are not ghosts at all but are an instant replay of a past event.

In such cases what one sees is the ghost performing a certain scene repetively. For example, a ghost of this type may go from the top of the stairs to the bottom and then disappear. This may happen over and over again. It never changes. The Ghost never interacts with anyone, and we cannot interact with it. It never changes facial expression nor does it ever acknowledge anything around it. Thus phenomenon is exactly like an instant reply on T.V. As some sort of time/space loop or instant replay, this Ghost is NOT a demon, or soul, or spirit. It is a phemomenon that given the right circumstances can probably be explained by physics. This type is NOT supernatural.

[b]G. GHOSTS OF THE SEVENTH KIND:[/b] Some "apparent" ghostly apparitions or effects may be the bi-location of the living...the Astral projections of living people. This can be postulated from scriptural evidence (Rev. 17:3; 21:10; and 2 Cor 12:2), and from verified reports of bi-location of people like Padre Pio.

[b]V. What should our demeanor be toward "any" ghostly event?[/b]

In a one liner the answer to that questoin is skepticism, caution, and testing.

Because Satan can so easily fool our senses, we should look upon all ghostly events with great skepticism as to the idea of whether they come from God.

First, we must recognize the GREAT possibility that we are imagining things. The human mind has great imagination capacity and we can psyche ourselves into seeing things that are not there or to misinterpret optical illusions.

Second, we must always presume that we may be tricked by Satan and what we see is a demon in disguise or Satan taking advantage of our overactive imaginations or taking advantage of optical illusions.

Third, we must be aware that it is possible for the event to be ordained by God.

[b]VI. How can we tell the difference between a a Godly Apparition and one not of God?[/b]

1) a Godly apparition will NEVER contradict ANY Public Revelation. (so we need to be well versed in Public Revelation)

2) a Godly apparition will NEVER lead you to disobey your elders, superiors, or the Church. (so we need to be aware of Church teaching and the like)

3) Although meeting a Spirit is scary, a Godly apparition will lead you to peace.

4) A Godly spirit will ALWAYS and without hesitation affirm the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Thus we need to test the spirit with the formula of 1 John 4:1-3

[b]VII. Some Common Questions and Answers [/b]

1) In reference to the Ghosts of the Second Kind, how can we even begin to think that God would let someone stay on to work out their need to "let go"?

[b]ANSWER[/b] To a degree, purgatory may serve this function in some cases. Letting go can even be an obstacle to Heaven completely

"Jesus looked at him [now sad] and said, 'How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.' Those who heard this said, 'Then who can be saved?' And he said, 'What is impossible for human beings is possible for God.'" (Luke 18:24-27)

I don't think allowing adjustment time would be a scripturally unfounded statement.

2) Referring to the Third and Sixth kind of Ghosts, how can we even begin to think that God would allow someone to not realize they're dead, or allow for a "little" tolerance to help the person to adjust, or create a type that might be a form of time/space instant replay????

[b]ANSWER[/b] "Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance? Have the gates of death been shown to you, or have you seen the gates of darkness? Which is the way to the dwelling place of light, and where is the abode of darkness, that you may take them to their boundaries and set them on their homeward paths?" Job 382,17,19

"... For stern as death is love, relentless as the nether world is devotion, its flames are a blazing fire." Cf. Song of Songs 8:6

"... for nothing will be impossible for God." Luke 1:37

I do believe such a conjecture IS possible for God, the question is whether it is likely? A key to that would be whether it would be loving, for God is love (1 John 4:7).

Let us look into Church traditions of the past for precedents.

"'A very probable opinion,' says St. Thomas [Aquinas], 'and one which, moreover, corresponds with the words of the saints in particular revelation is, that Purgatory has a double place for expiation. The first will be destined for the generality of souls, and is situated below, near to Hell; the second will be for particular cases, and it is from thence that so many apparitions occur.'

"The holy Doctor admits, then, like so many others who share his opinions, that sometimes Divine Justice assigns a special place for purification to certain souls, and even permits them to appear either to instruct the living or to procure for the departed the suffrages of which they stand in need; sometimes also for other motives worthy of wisdom and mercy of God.

"Such is the general view concerning the location of Purgatory. Since we are not writing a controversial treatise, we add neither proofs nor refutations; these can be seen in authors such as Suarez and Bellarmin." (Fr. F.X. Shouppe, S.J., "Purgatory Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints," 1893)

3) But Scripture says that if you are not alive on earth, then you are in the presense of God.

[b]ANSWER[/b] Most definitely; but what does that mean?

Case in Point We know that Souls in Hell are in the "presence" of God because God is everywhere. Those in Hell, however, do not "perceive" God's presence because they have chosen to blind themselves to the light of God. The nature of Hell is to exist without perception of God's presence (thus without Love and all good things) ... to be "free" from God, yet those in Hell are still in the presence of an omnipresent God.

Similarly, souls in Purgatory only have a partial awareness of God's presence. The veil of mortality has not yet passed away, yet they are still in God's presence.

"The first point about eternal life is that man is united with God. For God himself is the reward and end of all our labors I am your protector and your supreme reward. This union consists in seeing perfectly At present we are looking at a confused reflection in a mirror, but then we shall see face to face." (St. Thomas Aquinas, "Credo in Deum")

The point is that even when we are in the presence of God it does not mean that our perception of Him is clear. We also know that it is possible to be in the presence of God while on the earth. The angels can be standing right next to us yet they are also in the constant presence of God - the beatific vision. With God all is possible according to His will.

4) The Bible doesn't deliniate how, why or if God places spirits on the earth other then visits by Gabriel, the Archangel Michael, or Elija and Moses.

[b]ANSWER[/b] Let me use another example from tradition that responds to "if God places spirits on the earth anywhere." I qualify this example to say that it does not necessarily prove anything regarding "hauntings," but is one of many documented examples of ghostly apparitions.

"We read the following in the Life of Father Nicholas Zucchi, written by Fr. Daniel Bartoli, of the Company of Jesus ...

"... a fortnight afterwards, this young man died, carried away by a rapid death, that left him little time to put the affairs of his conscience in order, so that there was everything to fear for his salvation.

"One evening, whilst the three novices were engaged together in holy conversation, the youngest was called away to the parlour. There she found a man wrapped in a heavy cloak, and with measured steps pacing the room.

'Sir,' she said, 'who are you? and why did you send for me?' The stranger, without answering, drew near and threw aside the mysterious mantle which covered him. The Religious than recognized the unfortunate deceased, and saw with horror that he was entirely surrounded by chains of fire that clasped his neck, wrists, knees, and ankles. 'Pray for me!' he cried, and disappeared." (Fr. F.X. Shouppe, S.J., "Purgatory Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints," 1893)

On an anecdotal side note, Padre Pio's first visit from a deceased human's soul was that of a monk who had died 300 years before in the cell Padre used at the time. The monk had been guilty of some infraction of his monkly duties, and so God sentenced him to remain in his cell until a monk would offer up some prayers and sacrifices on his behalf. I forget what laxity the monk had been guilty of, but I found it interesting that his "sentence" very much fit the "crime."