Cursed Objects

[cathqat]

This is a topic that gets debated among my friends from time to time, but it never gets resolved because no one has yet located a source that everyone trusts (e.g. a magisterial document, an argument from a Church Father or Doctor, etc.).

On one side, some maintain that certain objects can be bespelled or cursed by people will evil intentions. Demons, they say, then use these objects to harm other people, spiritually or physically.

For example, imagine some Satan worshipper curses a table lamp, then sells the lamp to some unsuspecting person at a flea market. The folks on this side of the debate argue that demons will work through the cursed lamp to try to harm the new owner, and that as long as he owns it he will be under heavy spiritual attack that could easily lead to oppression or even possession. The only way to protect himself would be to get rid of the lamp.

Please note that we're not talking about something like a ouija board. Everyone in this debate agrees that if a person [i]opens[/i] himself to foreign spirits through attempting occult practices puts himself in jeopardy. We're talking about objects that are not being used for occult purposes. The new table lamp owner is only attempting to light his living room in this scenario, or to enjoy a pretty object. He's not even aware of what previous owners have done with/to it.

On the other side of the debate, some believe this gives the devils too much credit. The claims above, they maintain, are tantamount to suggesting that Satan and his minions can create their own "evil sacraments"--as effective for bringing evil into a person's life as God's sacraments are effective for good. Or perhaps even more effective, given that a certain disposition is needed to receive the benefit of the sacraments. After all, the Eucharist is the Eucharist whether you believe or not, but you cannot receive the benefit of the Sacrament without faith and love. But it would seem that, according to the first side of this debate, the cursed object is cursed whether you believe it or not AND you will receive harm regardless of your disposition.

There is also some debate over whether persons can be bespelled or cursed against their will.

Opinions are welcome, but I am more interested in [i]resources[/i]. Does anyone know of any relevant magisterial documents or something along those lines?

[cathqat]

Nothing? Not even an opinion or speculation one way or the other?

[catholic_apologetics]

According to the vatican's excorist hexed objects do indeed exist and can cause demonic influence. He relates stories of one person who suffered from massive headaches at night and they found a cursed object in his pillow. Once it was removed the headaches ended.

[Paddington]

This is scary. So...how does a person know if they are being affected by a cursed object? I've even heard that holy things like rosaries CAN BE possessed. Edited January 25, 2007 by Paddington

[cmotherofpirl]

I'd find it hard to believe anything blessed by a priest could be possessed.

[cathqat]

[quote name='catholic_apologetics' post='1175649' date='Jan 25 2007, 03:15 AM']According to the vatican's excorist hexed objects do indeed exist and can cause demonic influence.[/quote]
Can you please tell me where to find the documentation? Thanks!

[HeavenlyCalling]

I too find it difficult to believe that a blessed object, under the protetion of the Most High, could be possesed, if it had not been blessed, maybe. :sudder: this creepy talk makes me want to take a bath in Holy water. creepy.

[Aloysius]

I think he might just be referring to an un-blessed rosary. "holy things" probably just refers to things that look holy... but if a rosary has not been blessed one might imagine it could be cursed

I think blessings and/or minor exorcisms would do away with any curse on an object.

[Paddington]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1176067' date='Jan 25 2007, 08:34 PM']
I think he might just be referring to an un-blessed rosary.
[/quote]


I got it from a monk's blog about 5 years ago. He was responding to a question from somebody who flat-out asked if rosaries can be "possessed" or "cursed" or whatever it was. He said that it was possible. Maybe he meant only un-blessed rosaries. Either way, it's just a monk with a blog. And, then again, it's just somebody who named himself after a cartoon bear quoting a monk with a blog.

Hopefully somebody will post something to make this all clearer.

[philosophette]

The book by the Vatican Exorcist who mentioned that things could become "infested" as he put it, is called "An Exorcist Tells His Story" and "An Exorcist: More Stories".

[url="http://www.ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=302&SKU=ETHS-P&ReturnURL=search.aspx%3f%3fSID%3d1%26SearchCriteria%3dthe+exorcist"]Ignatius Press[/url] publishes them. I have read them both several times. They are an interesting and helpful read, but since Exorcism is a sacred art, every exorcist has a different style, other books on Exorcism may be more helpful.

I personally liked [url="http://www.amazon.com/Interview-Exorcist-Insiders-Possession-Deliverance/dp/1932645969"]"Interview with an Exorcist"[/url] more.

Edited January 26, 2007 by philosobrat

[Franimus]

I don't see why not.

[jeffpugh]

They may have their significant style, but they have to follow a rubric. I believe Fr Corapi had mentioned something about cursing before. He talked about his experiences on 'the other side' before he became a priest and he witnessed a cursing upon a mass amount of drugs before the dealer distributed them... There are definitely evil intentions trying to undermine the Church, but by no means can evil touch anything blessed because God's grace is infinite. Let's not make the mistake of putting the devil on the same level as God. By the way, Holy Water has miraculous effects, whether the person it is affiliated to believes or not (example, spraying some holy water on an atheist's belongings ). Just so you know.

[jeffpugh]

Oh, and if the table lamp was cursed, you would just have to have it blessed. Don't have to throw it out.

[Dismas]

[quote name='Sacred Music Man' post='1194303' date='Feb 13 2007, 10:02 PM']They may have their significant style, but they have to follow a rubric. I believe Fr Corapi had mentioned something about cursing before. He talked about his experiences on 'the other side' before he became a priest and he witnessed a cursing upon a mass amount of drugs before the dealer distributed them... There are definitely evil intentions trying to undermine the Church, but by no means can evil touch anything blessed because God's grace is infinite. Let's not make the mistake of putting the devil on the same level as God. By the way, Holy Water has miraculous effects, whether the person it is affiliated to believes or not (example, spraying some holy water on an atheist's belongings ). Just so you know.[/quote]
From what I understand, worshipers of Satan tend to defile or destroy holy things, not so much cursing them. Remember, much of their devotion is towards actively attacking the dignity of God as well as destroying their fellow man.

[jeffpugh]

Interesting how this hellish goal is to destroy everything around, even themselves. Quite ironic...