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I have a younger cousin whom I haven't seen
in years. I'm pretty certain she is not a
practicing Catholic, although she was raised
in the Church. Her husband recently died (he
also was Catholic) after a horrendous and
prolonged illness.
She has always been psychic and
claims she is going to a psychic healer for
help with her encounters with entities.
She also states the Blessed Virgin has come
to her. I want to counsel her not to go to
this healer because I believe
reestablishing her faith through the Church
would be better for her.
She accompanied me to Mass last Sunday (we
were at a family reunion) and said
she said it was very nice.
What can I do, other than to pray for
her?
She lives in another state and is obviously
not getting Catholic input for her problems.
Thank you for any help you can give me,
Rosetta
{
What can I do, other than pray, for my non-practicing Catholic cousin who claims she is psychic? }
Mike
replied:
Hi, Rosetta —
Thanks for the question.
You are in a tough situation.
If she is more open to a psychic healer for help instead of
the Church, there may not be much
you can do.
One of the toughest things a person
in your situation has to do is accept
a [family member's or friend's] free
will to do dumb things that over
time hurt themselves. It's their
free will, not yours.
Nevertheless, you should, in a charitable
manner, make her aware of what the
Church teaches in this area . . . (once). From the Catechism:
2115 God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility.
2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to unveil the future. (cf. Deuteronomy 18:10; Jeremiah 29:8) Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.
2117 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. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.
In these situations, it can be hard
to communicate a true concern for
her well-being, by telling her what
the Church teaches, while maintaining
cohesion with her, as well as other
family members.
This is especially true if she has
an animosity against the Church.
Nevertheless, it's important to remember:
If you can't communicate with
her, you can't help her, so strive not to burn any bridges of
communication.
Prayer is always helpful.
I suggest:
pray
be a good Catholic witness to
her
make sure she knows that you
are there for her if she needs
you, and
if possible, I would encourage
her to pray the Rosary; send her
one by getting a FREE
one online.
My answer can also
be applied
to similar situations where family
members are striving to get their
other family members back to:
Sunday Mass
the sacraments
etc.
It's tough, I know, because I've
been put in this situation. As long
as your family members know they
should be going to Sunday Mass due
to the third commandment, you can
have a clear conscience. You aren't
responsible for dumb decisions they
make; even if it effects your god
child. The
parents are the primary educators
of their children; not the god parents.
The god parents are there to pray
and assist the parents in the education
of the god child.
Hope this helps,
Mike
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