Q. I keep hearing about this new game, “Charlie Charlie,” that involves summoning a Mexican demon. Do you know anything about it? — F.A., Massachusetts.
A. The origin of the Charlie Charlie Challenge is unclear, but it has become very popular on social media. Reminiscent of a Ouija Board, the players draw two intersecting lines on a piece of paper, write the words “yes” and “no” on the opposite squares, place two pencils, one on top of the other, in the form of a cross, and then ask, “Charlie, Charlie, can we play?” Or “Charlie, Charlie, are you there?”
Players keep asking yes or no questions to see if the top pencil moves and gives them an answer. Sometimes the pencil does move, whether by demonic presence or not, and players open themselves up to the influence of evil spirits.
Is this just a harmless game, or can it be dangerous to one’s spiritual health? Do we want young people asking “Charlie” about important decisions, such as whom to date, where to work, what college to attend, or what moral choices to make? Shouldn’t answers to these questions be sought from parents, priests, or from God through prayer?
It is probably true that many players will not come under the spell of demons, but some might. It is always dangerous to attempt to contact the spirit world, since there are both good spirits (angels) and bad spirits (devils), and which one is more likely to respond to an impressionable young person, especially if that person does not believe in the existence of demons?
“The problem with opening yourself up to demonic activity,” said Fr. Stephen McCarthy of Philadelphia, “is that it opens a window of possibilities which is not easily closed.” He said that “there is no such thing as innocently playing with demons.”
Add to Fr. McCarthy’s warning the fact that demonic disturbances are rapidly increasing all over the world as more young people take part in occult activities and allow the Devil to exert influence over them, and “Charlie Charlie” ceases to look like harmless fun.
The Bible says that anyone who seeks to communicate with the spirit world “is an abomination to the Lord” (Deut. 18:12). And the Catechism of the Catholic Church is more explicit in rejecting such practices:
“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. Deut. 18:10; Jer 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” (n. 2116).
Parents and pastors should warn young people to stay away from occult activities like “Charlie Charlie” lest they put their souls in jeopardy. If they have already played the game, invite them to go to Confession and to ask the priest for a prayer of deliverance.
Q. In a recent article on Purgatory in The Wanderer, there was no mention of the Apostolic Pardon, which remits all temporal punishment due to sin. The soul goes straight to Heaven, not to Purgatory. Why wasn’t this mentioned? — M.W., via e-mail.
A. Because the focus of the article was not on how to avoid going to Purgatory, which is what the Apostolic Pardon does, but rather on the nature of Purgatory and how Catholics are to understand this doctrine. For more on the Apostolic Pardon, see the next reply.
Q. This week I was listening by radio to a good priest giving answers on a very well-known Catholic Q & A program. They were discussing the Apostolic Pardon. The priest said it was for someone in danger of death who had complete detachment from all sin, as in any plenary indulgence. Then they could go directly to Heaven at death. My understanding is that it is for someone dying who is known by the priest to have led a devout life, but it eliminates the requirement of having complete detachment from sin. Am I correct? And why do I never hear any mention of this great gift? — J.G., via e-mail.
A. Once the Sacrament of Penance has been given to a dying person, says the Pastoral Care of the Sick (n. 201), “the priest may give the Apostolic Pardon for the dying, using one of the following:
“ ‘Through the holy mysteries of our redemption, may almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come. May He open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy. Amen.’
“‘By the authority which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a full pardon and the remission of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen’.”
We are not aware that the dying person must have lived a devout life in order to be eligible for the Apostolic Pardon. Here are the conditions that are spelled out in the Handbook of Indulgences (n. 28):
“Priests who minister the sacraments to the Christian faithful who are in a life-and-death situation should not neglect to impart to them the Apostolic Blessing, with its attached indulgence. But if a priest cannot be present, Holy Mother Church lovingly grants such persons who are rightly disposed a plenary indulgence to be obtained in articulo mortis, at the approach of death, provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross is recommended in obtaining this plenary indulgence.
“In such a situation, the three usual conditions required in order to gain a plenary indulgence [freedom from all attachment to sin, performance of an indulgenced work, sacramental Confession and Eucharistic Communion] are substituted for by the condition ‘provided they regularly prayed in some way.’
“The Christian faithful can obtain the plenary indulgence mentioned here as death approaches (in articulo mortis) even if they had already obtained another plenary indulgence that same day.”
We don’t know why you never hear mention of this gift. Priests should be aware of it since it is mentioned in the section of the Breviary dealing with prayers for emergencies. In any case, you ought to ask every priest you know if he is familiar with the Apostolic Pardon, and even give him a card with the prayer on it for use with those who are dying. Also, tell your family members and friends that you want to receive this blessing when your death approaches.
Q. My grandson came home from CCD and asked me who made God. I told him that no one made God, that He always existed. He didn’t seem convinced. Is there anything else I could have said to him? — K.D., Massachusetts.
A. Even though our understanding and knowledge of God is limited, you were correct in stating that no one made God, that He always existed as a spiritual, substantial, personal Being who never had a beginning and will never have an end. If someone else made God, then the God we know could not be God. He would be just a creature brought into existence by some other creator and not the all-powerful, all-knowing, infinite, and eternal Being who brought the whole universe into existence.
That the God we know is the only God, and that He was not made by someone else, was indicated when He appeared to Moses in the burning bush. When Moses asked God what name he should give Him when he related their conversation to the Israelites, God responded, “I am who am. . . . This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14).
By calling Himself “I AM,” God meant that He is eternally present and did not come into existence through the activity of anyone else. God always was, always will be, and always remains the same.
Powered by WPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress