So true about the internet, I was reading about Ezkioga as I stated earlier in this thread and I am almost certain that some of what I have read is incorrect because I have found different information on different websites. I do wonder if some of what happened there was from heaven because they claim miracle cures occurred but from reading about the area at the time there were many "devil worshippers" there so the devil may have had a stronger foothold there. Now compare that place to Garabandal and they seem like exact opposites. Please correct if I am wrong on any of this because I am only scanning through what I see on web and like you said who knows is things have been altered or misstated. I haven't read through all of this book yet but I thought some here might be interested: http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpress...k.id=d0e698&toc.depth=1&toc.id=&brand=ucpress I have no idea how accurate it is.
When someone starts on the journey, "the created one" doesn't pay no mind. Once that person starts living with the Holy Spirit, he might send his cohorts to see what is going on. Throughout this process, he is constantly tempting the soul. Once the person starts growing in holiness (through the Grace of God). The evil one might intervene, not because he wants to but because he can't understand what is going on. All he really knows is that the saints journey has started. At that point, the temptations are done and the only tool he has left is to scare the Saint. In apparitions, not only does he attack the saints but he needs to sow confusion, so that the vision is ruined. So he is attacking at various levels. He also is the great copier, with Gods approval he could forge a apparition or vision. I think, he would need approval from God...but it is possible. There are natural rules that run the universe but sometimes supernatural phenomena is added to the equation. This mystical stuff is very interesting because we are discussing how the spiritual interacts with the rules of nature. I guess the bigger picture is that we understand the spiritual is real. Therefore, we need to be on our guard and consistently be ready for battle. May Gods Will be Done
The Devils remind me of the large flies we have in Ireland called bluebottles. They swarm around when something attracts them. THis could be a variety of things. A series of evil acts in a particular place..like a Abortion Mill or Red Light District....a scene of violence. Or ont the other hand they swarm were they is great good, especially any Marian Event. Sometimes you just know when someone is organising something or a particular nature, say like a roasry crusade the devil wil lswarm on it. It would be amazing if he did not. It is amazing though how drawn the demons are to things like Ouiji Boards and New Age Artifacts.
although the devil does not know the future as such he can at times be fantastically astute. One example from the lives of the saints is his spotting their potential for holiness from even when they were children sometimes even as babies
No offense to the person who wrote the above; but I think it is not right. We know Eve was tempted in the garden by satan in the form of a snake. So it was already cast out of Heaven then. We know satan must have been behind Cain and Abel and the first murder, which was after Adam and Eve had been banned from the Garden. There were many old sayings in Ireland years ago which gave predictions about how a child would grow up. One was 'show me you friends and I'll tell you what you are.' Another one we all know is 'If you lie down with the dogs, you will get up with the fleas.' There are many old wise proverbs and even in the Bible the Book of proverbs, where wisdom and discernment are there for the learning. I expect to old satan can see like the old folks used to, how predictable a future is for a child who behaves in a certain way. Especially if a young one is not guided or corrected, and has traits inherited from one or other patent or both. It does not take a prophet to predict a lot of things around us. God will inform us when we need to know something. And will provide the grace we need when the time is right, for any given circumstance. That is how I feel. The satan has to join the queue and wait his turn the same as everyone else. That must get up it's snout. Because it has to get permission from God even to tempt us.
