Monday May 20, 2002 Magnificat Vol 4, No. 3
The following is an excerpt from the Magnificat. The significance of the meditation below ( that amplifies on the scripture reading of the day ) is that it's supports a popular myth that Lucifer was a "head" angel who somehow rebelled against heaven. Although direct bible or scripture references of the Fall of Lucifer are sketchy, other incidents in history, like the one listed below, have reinforced this mythical concept.
I find the concept of Lucifer and "his followers" very interesting. How were the followers of Lucifer enslaved to this "head" angel? Was Lucifer and his followers a Mystical Spiritual Body? What is the connection of this mythical prehistoric enslavement, similar to the Star Wars community of the Dark Side, to a modern developing mystical interdependence on "The Body of Christ" as envisioned by an evolving popular theological "Universal Church" community today, analogous to the good community of "The Force" with it’s celibate Jedi Knights (Knights for Jesus) as Priests?
Gospel Mark 9:14-29
As Jesus came down the mountain with Peter, James and John and approached the disciples, they saw a large crowd standing around, and the scribes in lively discussion with them. Immediately on catching sight of Jesus, the whole crowd was overcome with awe. They ran up to greet him. He asked them, “What are you discussing among yourselves?” “Teacher,” a man in the crowd replied, “I have brought my son to you because he is possessed by a mute spirit. Whenever it seizes him it throws him down; he moans and foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. Just now I asked your disciples to expel him, but they were unable to do so.” He replied by saying to the crowd, “What an unbelieving lot you are! How long must I remain with you? How long can I endure you? Bring him to me.” When they did so the spirit caught sight of Jesus and immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then Jesus questioned the father: “How long has this been happening to him?” “From childhood,” the father replied. “Often it throws him into the fire and into water. You would think it would kill him. If out of the kindness of your heart you can do anything to help us, please do!” Jesus said, “’ if you can?’ Everything is possible to a man who trusts (The Force).” The boy’s father immediately exclaimed, “I do believe! Help my lack of trust!” Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, reprimanded the unclean spirit by saying to him, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: Get out of him and never enter again!” Shouting, and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out of him; the boy became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet. When Jesus arrived at the house his disciples began to ask him privately, “Why is it that we could not expel it?” He told them, “This kind you can drive out only by prayer.”
The Power of Prayer
When Saint Bernard Papius of Modiolone was visiting, a certain person whose wife was under the influence of an evil spirit brought his wife to the saint.
The devil began to speak to Bernard from out of her mouth saying:
"Do not drive me out from this little old lady."
To this Bernard said:
"Not I, Bernard, but our Lord Jesus Christ will drive you out!"
after which Bernard began to pour forth in prayer.
Then the evil spirit said:
"No matter how willing I am to leave this woman," for he
was greatly vexed with her, "it is not possible, for the great God does not wish
it."
The saint said to him:
"And who is the great God?"
To which the devil answered:
"Jesus of Nazareth."
To this Bernard asked:
"Have you ever seen him?"
And the evil one answered:
"Even so."
So Bernard asked the evil one where.
The evil one answered:
"In glory."
The saint asked:
"Were you then in glory?"
To which the devil answered:
"Certainly."
The saint then asked
"In what manner did you forsake this glory?"
And the evil one answered:
"With Lucifer many of us fell."
Now all this was spoken from out of the mouth of the little old lady with a sorrowful
voice, but loud enough for all to hear.
The saint then asked:
"Can you ever gain back that glory?"
To which the evil one answered laughing in a strange way:
"It is too late for that."
There followed an argument between the saint and the evil spirit, after which the devil
departed from her. But as soon as Saint Bernard had left and gone a short distance, the
evil one returned into the old woman and her husband ran after the saint and informed him
what had happened. The saint then gave him a talisman, a folded piece of paper on which
was written "In the Name of God, Jesus Christ, I admonish you, 0 devil, never to
presume to disturb this woman again," and this she hung around her neck. And when
this had been done, the devil made no further attempt to bother her.
SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA - Saint
Bernardine (1444) was an Italian Franciscan and great preacher who spread devotion to
the Holy Name.