Ongkingco
Father, have you heard about the devil’s rosary?” Paul asked.
“No, what’s that?”
“Rosaries ‘consecrated’ by the devil are being distributed!” he explained.
“Consecrated rosaries? Do they get ‘cursed’ or ‘hexed’ so as to influence those who use them?” I clarified.
“I guess so,” said a concerned Paul, who sighed.
“People must be scared about this news!”
“You bet! My classmates asked their parish priest to have their rosaries re-blessed or exorcised just to be sure.” He then pulled out his own rosary.
“That is indeed unfortunate,” I said. “But I’m more concerned about a real rosary that the devil may use effectively to lead others away from God!”
“Really? What would that be?” Paul’s curiosity was suddenly aroused.
“I wouldn’t really call it a rosary, but more like a scourge with seven beads or knots.”
“A scourge?” he sounded terrified.
“Yes, the scourge of the seven capital sins,” I said.
“How does he use it?”
“The devil doesn’t exactly pray. More like, he preys on us by hoping that our attachment to vice will influence others not to love God and others.”
“Ew! That’s creepy!”
“In fact, a rosary cursed by Satan can be materially scrutinized and avoided. But we tend to be less vigilant of the seven capital sins, their effects on us and their collateral damage on our neighbor.”
“So, when we commit them, we become like beads that he prays with?” Paul asked.
“Not literally!” I laughed at his description.
“I recently read part of a book entitled ‘Glittering Vices,’” Paul shared.
“I heard that it’s a good read, Paul. What did you pick up?”
“Today, people are downplaying the vices and their consequences,” he concluded.
“Man’s pride always has a way of justifying his actions even though his conscience may say otherwise.”
“True, Father. Moreover, we are at a stage of parading our vices as being virtuous.”
Paul scratched his head.
“That is indeed sad. We have reached the Babel of moral decadence where bad is considered good and vice versa.”
“Babel, Father?”
“The state of moral confusion where vice is being glamorized and celebrated by cultural and socio-media icons. This Babel of morality hides the true face of sin and its effects. Thus, one is more likely not to struggle against them. And as long as he is under the influence of any vice, he can also lead many others down the same road.”
“What can we do, Father?”
“Help those who are blinded by their vices, compassionately guiding and enlightening them to be prayerfully sincere with God and themselves, and to frequent the sacraments, especially Confession and the Holy Eucharist. While they live, with the help of God’s grace, there is always a chance at conversion.”
“Is there anything more we can do, Father?”
“What about we pray the Rosary to our Lady, Paul?”
“Not a bad idea, Father!”