But who ever takes the devil seriously?
Most people say they believe in God, regardless of whether they have carved some other diety they have suited to their convenience or passions, but they’re likely to shrug shoulders when asked about the devil.
The impression is that’s for Holloween with its cheers over costumes and television shows and cartoons of mischievous but cute black-costumed creatures with horns and tails.
My favourite Padre Pio website, however, warns: Watch Out. “ It seems the mentality of people today is to relegate the figure of the Devil into ancient mythology and folklore.
Baudelaire justly affirms that ‘The Masterpiece of Satan in the Modern Time’ is to have people believe he does not exist.”
Is denial of hell any farther from one who says the devil is mere fiction? If both devil and hell are fiction, should not mortal sin also be up for the shredder?
Alas, historical accounts left by many saints attest to the reality of the devil.
Take a look at the lives of saints when they were still earth-trapped. Many of them had actual encounters with devils, even satan himself, the kind of stuff that horror movies could land in box office list. Their experiences, however, were real.
Let’s consider Padre Pio whose clashes with the devil at times turned out violent and bloody. Many of these encounters were related by Padre Pio in his letters to his spiritual fathers.
One night in 1906 in the convent of Saint Elia of Pianisi, Padre Pio could not fall asleep and heard the footsteps of someone coming from a nearby room.
He thought it was Friar Anastacio’s steps but when he peeked out the window to call out for him, he saw a monstrous dog of the window ledge. Smoke ensued from the dog’s mouth and, as it espied the Padre, remarked “It is him, it is him.”
The dog jumped to Padre’s window ledge, then to the roof and then vanished.
"The Devil appeared as young girls that danced naked, as a crucifix, as a young friend of the monks, as the Spiritual Father or as the Provincial Father; as Pope Pius X, a Guardian Angel, as St. Francis and as Our Lady,” Padre Pio wrote.
At other times, Padre “was troubled with deafening noises and covered with spittle, etc.” But “ Padre Pio succeeded in freeing himself from these attacks of the Devil by invoking the name of Jesus,” said one website.
In a letter to Padre Agostino, dated January 18, 1912, Padre Pio said, “The Devil does not want to lose this battle.
He takes on many forms. For several days now, he has appeared with his brothers who are armed with batons and pieces of iron. One of the difficulties is that they appear in many disguises.
There were several times when they threw me out of my bed and dragged me out of my bedroom. I am patient, however, and I know Jesus, Our Lady, my Guardian Angel, St. Joseph and St. Francis are always with me.”
In yet another letter to Padre Agostino dated November 5, 1912, he said: “Dear Father, this is, by the mercy of God, my second letter to you, and is similar to the first.
I am sure that Padre Evangelista has already informed you about the new war that the demons, impure apostates, are making on me. My father, they cannot win because of my constancy.
I must tell you about the traps they set for me, and how they tempt me to ignore your suggestions.
I find your letters to be my only my comfort; and I glorify God that they serve to confuse them. I cannot explain to you how severely they are attacking me. Sometimes I think I‘m going to die.
Saturday I thought they really wanted to kill me, I didn’t know which saint to ask for help. I turned to my angel, but he deliberately delayed. At last he came flying around me and sing ing hymns to God with his angelic voice.
Then one of those usual scenes happened: I harshly scolded him about his delay, when I had called to him so earnestly for help. To punish him, I deliberately did not face him, wanting him to keep his distance. But the poor thing finally got my attention by crying, and when I faced him, I perceived that he was sorry.”
Some church authorities insist that the existence of the devil be taken seriously. Because this is supposed make us realize the dangers of complacency, so that, knowing the wrong way, he tread the path to God.
