Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Tuesday, August 03, 2010

"You've been warned"

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This letter arrived in my inbox this morning. My mother and I were just discussing this topic yesterday -- the popular vampire movies -- actually we were talking about them in reference to exorcisms, and Fr. Euteneuer's new book, which brings the need for modern-day exorcisms to light. Thought exorcisms were something of the past? Not at all. In fact, with modern-day literature and films, we may be entering into a new age of exorcisms. This letter from Fr. Euteneuer highlights some of the issues of the vampire films so popular today and I wanted to share it.


With the issuing of the third movie in the Twilight series I have to speak out about our culture's twisted fascination with vampires. I don't hesitate to tell people that I am totally disgusted with the new fad sweeping over our youth culture these days. It is not just kids that are taken up with the wiles of the dark world either: many moms of teens are swooning for them too. I think that these seductive creatures are simply the spawn of the Harry Potter culture that has for over a decade now been indoctrinating kids to think that the occult world is normal and that all this evil messaging is harmless when dressed up as entertainment. That's vampire logic - and just what the devil wants us to think.

Gone are the days of Bella Lugosi's Dracula (1931) where good was good and evil was evil. A crucifix would drive Dracula away and then he had to go into his infernal coffin when the first streaks of dawn appeared. He was in every way presented as a creature of evil, dark of heart and dread to encounter. He drank human blood too, a feature that was supposed to strike terror in every person who valued his life's essence. The image of a blood-sucking creature who lives in slime and darkness and will pounce on you to drain out your very essence should terrorize every decent person. This is because vampires used to be images of demons. That's what demons are all about: the vanquishing of all human decency and life. They represent the spiritual vortexes of the demon world that drag down to the depths of hell all who fall prey to their wiles.

But, my, how vampires have come up in the world these days.

Nowadays vampires are divided into good and bad - no longer intrinsically evil. The good ones rescue vulnerable women instead of biting them and, allegedly, drink only animal blood (well, we haven't seen the last Twilight movie yet...). And crucifixes? Don't think you'll see any of those driving away bad guys in these movies. The heroes are the "good" vampires, not the Church or religious faith in Christ.

These super-star vampires also walk around in sunlight and, as a matter of fact, their skin just happens to glisten like diamonds when exposed to direct sunlight. Isn't that wonderful? The glam vamps are gentlemen, chaste and well-intentioned, yet they are always hovering around the edge of "falling" and in seductive situations which cause young people to think that they are capable, like their hero vampire, Edward Cullen, of going just so far and pulling back, out of self-control. That's teaching them to play with fire, not a real chastity message for kids.

The worst part of this fascination with vampires from a faith point of view, however, is its blasphemy of the Eucharist. "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you," said our Blessed Lord in Chapter 6 of John's Gospel. He is the One who offers His flesh and blood for the life of the world. The vampires eat (bite) the flesh and drink the blood of victims rather than give their own to redeem others. Their bites corrupt and transform their victims into vampires like themselves. They have no life in them. They are the "living dead" by their own estimate.

How sad that this generation has been so taken in by those who represent the very antithesis of the core reality of our Faith - the Eucharist. Vampire logic is anti-Eucharistic logic, and it's very dangerous for our kids. In their obsessive fascination with such darkness, kids (and adults) turn their backs on the One who actually died for them.

To those who say, "Oh, Father, it's only harmless entertainment," I say simply: You've been warned.

Sincerely,
Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer
President, Human Life International

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7 comments:

  1. WOW! This is very good, Barbara. I knew I didn't like the whole vampire craze, but I didn't really know "why" I felt that way. Now I do. I am going to pass this on, even though I may seem to some as an unpopular messenger ...

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  2. And all I can say is a great big resounding AMEN!! I spent a good bit of my youth burdened by an obsessive fascination with horror...Ann Rice was a personal favorite, while Stephen King, Peter Straub, Shirley Jackson and Edgar Allen Poe filled in the empty spaces. I called it "entertainment" and would've fought you tooth and nail if you'd dare to disagree with me. One day I realized, after reading Sacred Scripture, that our Blessed Lord has asked us not to fear...to feed one's self a diet of fright, horror, terror and the demonic is to subvert the peace our Lord so desires to give those who love Him. Perhaps I'll share more of that journey later...just trust one who's been there: the danger is real, it is an un-Godly fascination, it will not lead you closer to Heaven...and it can become a dangerous obsession. I praise God that I was freed from it but it required real effort and a lot of prayer...as Father says:

    You have been warned...

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  3. Wow. Just wow. Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Very eye-opening!!

    There is a piece on Catholic Exchange today as well....

    http://catholicexchange.com/2010/08/03/132964/

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  5. Sarah, please do share. You never know who needs to hear.

    Thank you, Kimberly, for sharing.

    You're welcome, Lenetta.

    Thanks, Meg. Going to read...

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  6. Wow, very good letter. Now, if every church put that in their bulletin!!

    I've never gotten into those movies, I guess just my conscience telling me no.

    Thank goodness.

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  7. You're right about church bulletins, Jamie. I wish that ours would print all of Fr. Euteneuer's letters!

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I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!