As we approach Halloween, the ubiquitous symbol of this spooky time is ghosts. But are ghosts real? What do we as Catholics believe about ghosts and hauntings?
The Vatican’s top exorcist, the late Father Gabriel Amorth, who had done over 10,000 exorcisms in his lifetime, said that ghosts could be one of two things. First, they could be demons masquerading as a person. Or, they could be a soul in purgatory asking for prayers (only if God allows it). Ghosts are not souls who are “trapped” because of unfinished business. There are only three places one can go upon death (Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory)—so if a soul does remain on earth, it is in Purgatory and God is allowing it to ask for prayers.
If a person experiences a ghost, there are a couple of things that could be done. A priest would be called to bless the location. If that does not work, saying Mass in the home would be the next step—this Mass would ask God to take that soul to Heaven (if it is a soul in purgatory) or to send the demon back to Hell (if it is a demon).
There is a very fascinating book by a mystic named Maria Simma called “Get Us Out Of Here!” which is her testimony about seeing the souls in Purgatory. She tells some amazing stories about her encounters with souls in Purgatory. For example, one day she awoke to find a strange man in her room. She immediately cried out for him to leave, but he kept pacing back and forth. Finally in fear, she threw something at the man…and it went right through him, and he disappeared. The next day she asked her parish priest what to do, and he recommended to ask the apparition what he needed. The following night, the man appeared in her room again. She asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The man responded, “I need three Masses said for my soul, that I may be freed from Purgatory and enter Heaven.” Upon which he disappeared again. Maria arranged for the Masses to be said, and he never troubled her again. She had many such remarkable experiences of such ghostly visitors from Purgatory—I highly recommend the book!
There is even a museum dedicated to artifacts from the Souls in Purgatory. Located in a church in Rome, it purports to have a number of relics such as books and clothing that have been “scorched” by visitors from Purgatory (read more here: https://aleteia.org/2018/10/30/eerie-messages-from-the-dead-at-the-museum-of-the-souls-of-purgatory/). Whether or not it’s true, we definitely believe that Purgatory does exist, and that sometimes God allows souls to return to ask for prayers!
I know that Monroe is considered one of the most haunted towns in Connecticut, with Fairfield Hills and the Warren’s Paranormal Museum right nearby. Legends abound about the Lady in White, haunted graveyards, and all the like. But this is no reason to be afraid—we can never forget that souls in Purgatory—and even demons—only act because God permits them to do so, for our greater good. So one does not need to be struck with fear when encountering anything paranormal, knowing that God is in charge and that He is allowing it for His glory and for our holiness.
No need, then, to be scared of ghosts this Halloween!
