‘Avoid demons disguised as ghosts’

MANILA, Philippines — The chief exorcist of the Archdiocese of Manila warned against mistaking demons and other diabolical forces as ghosts believed to be awaiting closure before moving on to the afterlife.

Catholics should be able to “discern” so they can differentiate ghosts from demons, according to Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia.

“When the devil manifests himself and you have not discerned it, you’d believe it’s a ghost. But you wouldn’t think that it’s actually the demon who is moving or lurking in your place,” he said during a program on Radio Veritas yesterday.

“If we don’t have any discernment, you’d always think that these are simply ghosts. You would then try to communicate with them by consulting a psychic or a spiritualist,” he added. 

Talking to these demons that disguise as ghosts or souls of departed loved ones face-to-face would “open up a doorway where they can enter your life,” said Syquia.

He also said these forces of evil could influence decisions by the living such as what to do with the inheritance left behind by the dead. 

He noted God banned conjuring the spirits as written in the Bible, particularly the Old Testament.

However, Syquia said God “allows a soul to communicate with the living” for two reasons.

“First of all, for the consolation of the living. For example, in the death anniversary of your father and suddenly you start to smell his perfume, that can occur. The Lord can allow that in order to console the person left behind,” he explained.

God would also allow the souls to make their presence felt by their living loved ones “to seek for prayers so we do not forget them,” he added. 

He said the souls would appear “not usually through full-blown apparitions but in dreams. It comes in many ways.” 

Syquia also debunked a superstition among Filipinos that souls remain on earth until the ninth or 40th day after their death.

He explained the belief, which he described as a “symbolism,” could have been inspired by events in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead until his ascension to heaven on the 40th day.

“It is important to remember that in these 40 days, we remember in a very special way our loved ones who died by offering prayers, sacrifices and masses,” he pointed out. 

Meanwhile, Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos emphasized the importance of praying for the dead, especially on All Souls’ Day. 

“Prayer is a powerful act of love and remembrance. Through prayers, we offer our intentions to God, asking for His mercy and grace. We pray for their souls that they may find rest and peace in the presence of our Lord,” he said in a statement.