*Anti-Catholic Groups create Demonic Rosaries

Is it possible that apparently innocuous Catholic sacramentals, such as rosaries (see PrayerfulWoman and HiCatholicMom) and so-called "miraculous medals", can actually be New Age artefacts? 

Three things could potentially corrupt what is apparently a Catholic Sacramental. 
 








  • Explicit imagery which can only have a pagan or New Age interpretation;
  • Ambiguous imagery which was put in by a designer who INTENDED a pagan or New Age interpretation;
  • Some kind of occult ritual being performed over the objects. The rosaries in question do indeed show a serpent coiled around a pole and have pentagons at the end of the four arms of the cross. I wonder what the designer intended

    Does this crucifix bear any symbols which are unambigously pagan or New Age?   Correspondents from two parts of the eastern USA have been in touch to say that they have found rosaries with a different kind of design, where the tips of the cross seem to have "demon's faces" or "bats' heads" on them.
  •  
  • Again, it is not possible to make a definitive answer without contacting the designer and asking what was intended. But in this case, the design is not edifying, for even if the designer intended to depict some sort of winged angel, the end result looks more like a horned creature than an angelic being.
  •   With such a design, it is at least plausible that anti-Catholic groups might have produced and distributed such rosaries with malicious intention. Even so, any Catholic innocently using these rosaries for prayer will have been engaged in activities pleasing to God. A person realising that the design of their rosary is not edifying might be wise to destroy the item, but should not be unduly concerned.

    In some cases, a person who feels emotionally or spiritually disturbed because of handling such an object might need to approach a priest or healing prayer team for counsel and cleansing prayer. But in general, the prayer life of a person committed to praying the rosary will be a more-than-adequate antidote for the spiritual intentions of those who might want to put rosaries with evil images into the hands of Catholics. 

    Do not be afraid! And remember - each time you pray your way around a set of rosary beads once, you will have asked God to deliver you from evil six times, and invoked the protection of the Mother of God 53 times.

    Revd Dr Gareth Leyshon