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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
The Secret	Agnes	Monday, June 6, 2011
Question: Could I have your views on the book "The Secret" it was recommended by a colleague at work who is not strong in her faith so I did not read it, but when a priest friend also recommended it I went ahead and bought the book but was not comfortable after the first few chapters. I was convinced it was wrong I made a confession and threw the book in the garbage. I feel good to have done that and feel it was God's mercy that saved me from reading the book to the end. But I am concerned as many vulnerable catholics would be exposed to it.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Agnes: The priest who recommended the book, The Secret, should be horse-whipped for incompetence and malpractice for potentially causing you spiritual damage. Under no circumstance should The Secret be recommended. In a Sunday Visitor article, Father Mitch Pacwa is asked about The Secret: According to Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa, who hosts EWTN Live and writes extensively on the New Age movement, The Secret, far from being some long-lost piece of ancient wisdom, is just the same old New Age nonsense dressed up for TV. "It’s a standard New Age idea that all the world’s problems would go away if everyone would just be a little more positive," said Father Pacwa. "This is an old scam. It’s like a nasty scene from Poltergeist: They’re ba-ack." The Secret, however, go further back than the New Age movement. In fact, said Father Pacwa, they go right back to Eden. "What did the devil say to Eve? Eat this, and you’ll become like gods. That’s what The Secret really promises," he said. The promise of The Secret does seem to echo the promise of the serpent. It promises that without help from man or God you can control your destiny. It assures you neither grace nor suffering are necessary. It makes you your own god, and leaves no room for a messiah who hung on a cross. Of course, the cost of believing those promises is as high as ever, which is why the best way for Catholics to respond to The Secret is not to think "lovely, wonderful thoughts" about the phenomenon coming to a quick demise. Rather, Father Pacwa advised, Catholics need to help the culture rediscover their dependence on God’s grace and the redemptive power of suffering. "Suffering isn’t easy, but it’s profound and powerful," he said. "Our task is to help folks in the culture face their problems instead of looking for the easy way out. It doesn’t exist." The Holy Spirit was speaking to you when you felt uncomfortable with the book. You did the right thing in getting rid of this book. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

The Secret

Agnes

Monday, June 6, 2011

Question:

Could I have your views on the book "The Secret" it was recommended by a colleague at work who is not strong in her faith so I did not read it, but when a priest friend also recommended it I went ahead and bought the book but was not comfortable after the first few chapters.

I was convinced it was wrong I made a confession and threw the book in the garbage. I feel good to have done that and feel it was God's mercy that saved me from reading the book to the end. But I am concerned as many vulnerable catholics would be exposed to it.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Agnes:

The priest who recommended the book, The Secret, should be horse-whipped for incompetence and malpractice for potentially causing you spiritual damage.

Under no circumstance should The Secret be recommended.

In a Sunday Visitor article, Father Mitch Pacwa is asked about The Secret:

    According to Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa, who hosts EWTN Live and writes extensively on the New Age movement, The Secret, far from being some long-lost piece of ancient wisdom, is just the same old New Age nonsense dressed up for TV.

    "It’s a standard New Age idea that all the world’s problems would go away if everyone would just be a little more positive," said Father Pacwa. "This is an old scam. It’s like a nasty scene from Poltergeist: They’re ba-ack."

    The Secret, however, go further back than the New Age movement. In fact, said Father Pacwa, they go right back to Eden.

    "What did the devil say to Eve? Eat this, and you’ll become like gods. That’s what The Secret really promises," he said.

    The promise of The Secret does seem to echo the promise of the serpent. It promises that without help from man or God you can control your destiny. It assures you neither grace nor suffering are necessary. It makes you your own god, and leaves no room for a messiah who hung on a cross.

    Of course, the cost of believing those promises is as high as ever, which is why the best way for Catholics to respond to The Secret is not to think "lovely, wonderful thoughts" about the phenomenon coming to a quick demise. Rather, Father Pacwa advised, Catholics need to help the culture rediscover their dependence on God’s grace and the redemptive power of suffering.

    "Suffering isn’t easy, but it’s profound and powerful," he said. "Our task is to help folks in the culture face their problems instead of looking for the easy way out. It doesn’t exist."

The Holy Spirit was speaking to you when you felt uncomfortable with the book. You did the right thing in getting rid of this book.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.