The Trouble With Magic

A Talk Given by Fr. Ermatinger

Outline of Talk

  • Introduction: 0:00-0:51
  • The Notion of Superstition, Idolatry, Magic: 0:51-1:10
    • Principles
  • The Notion of the One and the Many in Pagan Writers: 1:10-2:30
    • Seeking Unifying Principle
  • Catholic Unifying Principle: 2:30-6:20
    • Logos: The Mind of God: 2:30-6:20
      • Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam: 2:38-4:15
      • Logos in Scripture: 4:15-6:20
        • Ephesians
        • Colossians
          • Christological Hymn:
          • The One and the Many
          • All Saved by the Passion of Christ: 5:46-6:20
            • Salvation of the Angels
  • Original States: 6:20-14:02
    • Adam as Capstone of Creation: 8:06-9:30
      • Creation of Eve Prefigurement of the Temple
    • The Two Tasks of Adam: 9:30-10:00
      • Adam as the Priest: 10:00-11:59
        • Ephrem the Syrian: 10:09-11:59
          • Description of the Garden of Eden
      • Naming of the Animals: 11:59-12:40
        • Particular Names to the Nature
        • Aristotle’s Triad of Being
        • Co-Creator: 12:40-13:06
    • Adam’s Test: 13:06-14:02
      • Severian Of Gabala: 13:30-14:02
        • Protect the Garden from Himself
  • The Fall:  14:02-19:58
    • The Serpent: 14:02-16:00
      • The Temptation of Eve
        • Definition of Superstition: 14:44-15:13
          • An Incongruence Between Cause And Effect
          • Expecting a Greater Effect from a Lesser Cause
        • First Superstitious Belief 15:13-16:00
          • Means and Ends in Themselves
    • Diadochos of Photiki: 16:00-16:58
      • Fracturing of Man’s Senses and Person
      • Separation of the Many from the One
    • Multi-Layered Temptation: 16:58-18:15
    • “Where are You?”: 18:15-19:58
      • Invitation to Repentance
      • Internal and Relational Rupture:
      • Cast out of Paradise:
  • A Fractured Existence: 19:58-25:20
    • Region of Dissimilarity: 19:58-20:20
      • Phenomenon of Brokenness in Paganism: 20:20-21:07
        • Sins Against Order, Nature, Reason, God 
      • Order/Ordo: 21:07-22:02
    • Penitential Life of Adam and Eve: 22:02-22:40
    • The Primordial Trees Used to Address the Disorders: 22:40-24:00
    • Temporary Temples Replaced by the Christ as the Final Temple: 24:00-25:20
      • Our Participation in that Temple: 24:00-24:35
      • One and the Many – Reestablishment
        • You Will Be Like Gods: 24:35-25:20
  • The Root of Superstition = Lack of Trust: 25:20-28:35
    • Every Sin Has a Lack of Trust/Confidence: 25:20-25:44
    • St. Thomas: Four Wounds from the Fall: 25:44-26:33
      • Concupiscence
      • Darkened Intellect
      • Mortality
      • Proclivity to Malice
    • Original Sin vs Personal Venial Sin: 26:33-27:53
      • Overcoming Temptation Changes Place in Heaven: 27:18-27:53
    • Theory: All Magic, Idolatry, and Superstition Are False Fixes to the Four Wounds: 27:53-28:35
  • Development in Time: 28:35-36:03
    • All Societies of Every Age Seek Magic: 28:35-33:39
      • Magic and Magical Solutions: 29:13-31:15
        • Darkened Intellect — Magical Knowledge
        • Concupiscence — Magic to Avoid Suffering
        • Mortality — Magic for Continued Existence
        • Proclivity to Malice — Magic to Harm Those Perceived as Threats
      • Aristotle: First in Intention is Last in Execution: 31:15-32:00
      • Cicero: All Superstition is Rooted in Fear: 32:00-33:05
      • Idea One Control Things Through Magic: 33:05-33:39
    • No Idolatry Until Several Generations After Adam and Eve: 33:39-35:25
      • Penchant for Divination / Magic Grows and Appears in All Societies
    • Particular Expressions Promoted by the Devil to Deal with Wounds: 35:25-36:03
  • God’s Solution to Our Wounds: 36:03-1:01:19
    • Through the Church, Christ Gives Means to Deal with Wounds: 36:03-40:32
      • Solutions for the Wound of Intellect
        • Natural Law / Light of Reason
        • Revelation
        • Light of Faith
      • Solutions for Concupiscence/Disordered Passions
        • Life of Virtue and Grace: 40:32-47:50
          • Being vs Having
          • Sin/Vice Creates Disordered Relationship with a Demon: 44:44-47:00
            • Slavery vs. Reintegration of Person: 47:00-47:44
          • Virtue of Religion: 47:44-47:50
      • Solutions for Mortality: 47:50-51:37
        • Unending Natural Life vs. Union with God’s Own Life
          • Feeling Better vs. Being Better
        • Life of Grace Allows True Worship and Transforming Union: 49:30-51:37
          • god by Accident not Nature
      • Solutions for Proclivity to Malice: 51:37-1:01:19
        • (Charity via Sacramental Life of Grace)
        • Downward Spiral of Sin
        • Malice in Witchcraft: 52:00-56:25
          • Certain Efficacy Permitted by God
          • Mockery of True Religion
          • No Escaping Demonic Element
            • Even if Magic Doesn’t Work 53:15-56:25
        • Augustine 56:25-58:40
          • Demonic Inversion of Catholic Sacramental System: 57:24-58:40
        • Needed: Reparations to the Sacred Heart: 58:40-59:11
        • Baptism as Return to Eden and Life of Charity: 59:11-1:01:19
  • Closing: 1:01:19-1:01:59
  • Books: 1:01:59-1:06:25

— Fr. Ermatinger