What is forbidden is the conjuring of the dead through trances, mediums or
séances in order to obtain supernatural or prophetic information. Instead,
the Jews were to rely on God who would send prophets and later the
Messiah: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from
among you, from your brethren—him you shall heed” (Deut. 18:15).
Practises used to conjure up the dead are essentially diabolical. The power
employed is that of the Devil. The persons contacted are either demons
impersonating dead people or the souls of the damned. The information
obtained is mixed with lies and deceptions. This is why necromancy has
been condemned by the Catholic Church from earliest times down to the
present.
4
It has no resemblance to the pious practice of calling upon those
in heaven to pray to God in order to obtain His spiritual favors and
blessings. In fact, talking to those in heaven (in this case the angels) is
practised in the Psalms:
“Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word,
hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his
ministers that do his will!” (Ps. 103:20-21).
Again, when Christ talked about His death to Moses and Elijah on Tabor
was He guilty of necromancy? (St. Luke 9:30). Some may argue that Elijah
was not one of the dead as he was taken from the world by a fiery chariot;
however, Moses did die (Deut. 34:5).
The Fathers
Inscriptions from the Catacombs
“O Atticus, sleep in peace and in the security of thy salvation and pray
earnestly for our sins” (Capitol Museum, Rome);
“Gentianus, faithful, in peace who lived twelve years, eight months and
sixteen days. You will intercede for us in your prayers because we know
that you are in Christ” (Lateran Museum, Rome).
4
CCC # 1852, 2110-2117.
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