From the Chapel — May 10: The smoke of Satan
From the Chapel — May 10: The smoke of Satan
“From the Chapel” is a series of short, daily reflections on life and faith in a time of uncertainty. As people across the world cope with the effects of the coronavirus — including the social isolation necessary to combat its spread — these reflections remind us of the hope that lies at the heart of the Gospel.
Arguably the most well-known, and undoubtedly the most contentious, statement made by Pope St. Paul VI was “Satan’s smoke has infiltrated the temple of God through some crevice.” The interpretation of what “Satan’s smoke” signifies appears to be largely influenced by an individual’s perspective on the issues that have arisen within the Catholic Church in recent decades.
It may label me as a poor Catholic (it undoubtedly categorizes me as a poor Catholic commentator), yet I’ve consistently been more focused on the “crack” through which “Satan’s smoke” infiltrated than on what it actually signifies. The Church ought to be free of cracks, and as far as any exist, it should be a primary concern for every Catholic to mend them and return the Church to its solid foundation in Christ.
With Christ as our cornerstone, and harmony within his body as our objective, there ought to be no fissures allowing Satan’s smoke to infiltrate.
Paul VI’s comment resurfaced in my mind today while I was perusing the recent “open letter” issued by several Catholic figures, among them a past papal nuncio to the United States and two local bishops. The letter asserts that the response of governments globally to the COVID-19 pandemic is “a troubling prelude to the manifestation of a world government beyond all control” (stress in the original).
Catholics, naturally, may have genuine disagreements regarding the prudent actions taken by authorities. We can engage in honest discussions about political issues, although our political involvement should be guided by our beliefs. The challenge arises when these disagreements lead to rifts, or are intentionally directed towards fostering divisions. This erosion of unity — rather than the disagreement itself — is the opening that allows Satan’s influence to seep into the house of God.
As I stated earlier, I’m allergic to conspiracy theories, while I recognize that the ruler of this world is involved, along with his fellow demons, in the longest-standing plot to persuade each of us to embark on the path to damnation. The issue with plots orchestrated by humans is that Satan triumphed too effectively back in the Garden of Eden, when he persuaded Adam and Eve that they could become like gods, merely by partaking from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It is exactly because Adam stumbled that individuals who partake in conspiracies often seem, for the most part, incapable of executing them properly. Conspirators, by their very nature, conspire, and they frequently end up plotting against one another, fracturing their ranks, and sometimes even lamenting their choices, as Judas did when he returned to the high priests and elders, pleading with them to return the 30 pieces of silver.
The more intricate the alleged conspiracy, the more depraved human nature guarantees that it will fail.
However, from Satan’s perspective, he does not require such plots to thrive. In reality, he doesn’t even need these conspiracies to be real. What he requires is to persuade the appropriate individuals, particularly within the Church, that a conspiracy is present, thereby causing rifts, undermining charity, and promoting disunity. In essence, all Satan needs is to establish the fissure through which his deceit can infiltrate.
Let us hope that he fails in achieving that here.
Scott P. Richert is publisher for OSV.
