Sarah Mitchell
Catholicism is defined by a belief in the supernatural, and the Church teaches that God may permit a departed soul to appear in some visible form to people on Earth. However, the Church also teaches that all forms of divination are to be rejected, and that attempting to communicate with the dead is dangerous. The Church's teaching on mediums goes back to ancient prohibitions against contact with the dead that are found in Scripture. The question of whether Catholics believe in ghosts is a complicated one, and there is no settled doctrinal or moral practice with respect to ghosts or apparitions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Belief in ghosts | Catholicism is defined by a belief in the supernatural, and the church teaches that God may permit a departed soul to appear in some visible form to people on Earth. |
| Church teaching on ghosts | The church does not explicitly teach that ghosts exist, but it does maintain that the soul is eternal after the body's death. The possibility of souls returning to Earth is an open question. |
| Church teaching on mediums | The Church teaches that all forms of divination are to be rejected, including "recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead, or other practices falsely supposed to 'unveil' the future." |
| Catholic thinkers on ghosts | St. Augustine attributed ghostly sightings to demonic entities or angelic visions. St. Thomas Aquinas believed that ghosts were a reality and wrote about encounters with them. |
| Danger of ghost boxes | Mediums have admitted that ghost boxes and other spirit communication tools can be dangerous, as they can invite demonic entities. |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholics believe in life after death, but what about ghosts
- The Church's teaching on mediums and contact with the dead
- Ghosts in Catholic theology: Heaven, purgatory, or hell
- St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and other Catholic thinkers on ghosts
- How should a Catholic react to an encounter with a ghost?
Catholics believe in life after death, but what about ghosts?
Catholics believe that when a person dies, their soul is judged and goes to Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. This is called the particular judgement. At the end of time, when Christ returns, all of humanity will be raised from the dead for the final judgement, where body and soul will be reunited.
Catholics also believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion. This is taken to mean that Jesus' sacrifice was a victory over sin and death, and that through his death, humankind's relationship with God is restored.
But what about ghosts? The Catholic Church does not have a clear teaching on whether ghosts exist or not. Some Catholic scholars, like Augustine and Aquinas, have different opinions on the matter. Aquinas argues that God does not allow souls in Hell to return to Earth, but God may permit souls to return from Heaven or Purgatory to teach a lesson or deliver a message.
Catholic folk traditions and practices suggest that Catholics believe in ghosts and have relationships with them. Additionally, a significant number of Catholics in America believe in ghosts, reconciling this belief with their Catholic faith.
The Church's teaching on mediums and communication with the dead goes back to ancient prohibitions in Scripture, such as the story of King Saul in the Old Testament. While the Church does not explicitly prohibit these practices, it encourages those who are grieving to seek help from priests, spiritual directors, or qualified mental health professionals.
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The Church's teaching on mediums and contact with the dead
The Church forbids attempting to contact the dead through occult practices, as this contradicts the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone (CCC 2116). The Church leaves open the possibility that God may allow a soul to return to Earth to deliver a message or lesson, as seen in the case of Samuel and Saul.
Mediums claim to facilitate communication between the living and the dead, often targeting those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. However, the Church warns that these practices can be dangerous and may involve demonic entities. Most mediums are considered clever frauds, skilled in observational techniques that give the appearance of receiving secret information from spirits.
While the Church does not explicitly deny the possibility of ghosts, it emphasizes that the soul endures after death and that the question of whether departed souls can return is left open by Church teaching. Catholics have a tradition of believing they can talk to the dead, and some interpret this as souls returning from purgatory with a message or mission from God.
Instead of seeking out mediums, individuals are encouraged to find healing through grief counseling offered by qualified mental health professionals or spiritual guidance from priests or spiritual directors.
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Ghosts in Catholic theology: Heaven, purgatory, or hell?
Catholicism is defined by a belief in the supernatural, and the Church has long contemplated and tried to explain ghostly manifestations. While there is no settled doctrinal or moral practice with respect to ghosts, there are several theories about their existence within Catholic theology.
One theory suggests that ghosts are souls from purgatory. In the sixth century, Gregory the Great theorized that the dead were allowed to be purged of their sins in the very places on earth where those sins were committed. This idea of purgatory was further developed in the medieval Latin West and later by medieval theologians, who regarded it as a distinct locale, typically an annex of Hell. Purgatory is defined by the catechism as a "final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned." According to Thomas Aquinas, God does not permit the souls of people damned to hell to return to Earth, but He may allow souls from heaven, hell, or purgatory to appear on Earth for divine purposes.
Another theory, proposed by Kreeft, suggests that there are three types of ghosts: the first are "sad, wispy ones" suffering in purgatory; the second are "malicious and deceptive spirits" that respond to conjurings at séances; and the third are souls that have been allowed by God to return to Earth to deliver a message or lesson.
The Church's teaching on mediums goes back to ancient prohibitions against contact with the dead that are found in Scripture. Mediums themselves have admitted that what they do can be dangerous, with some claiming to have been possessed by demons. The Catholic Church encourages those who are grieving to seek help from a priest, spiritual director, or qualified mental health professional instead of turning to mediums.
While the Church leaves the question of ghosts open, it emphasizes the endurance and eternity of the soul after the body's death.
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St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and other Catholic thinkers on ghosts
The Catholic Church has no specific doctrine on the existence of ghosts. However, Catholic theology does not reject the possibility of ghosts, and Catholic folk traditions have filled in the gap left by official Church doctrine.
St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the most important Church Fathers, had a nuanced position on ghosts. In his Letter 159 to Evodius, Augustine rejects the idea that the dead can return to the living in bodily form. Instead, he suggests that ghosts are spiritual visions, like dreaming of a person. Augustine concedes that there are instances that defy this explanation, such as when a ghost provides information about the material world that the perceiver could not otherwise know.
St. Thomas Aquinas, a medieval theologian and philosopher, also weighed in on the subject of ghosts. Aquinas did not fully develop his thoughts on spirits and apparitions, but he is believed to have accepted their existence. Aquinas's position seems to reflect a more developed medieval sense of ghosts who may have an active role in the world, as permitted by God for His glory or the betterment of man. Aquinas is said to have encountered the soul of his deceased sister, who told him she had "permission to visit" him due to his "merits". Aquinas also addresses Augustine's argument, acknowledging that they agree that some ghosts are not perceived with corporeal vision. However, he does not elaborate further on this point.
Other Catholic thinkers have also contributed to the discussion of ghosts within Catholic theology. Peter Kreeft, a professor of philosophy at Boston College and a writer of Catholic theology, considers the existence of ghosts as "enormously likely". He argues that there is no contradiction between the belief in ghosts and Catholic theology.
While the Catholic Church does not explicitly prohibit the use of ghost boxes or other spirit communication devices, it is important to approach these practices with caution. The Church's teaching on mediums goes back to ancient prohibitions against contact with the dead found in Scripture, such as the story of King Saul in the Old Testament. Additionally, some mediums have admitted that their practices can be dangerous, with some claiming to have been possessed by demons during their séances.
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How should a Catholic react to an encounter with a ghost?
Catholicism is defined by a belief in the supernatural—one person of the Trinity was, in the not-too-distant past, commonly called "the Holy Ghost". However, there is no settled doctrinal or moral practice with respect to ghosts or apparitions. The Church walks a fine line when it comes to the paranormal.
Catholic theology has nothing to say against the possibility of ghosts in the sense of the dead. The Church teaches that God may permit a departed soul to appear in some visible form to people on Earth. Their purpose may be to teach, warn, or request some favor for the living. According to St. Augustine, most ghostly sightings are angelic visions. St. Thomas Aquinas, on the other hand, believed that ghosts were a reality and wrote about several encounters with ghosts. He believed that God does not permit the souls of people who are damned to hell to return to Earth.
Catholic theologian and philosophy professor Peter Kreeft categorized the different types of ghosts. He reasoned that there is no contradiction between ghosts and Catholic theology. Ghosts may exist in heaven, purgatory, or hell, and subsequently be able to appear on Earth. Kreeft even posited that ghosts could corroborate Catholic teaching on the afterlife. Father Tim Plavac of Ohio’s St. Bede the Venerable Parish says that Catholics can acknowledge the existence of ghosts and spirits around us, but cautions that this acknowledgment should never lead to the occult.
If a Catholic encounters a ghost, they should seek the advice of a priest. If they or a loved one are grieving, they should seek help from a priest or spiritual director instead of a medium. They may also find healing through grief counseling offered by qualified mental health professionals. If the ghost is a restless spirit, prayer is a merciful tool to send it towards peace.
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Frequently asked questions
A ghostbox is a device used for spirit communication, distinguished from Ouija boards as it does not involve a planchette.
While the Catholic Church teaches that "all forms of divination are to be rejected", there is no settled doctrinal or moral practice with respect to ghosts or apparitions. Some Catholic theologians believe that ghosts are a reality and that they may exist in heaven, purgatory, or hell, while being able to appear on Earth. Mediums have admitted that their work can be dangerous, as they may be possessed by demons.
Catholicism is defined by a belief in the supernatural, and the Holy Ghost. The Church teaches that God may permit a departed soul to appear in some visible form to people on Earth, to teach, warn, or request a favour. However, there is no settled doctrine on ghosts or apparitions, and the Church walks a fine line when it comes to the paranormal.
Catholics can acknowledge the existence of ghosts and spirits, but this should not lead towards the occult. If you encounter a ghost, prayer is a tool to send restless spirits towards peace.
