I have thus drawn out the Catholic idea of diablerie, because I believe that one of the causes most active in spiritualism—a cause necessary to the evolution of a great number of its phenomena—is the devil. In matter of fact, to this cause these phenomena have been for ages universally attributed. It may, then, fairly claim to be the hypothesis in possession. In the concluding chapter, I hope to consider the amendment which spiritualists, as a rule, suggest—viz., that the spirits whom they admit with us to be the causes of the phenomena are not devils, enemies of God and man, but the souls of the departed in varying stages of perfection.
TO BE CONTINUED.
FOOTNOTES:
[94] Cotelerius in lib. iv. Recogn. S. Clementis, p. 452.
[95] Eng. trans., p. 250.
[96] P. 250, note.
[97] Preface to Edit. Benedict. S. Augustin.
[98] De Antiq. Collect. Can, pars iv. cap. 12.
[99] Vita Cardinal de Cusa. By Hartzheim, S.J. Pars ii. cap. 8.
[100] Note to canto iii.