What level of evil possessed Stephen Paddock to open fire from
the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel onto a crowd of concertgoers,
killing 59 and injuring over 500? In a place nicknamed “sin city” is
Las Vegas in need of spiritual healing?
the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel onto a crowd of concertgoers,
killing 59 and injuring over 500? In a place nicknamed “sin city” is
Las Vegas in need of spiritual healing?
Last week, Father
Clete Kiley brought some comfort and healing at the
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where the shootings took place. The Chicago
priest in Las Vegas for meeting for UNITE HERE, a union for hospitality
workers, was asked to visit the hotel to comfort staff that is still
traumatized.
Clete Kiley brought some comfort and healing at the
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino where the shootings took place. The Chicago
priest in Las Vegas for meeting for UNITE HERE, a union for hospitality
workers, was asked to visit the hotel to comfort staff that is still
traumatized.
Newsweek
reported that Father Kiley felt something push
him back as he stepped into the hallway leading to the room. As he
walked, he prayed to ‘St. Michael, the Archangel,’ to defend us in battle. He called on the Holy Spirit and blessed the
room with holy water. According to Newsweek: “Kiley instantly felt comfort wash over him. As he headed
back downstairs, the hotel staff also felt relieved by Kiley’s blessing.”
reported that Father Kiley felt something push
him back as he stepped into the hallway leading to the room. As he
walked, he prayed to ‘St. Michael, the Archangel,’ to defend us in battle. He called on the Holy Spirit and blessed the
room with holy water. According to Newsweek: “Kiley instantly felt comfort wash over him. As he headed
back downstairs, the hotel staff also felt relieved by Kiley’s blessing.”
Hotel
Statement
Statement
The
Mandalay Bay Resort hotel would only issue this comment about the blessing
through company spokesperson,
Debra DeShong: “What happened on October
1st was tragic and is something that many of our employees at Mandalay Bay are
still struggling with. Some of our employees were understandably turning
to a religious figure for solace and support. We continue to offer our
heartfelt sympathies to all the victims of the tragedy.”
Mandalay Bay Resort hotel would only issue this comment about the blessing
through company spokesperson,
Debra DeShong: “What happened on October
1st was tragic and is something that many of our employees at Mandalay Bay are
still struggling with. Some of our employees were understandably turning
to a religious figure for solace and support. We continue to offer our
heartfelt sympathies to all the victims of the tragedy.”
Msgr. John Esseff Comments
When
I called one of the oldest exorcists in the country for his thoughts about the
shootings, he offered a unique perspective. Msgr. John Esseff has been a priest for 64 years and an
exorcist in the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, for more than 40 years. He
is a founder and president of the board of directors of the Pope Leo XIII Institute, which trains exorcists and is
dedicated to bringing the healing of Christ to those afflicted by evil. He was
also a spiritual director to Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
I called one of the oldest exorcists in the country for his thoughts about the
shootings, he offered a unique perspective. Msgr. John Esseff has been a priest for 64 years and an
exorcist in the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, for more than 40 years. He
is a founder and president of the board of directors of the Pope Leo XIII Institute, which trains exorcists and is
dedicated to bringing the healing of Christ to those afflicted by evil. He was
also a spiritual director to Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
As an exorcist, Msgr. Esseff has seen every manner of evil. But one thing
that he wants people to keep in mind is that where there is evil,
God’s grace is even more abundant. “I would say that rather than being a place
of wickedness, it [Las Vegas] is also probably a place of great grace,” he
said. “We hear about the wickedness, but there are a lot of beautiful people
there.” Msgr. Esseff pointed out that after the shooting, we heard many stories
about the heroes that gave their lives to protect people. “I would love to see
more and more people come forward from those communities and talk about the
holiness in their parishes and families,” he said.
that he wants people to keep in mind is that where there is evil,
God’s grace is even more abundant. “I would say that rather than being a place
of wickedness, it [Las Vegas] is also probably a place of great grace,” he
said. “We hear about the wickedness, but there are a lot of beautiful people
there.” Msgr. Esseff pointed out that after the shooting, we heard many stories
about the heroes that gave their lives to protect people. “I would love to see
more and more people come forward from those communities and talk about the
holiness in their parishes and families,” he said.
Do not look at
just Las Vegas as a place of sin, Msgr. Esseff said, because the whole planet
came under the power of sin and death through the fall of Adam and Eve. He gave this explanation:
just Las Vegas as a place of sin, Msgr. Esseff said, because the whole planet
came under the power of sin and death through the fall of Adam and Eve. He gave this explanation:
“This whole
world was in the darkness of sin under the power of the devil and the power of
death. Right after sin came into the world, Cain killed his brother. Murder is
nothing new; war and violence has always been part of mankind.
world was in the darkness of sin under the power of the devil and the power of
death. Right after sin came into the world, Cain killed his brother. Murder is
nothing new; war and violence has always been part of mankind.
“A small
family was picked out—the Jews—and told they would be sent a savior. We
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus as the Savior. That was the beginning of salvation. We date
all our time back that moment in history when Jesus came into the world. His name means savior. He suffered, died and rose and is now at the
right hand of the Father. Every Christian is baptized in Christ Jesus. And in
every baptized person, Jesus lives.
family was picked out—the Jews—and told they would be sent a savior. We
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus as the Savior. That was the beginning of salvation. We date
all our time back that moment in history when Jesus came into the world. His name means savior. He suffered, died and rose and is now at the
right hand of the Father. Every Christian is baptized in Christ Jesus. And in
every baptized person, Jesus lives.
“I would
think that in the Church today, we have become so unaware of who we are so that
the Christian has failed to understand his call. His call is not to be a priest
or apostle but he is called to be Jesus. Every Christian is called to radiate
Jesus through love.
think that in the Church today, we have become so unaware of who we are so that
the Christian has failed to understand his call. His call is not to be a priest
or apostle but he is called to be Jesus. Every Christian is called to radiate
Jesus through love.
“Every
Christian should be an example of the God who they preach. If every
Christian should be an example of the God who they preach. If every
Christian would be who Jesus called
us to be, we would change the world.
“As a
Christian, I would neither be in a hurry to go in or out of Nevada. Bloom where
you are planted. Be Jesus, wherever you are.
No one can stop Jesus from loving, and Jesus would radiate his love
throughout the whole world and turn it from hate into love, war into peace, darkness
into light overnight.”
Christian, I would neither be in a hurry to go in or out of Nevada. Bloom where
you are planted. Be Jesus, wherever you are.
No one can stop Jesus from loving, and Jesus would radiate his love
throughout the whole world and turn it from hate into love, war into peace, darkness
into light overnight.”
Bishop’s Response
Following the
shooting, the message of love and grace talked about by Msgr. Esseff, was lived
out through the leadership of the Bishop of Las Vegas, Joseph Pepe. On Monday,
October 2, the night after the shootings, he held an interfaith prayer service.
Over 800 people attended at the Cathedral of the Guardian Angels,
coincidentally on the very feast of the Guardian angels. Bishop Pepe issued a plea for unity and
peace. “Where there is hatred and violence we must be the sign of love and
of peace. Where there is division and uncivil speech, we must stand together as
a sign of unity.”
shooting, the message of love and grace talked about by Msgr. Esseff, was lived
out through the leadership of the Bishop of Las Vegas, Joseph Pepe. On Monday,
October 2, the night after the shootings, he held an interfaith prayer service.
Over 800 people attended at the Cathedral of the Guardian Angels,
coincidentally on the very feast of the Guardian angels. Bishop Pepe issued a plea for unity and
peace. “Where there is hatred and violence we must be the sign of love and
of peace. Where there is division and uncivil speech, we must stand together as
a sign of unity.”
~~~~~~~~~~
For more inspiration check out Patti’s latest book: Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith & Get to Heaven. Other books include: Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families and the best-selling Amazing Grace Series.
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