We get mail on all sorts of topics and enjoy hearing of the grace moving in the world. We live in exciting and tumultuous times -- and that tumult is reflected in the spiritual world.

Or perhaps we should say that the spiritual tumult manifests physically.

There are those who relate stories about the current level of spiritual warfare. There are those who get into Church politics. There are those who have experienced miracles.

Church politics? We hear some distressing accounts of local dioceses that seem to be finding any excuse to limit exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. In light of the fact that there is a palpable grace where the Sacrament is adored (even if there are some times when adorers are few), there seems little real reason to be reducing it -- and in fact, every reason for increasing it, in these crisis times.

So should we promote the use of novenas, and we hear quite a few accounts from folks who have been touched by one called "Our Lady Undoer of Knots" -- people like Margaret M. L'Hote-Dixon.

"This is kind of funny," wrote Margaret. "Last night, on the way home, I was thinking of my gold chain that had a knot in it. I have tried so hard in the past to take the knot out and spent thirty minutes trying to do so. In any event, I remember casually seeing something on your website regarding a booklet -- Mary Undoer of Knots. I did not read what the book was about, so anyways when I got home I took the gold chain, said a prayer to our Blessed Mother -- Mary Undoer of Knots -- and asked her to help me. In less than five minutes it came undone.  Go figure. I had a miracle. And my Crucifix is on my chain again."

Spiritual conflict? Wrote another, Casey TrueloveI, of Traverse City, Michigan: "I don't know if anyone else is having the same issues, but I've noticed an increase in spiritual combat recently. I was just curious if this was common  all around or just in my particular group of friends."

Very common, Casey.

The word we get is pray, hope, don't worry, but circle the spiritual wagons. Protect your families.

Use Holy Water frequently, and pray to Jesus for cleansing of your home. Do this daily. Many things are happening to many people. Pray and also fast. This is terrific protection. Fast and you will circle the wagons. During the Lenten season, and the next year, such will be especially important.

"Rosaries throughout the house.  St. Benedict rosaries. St. Benedict large medal on the front door.  Three-foot statue of Mary in the front lawn, statue of Jesus and Mary in a grotto in the back, Miraculous Medals buried at each corner of our lot, Holy Water fonts at the doors, exorcism salt," advises a viewer named Tony Rocha, taking matters seriously.

Much unseen swirls about us.

And then there are the visible evils. Oh, must we delve into it? The article we had on "Runescape" -- an internet game that involves witches -- drew the most response.

"My three children had been playing it for years," wrote Julie Vrana from Louisiana. "I knew this wasn't healthy, but it was just easier to turn a blind eye. The child I was most concerned about was my youngest Reed. The older two kids didn't care if I cancelled their subscription, but when I approached Reed with the idea he reacted violently. This was so unlike Reed who has a gentle and loving spirit. I knew he loved the game so I was going to let him 'come off' this game slowly. When I saw his reaction, I knew I didn't have a choice but to stop the addiction at once. I have to tell you it was the hardest thing we have ever done. He cried and I cried.  He wanted to give all the 'trophies' that he had collected over the last four years away to his friends. We spent thirty minutes giving them away and the next two hours crying.  I thank you for this article. It was time for us to rid this addiction from our lives."

Wrote Serge Saint-Prix of New York: "Read your excellent article and the warning is so important. Many people don't realize the danger of these simulation-of-occult practices. Regarding your own family experience, I would like to point out your need to remove all program files and data regarding that game. Any traces of that game in the computer should be destroyed and all disks destroyed and removed from your property, including booklets, books, notebooks, and any writings; all of the above can be a power source. Furthermore, I would suggest you and your spouse to do some deliverance prayers over your children. They don't have to be present, but a cutting off and cleansing of these experiences needs to be accomplished."

When we see the blindness and often the vehemence with which young players react to stories like the one we ran, we know there are spirits involved. We got some mail from angry youngsters. We have to stand by every word in the story.

"With respect to today's article, check out the children's series, 'Spiderwick Chronicles,'" advised another viewer. "One of the illustrators worked for 'Dungeons and Dragons.'  The author professes her lifelong interest in witchcraft. It affected a child I know negatively."

Perhaps we could hear about this from priests (and from the pulpit)?

And it certainly isn't just games like "Dungeons and Dragons," "Runescape," and "Magic: The Gathering." As a reader named Ronald Quinlan of Roselle Park, New Jersey, pointed out, "You should add to the list of dangerous games 'Yu Gi Oh.' I am a teacher in a Catholic school and noticed firsthand the negative power of  this card game. The first time I noticed it was when I had a Christian radio station on my computer for my students to listen to. We were in school at night waiting for our turn to sing in the Christmas program. A student arrived with Yu Gi Oh cards and the computer crashed. We got it back by sending the cards out of the room and placing blessed bibles on top of the computer.

"Over the past four years I've noticed that good students (B-A) who become involved with the cards usually drop drastically in grades. Those who are addicted to the cards get into trouble more often in class and are more likely to disrupt religion class. In at least one case one of our students has failed to be confirmed, missing the mandatory retreat twice. The night before the second retreat I called him 12 times to remind him but he was online playing Yu Gi Oh. It would be good to add the negative effects of involvement with the occult likely increases chance of depression and suicide. I've seen both of these occur with Yu Gi Oh players. I tried warning parents but they think I'm nuts."

God bless you, Ronald. When we are on the other side of the veil, many are those who will be surprised at who was really off base.

2/27/06