Superstitious Observances

It is futile and sinful to dabble in what is called magic, and to use charms, formulas of speech, or other devices, to obtain occult knowledge or to control events by evokingoccult powers. To do such things is to employ superstitiousobservances. Of course, the magic here mentioned is not the skilledtrickery of an entertainer, often called a magician, who diverts us with prestidigitation and legerdemain; his tricks are not superstitious practices. The magic we speak of as superstition is what people commonly call black magic. This sort of thingdebases the mind, dishonors God, and opens the door to diabolicalintervention.

The carrying or wearing of health charms, luck pieces,and the like, is, when done with serious intent of profiting by their use, a great evil; for such practice involves a belief in some preternatural force, other than God, which gives to the objects used a magical power. This belief is superstition, and is asin against religion.

Fortunetelling is a superstitious and unlawful practice, whether it be done by consulting a person, or by using cards, reading tea leaves, looking in a crystal ball, or employing other inept and futile observances. Similarly, it is superstition to give serious belief to the omens of luck, good or bad, such ashorseshoes, four-leaf clovers, the breaking of a mirror,seeing a black cat, passing under a ladder, and so on.

The using of incantations (recited or chanted formulas of words or sounds) and the wearing of written words on the person, inthe belief that such things have a protective power, are acts of superstition. Even sacred words and blessed objects such as medals must be used in the spirit of reverence to God, and never in theway of amulets or luck pieces.