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December 30, 2005
Reader Bleg re/evil
From a reader:
XXXX saw the Exorcism of Emily Rose and are worried about waking up at 3 AM frequently since seeing the movie - that's the time when the devil begins tormenting Emily. I didn't see the movie and I can't think of any particular significance to 3 AM, but I pointed out that the Bible has no 3 AM because there were no clocks back then. Perhaps the middle of the night was considered the most dangerous and vulnerable time of night? Would you or any of your knowledgable readers know?
"XXX are curious about whether there is any biblical/factual significance to the 3 a.m. time when satan began tormenting the girl in the emma rose exorcism movie. (they wonder if they should attach any significance to the fact that they've been waking up at that time fairly frequently since seeing the movie.) have you heard of any such thing? signed. freaked out in memphis."
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The middle of the night was midnight, wasn't it?
As for temptations and attacks by the devil, wasn't Jesus tempted during daylight hours to throw Himself off the cliff?
Posted by: Bauer at Dec 30, 2005 11:14:06 AM
I'd suggest that it might be because 3 am is the opposite of 3 pm - the traditional hour of Christ's passion.
Posted by: Gregg the obscure at Dec 30, 2005 11:15:20 AM
The most important thing to remember is that Jesus is the Lord of all times and that there is no time that does not belong to him. People who get carried away or "freaked out" about anything to do with Satan should not be encouraged to continue thinking along the lines that lead them to be so obsessed. The evil one is an attention hound, and the best thing to do is to laugh at him to show that he has no power over anyone, especially those who have been washed in the blood of the lamb. CS Lewis thought that laughter was the thing that most quickly deflates the pride belongining to the evil one.
The silly, actually childish, idea behind the 3:00 am thing is that it is 12 hours before the hour of 3:00 pm, the traditional hour of Christ's death.
The best thing for your friend to do if she continues to awaken at this hour is to offer a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for always being with her. While laughter is a good attitude, you can't laugh if you are really scared. The most powerful prayer against the evil one is based on "praise and thanksgiving" to God as these are the two things that Satan simply cannot do.
Posted by: chicago at Dec 30, 2005 11:17:00 AM
I think Greg the Obscure is rather clear this morning - 3:00pm is known as the Hour of Mercy, for at that hour the Sacrfice of Christ was consummated at Calvary. 3:00am then is used as a mockery of Our Lords Saving Sacrifice - I have heard that satanic covens often hold their services (the "black mass" is a (vain) attempt to un-do the Mass itself!) at 3:00am - I believe Fr. Corapi has mentioned this somewhere as well.
Posted by: Fr. Totton at Dec 30, 2005 11:19:23 AM
I haven't seen the movie, but it strikes me that given the time difference between the Holy Land & America, 3 am in the US might be equivalent to 3pm at Calvary - since I understand Emily Rose is portrayed as a Suffering Servant figure this would imply that she is sharing directly in the Passion of Jesus.
Posted by: hibernicus at Dec 30, 2005 11:22:44 AM
Chicago,
While I understand and admire your Christian maturity in regards to your advise, there is nothing silly in the "bewitching" hour of 3:00AM. It is niether childish, nor is it foolish. Saint Padre Pio as well as The Little Flower were oppressed as well as physically tormented by demons; Saint Faustina, through her pleads to The Devine Mercy of Christ, helped to lessen the demonic torments of dieing souls. None of these people invited these attacks other than they being being Christian. Sometimes Christ allow oppression in order to strengthen souls- at other times, as in the case of The Little Flower, it is to save souls through redemptive suffering.
The Devli is a negation of Good; 3:00PM is the Mercy Hour- the opposite, 3:00AM is thought to be the time of The Devil who mocks Christ's Mercy.
I see no reason for people to watch these movies, especially young people. Curiosity about Evil is normal, but viewing movies about demonic possesion just opens up trouble most people would rather avoid. I will not watch movies such as Emily Rose even though a few Priests gave it good reviews.
Prayer, fasting, and humility are the best ways to ward off diabolical oppression and/or torment. Humility especially is something The Devil abhors.
Posted by: JP at Dec 30, 2005 11:37:34 AM
It is sort of common knowledge that if anything is really bothering you, you'll probably wake up at about 3 AM to worry about it. Has something to do with circadian rhythms?
Posted by: Anita at Dec 30, 2005 11:40:54 AM
I would offer this:
Sometimes, when we watch a movie or read a book involving a vivid depiction of evil, there is a part of us that gets fascinated by it, and can both be drawn to it, and disturbed by it.
This can be a rather shocking experience, and certainly sobering. It can induce anxiety and fear; and/or it can wake us up to these things being real and not to be trifled with.
I'm not saying no one should ever watch, or read, such stories. But it is good to know our limits.
I would also say that the fascination with evil can be concealed under what seems a legitimate concern or interest. Many of our Pentecostal/Evangelical brethren will "pray against Satan," and when I was part of that movement, I found myself concerned by how frequently the evil one came up in such prayers. I came to believe that this was a mistake; a subtle, unintentional dualism, a kind of Manicheanism.
(The other night, Rev. Billy Graham referred to "two forces" in the world, God and evil. I have no doubt that Rev. Graham is orthodox on this point, but it was a sloppy and unhelpful way to talk about this. There simply is no comparison; any attempt to make any sort of comparison is an exaggeration of the evil one that cannot be quantified.)
I won't offer this as a mandate, but my own practice is to say little about the enemy of our souls; because that generally validates his conceit and deceit.
I would point to Sacred Scripture: you will go quite a way into the Bible before you will encounter an actual reference to any supernatural power other than God or his messengers (as opposed to passages understood, in light of later revelation, as referring to such forces).
When evil spirits are mentioned in the Old Testament, they are described as under God's control -- i.e., God "sent" an evil spirit to torment Saul. It is not really until the Gospels that you get a significant amount of information about such forces -- and notice, it is the Son of God who does battle with them, and he simply silences them and casts them out. He doesn't seem very interested in them -- he knows all he needs to know. And that's the Son of God.
Well, I could say more, but perhaps I've said too much already. This is a fascinating subject; and that very fascination can be a subtle distraction and snare.
Posted by: Fr Martin Fox (Septimus) at Dec 30, 2005 11:50:11 AM
JP,
Thanks for your comments. In case there's some misunderstanding in the way I expressed myself, I do not believe that there's anything silly or unbelievable about the suffering of the saints in regard to their experiences of evil. I realize there's a thought that 3:00 am is some special hour, but I am not aware that the saints you mention only were effected at 3:00 am by such experiences. The devil has no more power at 3:00 am than at any other time, as can be witnessed on the daily news programs detailing his works every hour of every day of the year. He uses these "special thoughts" or "special times" to gain a toe-hold in the minds of those he is trying to frighten, and therefore, such notions should be discouraged.
I don't see any relation between your post and what one should do in regards to being scared by a movie into believing that Satan has power over you. Satan had no power over the saints you mention, rather the Lord permitted them to share in his suffering, all the while being secure in the knowledge that Satan is ultimately powerless in the most profound way -- he can't experience God's love.
Those who are not saints should be discouraged from any line of thought that leads them to believe that Satan has any power over them, as that can result in the obsessive kinds of thought that the evil one can use to make things even worse. From their lack of knowledge and from their reported fear, I concluded that these people are not yet at the level of spiritual maturity of the saints you mention.
I would be surprised if the saints you mention would not agree that praise and thanksgiving are the most powerful prayers against the evil ones. The demons flee from these prayers.
Posted by: chicago at Dec 30, 2005 11:52:36 AM
http://www.aboutjeffmessenger.com/articles/article/2272651/36635.htm
According to this article by Jeff Messenger 3AM represents an attack on the trinity.
"A few tried and true signs of diabolical infestation is the mocking of the Trinity. Sounds or attacks usually occur in a series of three. Three AM is the favorite time for such entities to do their worst."
Posted by: Joe Gloor at Dec 30, 2005 12:04:26 PM
First, some secular input. I suffer from mild sleep apnea and tend to wake up around 2 a.m. in a fright. The sleep doctor that I consulted said my experience is typical of someone who has sleep apnea. He explained that what happens is that the sleep apnea causes you to have trouble breathing, that this in turn causes you to think that you are suffocating, and that you then become frightened.
That said, I recently have had the experience of being frightened by the idea of demons and agree with Fr. Fox and Chicago that it is best to not become obsessed with these things. I came upon the subject by way of reading about Marian apparitions. When pondering what Marian apparitions might be, I wondered if the phenomenon of alien abductions was in any way similar and so I began to read about alien abductions. What I learned about them was very frightening -- they are as real as Marian apparitions and, although no one really knows what they are, I believe they are the work of demons. I've decided to respond by praying more and not reading any further about the subject. (Incidentally, alien abductions often, but not always, occur in the early hours of the morning -- I've never heard that they occur around 3:00 a.m. though.)
Posted by: Dan at Dec 30, 2005 12:12:09 PM
I don't know if this is a traditional or new devotion, but my friends and I understand the 3am hour as the time of intercesion for the souls in Purgatory. I have always seen it as a time to pray for people who have no one to pray for them: a sacrifice of sleep for the sake of someone you don't know.
Posted by: genevieve at Dec 30, 2005 12:18:46 PM
From Shakespeare (Catholic, acc. to Peter Milward, SJ), Hamlet:
It (Hamlet's ghostly father) faded on the crowing of the cock.
Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long;
And then, they say, no spirit can walk abroad;
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallowed and so gracious is the time. (1.1.157)
All evil flees the "bird of dawning" - St Peter's crowing rooster - of our Eucharistic Lord. Cowering, panicky fear of satan needs prayer for more faith IN our Eucharistic Lord's power, else we are bowing to the satanic's false impotence.
Posted by: Jeff at Dec 30, 2005 12:30:10 PM
When I told a priest friend of mine that I frequently wake up at the same time every night (interestingly enough, it's 3 a.m.)he encouraged me to pray for someone who may be in need of prayer. So now, I grab my rosary, pray for whomever may need the prayers, and fall back asleep.
Posted by: lourdes at Dec 30, 2005 12:45:45 PM
In "Something Wicked This Way Comes" we see this description of the hours of the night:
3AM is the worst hour to wake up. If you wake up at 2AM you've still got plenty of time to roll over and get more sleep. If you wake up at 4AM you can just get up and have an early start on your day. But 3AM is stuck right in the middle. The worst.
And it is taken as a bad sign that the carnival train arrives in town at 3AM.
Posted by: joel at Dec 30, 2005 12:53:56 PM
I learned that I seem to do better when I steer clear of negative input of any kind - violent, sexually explicit, or evil-creepy shows, music, films, books, internet material, etc.
This policy reduces my choices an awful lot, but then, when you think about it, it opens up many opportunities, too: there are an awful lot of passages of St. Thomas and St. Augustine I've never read, loads of Shakespeare I'm unfamiliar with, and there are any number of ballets and operas I haven't seen yet. So I find I've got plenty of time for these things!
Posted by: Marion (Mael Muire) at Dec 30, 2005 12:57:14 PM
Say the prayer to St. Michael, then a rosary.
Posted by: John J. Simmins at Dec 30, 2005 12:59:50 PM
I agree with Joel about 3 a.m. being rotten timing as far as going back to sleep and with Chicago that the best response to fear at night is to say prayer of praise and thanksgiving. Works every time.
Posted by: Mary Kay at Dec 30, 2005 1:10:38 PM
While remaining wary of the traps others have warned about, I second the suggestion of John and others: If you find yourself awakened in the middle of the night, pray for the first person who comes to mind and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
Posted by: Cranky Lawyer at Dec 30, 2005 1:14:12 PM
1. Anita and Dar have good points that there can be a physical element to the 3:00 a.m. timing in circadian rhythms and a possible sleep disorder. Also, if XXXx is drinking alcohol at bedtime to try to sleep better, then XXXX should consider that it is normal for alcholo to actually tend to wake someone up, perhaps around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m., when it wears off. Better to stick to one glass of sherry or Chardonnay at night if waking up at 3:00 has been a problem.
2. Prayer and Scripture reading are excellent weapons. I would keep a rosary and Bible by my bed. Use them whenever XXXX wakes up and see how quickly it puts the mind to rest. Where there may be true Satanic involvement, the demonic world would much rather have XXXX sleep than pray or read Scripture.
3. Depending on XXXX's work schedule and other time commitments, it might help for XXXX to pray all 8 hours of sixth century Benedictine practice until this problem is resolved. Prayer before retiring, going to bed early, rising to pray in the middle of the night, and then rising early in the morning to pray before the beginning of the day, could make for a restful sleep through the 3:00 a.m. hour.
4. Consider that it may be God who is waking XXXX to give XXXX time to pray for those who are afflicted or under demonic deception, at a time when XXXX will have no distractions from prayer.
Posted by: Teresa Polk at Dec 30, 2005 1:18:57 PM
As someone with a vivid imagination, I am often attacked by Satan through my own ability to visualize and "stick" on creepy things.
I've learned over the years that avoiding frightening movies is the way to go. And when I say frightening, I mean anything supernatural (hey, bring on Jaws and disaster movies!).
More than two years ago I went to see a zombie movie. I'd always liked scary movies before that. But I was pregnant with my second son, and pregnancy messes with my already fertile imagination.
That movie quite literally pushed me into a terror -- panic attacks and nightmares for months and months. I couldn't sleep in a darkened room for almost a year. I'm convinced the evil one was using my most vulnerable trait against me. And yes, I often woke at three am.
What worked? Lots of prayers, especially the rosay and appeals to St. Michael the archangel.
The solution -- no more scary movies for me.
Posted by: Cin at Dec 30, 2005 1:25:24 PM
3am is traditionally the time for monks to get up and pray the divine office.
A number of Catholics seem to naturally wake up at 3am for prayer. It's the best thing to do at that hour because its a rare moment of quiet and peace.
God Bless
Posted by: Chris Sullivan at Dec 30, 2005 1:31:00 PM
Where there may be true Satanic involvement, the demonic world would much rather have XXXX sleep than pray or read Scripture.
I wonder if that's good advice for a stranger based on a secondhand description from a blog reader -- seems like it could lead some people to unwarranted fear of getting needed sleep as something "Satan wants them to do" when they could be praying. (Speaking from similar experience from younger years, when I had less perspective on OCD/scrupulous tendencies which still trouble me.)
Posted by: thomasina at Dec 30, 2005 1:34:49 PM
Chris Sullivan is right about 3:00 a.m. as the traditional hour for Lauds. Yet, it is often switched to sunrise. When I wrote before that observing the hours would let you sleep through 3:00 a.m., I was, of course, thinking of praying at midnight and then sunrise. :-) I found this page from someone's website with a list and description of each of the traditional Benedictine hours:
http://members.aol.com/DWFrancis/Prayer/hours.html
Posted by: Teresa Polk at Dec 30, 2005 1:47:55 PM
Thomasina, I will take your word for it as to scrupulous tendencies and obsessions. I wasn't thinking specifically of someone with that sort of problem.
Posted by: Teresa Polk at Dec 30, 2005 2:14:01 PM
XXXX saw the Exorcism of Emily Rose and are worried about waking up at 3 AM frequently since seeing the movie
Emily's demons as far as I know did not materialize after she watched a Hollywood production intentionally designed to spook and make us fear our own shadow. So let's not forget XXXX started having these episodes because of a movie which itself drew attention and gave special significance to the 3rd hour of night. I do not dismiss demonic possession categorically nor Satan's use of our darkest imagination, but shouldn't we rule out psychological forces first, as I believe the characters in the film sought to do? Otherwise, prayers made with superstitious or scrupulous intent often feed right into Satan's hands, as do excessively speculative readings of signs & symbols, IMHO.
Posted by: L.T. at Dec 30, 2005 2:14:08 PM
L.T.,
Looking for psychological forces perhaps assumes that there is something abnormal about a person who is deeply disturbed by a movie, when many of our present day movies are created with the intention of being disturbing. For someone who has not seen enough of such things to have become immune to them, it is normal to be somewhat traumatized.
Part of what you said troubled me. It is important to make a distinction between having a disciplined prayer life, which includes set hours for prayer -- on the one hand -- and praying with superstitious or scrupulous intent -- on the other. Most people who pray a lot, and people who pray the hours, do not do so out of superstition or scrupulous intent but rather out of discipline in a personal or monastic rule of life.
What is helpful to one person may be harmful to another. I agreed with Thomasina in that there is clearly no "one size fits all" in responding to this kind of problem. But those who found much prayer to be helpful in responding to such problems are speaking from experience, as I am.
A healthy prayer life should lead a person into meditation and away from obsession and scrupulosity, not into it. The six set liturgical hours are part of the normal Benedictine lifestyle today, and not a psychological abnormality. In an exceptional situation, the 8 original Benedictine hours could be a helpful discipline. Whether that is so for XXX is for XXX and those who counsel XXX to decide. One hopes XX has access to a good priest or spiritual advisor who can also discern whether there are physical or psychological issues at play.
Posted by: Teresa Polk at Dec 30, 2005 2:44:29 PM
Hospital workers can tell you that more people die at night than during the daylight hours, though that doesn't address 3:00 specifically.
Posted by: Bradamante at Dec 30, 2005 3:03:25 PM
Hmm,
Now that I think of it, I did wake up at 3:00am only hours after I had seen the film myself!
Posted by: Fr. Totton at Dec 30, 2005 3:08:00 PM
According to a biblical commentary the hour two to three is the most depressing of the night.It is the hour when most people who pass away at night die.That is why Christ came to the apostles on the sea at this watch.
Posted by: sacerdos at Dec 30, 2005 3:14:25 PM
According to a biblical commentary the hour two to three is the most depressing of the night.It is the hour when most people who pass away at night die.That is why Christ came to the apostles on the sea at this watch.
Posted by: sacerdos at Dec 30, 2005 3:15:04 PM
I've been told that we're first supposed to pursue natural explanations for what might appear to be events with supernatural forces involved. Not to dismiss these concerns (as I often get frightened at scary movies myself, which is why I don't watch them), but it could be that any evil forces at play here are not causing this woman to wake up at 3 a.m., but instead taking advantage the fact that this person is waking up (something which, as others have pointed out, is caused by normal sleep problems) and exploiting any fears. I agree with all those others who say to offer a prayer for the souls in purgatory and then get back to sleep. The devil doesn't deserve any more effort.
Posted by: Mary at Dec 30, 2005 3:48:40 PM
My mother always said that if you watched horror movies right before bedtime, you'd have bad dreams and wake up in the middle of the night. I never had trouble with movies, but there's an Octavia Butler novel I'll never read again, I promise you! Two nights in a row waking up in a cold sweat was more than enough for me.
I do have a tendency to wake up at midnight or 3 AM, but it never occurred to me to fear this. That just means you can watch World News Now or EWTN or Cartoon Network.
This is not to discount Satan, of course. But I don't think we need to fear Satan on this one so much as we need to work on the whole insomnia thing.
As for 'alien abductions', some seem to be closely related to the whole "you think you're awake, but you're not really awake yet, so your body won't let you move" thing. If they weren't seeing aliens, these folks would be imagining that their cat was sucking out their breath or an old hag was sitting on their chests and trying to kill them.
Others do seem to be a lot like visions. But as Father Groeschel's books say, you may get a vision from God (or the Devil, or even a hallucination from your own brain), but how you end up interpreting it depends on a lot on you and your experiences. A lot of people today don't want to see angels or devils; they want to see little gray men. So they do.
(This is yet another reason why religious education and discernment are important. If God is trying to tell you something, you don't want to see a UFO or fairies instead! And if you're just having a hallucination or being demonically tricked, you don't want to mistake that for Mary, either!)
Posted by: Maureen at Dec 30, 2005 3:56:08 PM
Try this experiment. Disconnect all clocks which depend on electricity; non-electrical clocks and watches bury them in a closet. If you have to get up at a certain time, depend on a friend to phone you.
How did those pre mechanical clock monks know when to get up during darkness to pray? Was one of them designated to sit by the sand clock or the calibrated candle to declare the time? It must have been very inaccurate even without time zones and daylight saving. Did the devil invent the mechanical clock to make people feel guilty about being late--or too early with prayers--let alone to make layfolk sin against charity by being late or slow with work and appointments?
Posted by: Caroline at Dec 30, 2005 4:20:38 PM
Maureen, I don't think you can dismiss the alien abduction thing as easily as you do. There may be an element of sleep paralysis, as you suggest, but pretty credible people who have studied the phenomenon, including David Jacobs (a professor at Temple University) and Dr. Mack (who was on Havard's faculty), do not believe they are dreams or hallucinations. I haven't read that much about the subject, nor do I intend to, but the little I have read suggests that there is much in common between modern alien abduction stories and much older stories concerning demons and "faeries."
Posted by: Dan at Dec 30, 2005 4:51:35 PM
Satanic hours? . . . Death after dark? . . . Alien abductions?
'Pon my word!
Amy, if your correspondent "Freaked out in Memphis" were to read this thread, instead of spending tonight lying awake in bed, they'll probably end up hiding underneath it.
Posted by: Marion (Mael Muire) at Dec 30, 2005 5:40:36 PM
Get real!! Its your bladder not some Dante myth.
Posted by: Realist at Dec 30, 2005 5:54:38 PM
Realist, do you have any facts to support your claim that the bladder has anything to do with it?
Posted by: Dan at Dec 30, 2005 6:04:15 PM
I've always heard of the hours between 3 and 5 referred to as the "suicide hours." I think it's a pretty common human experience that when you awaken, for whatever reason, in those pre-dawn hours, all of the worries and fears that are lurking in your subconscious suddenly seem to be foremost in your mind. When it happens to me I find myself lying awake and fretting about family illnesses, finances, etc.
Prayer is a good idea! But I still hate waking up, inadvertently, at that time of night.
Not sure what any of this has to do with Emily Rose or her exorcism, but there's my .02...
Posted by: CV at Dec 30, 2005 6:12:28 PM
I'm not sure where I read it... probably one of the many mystics... but it was mentioned that Our Lord's resurrection occurred at the 3:00 a.m. hour, in opposition and answering the seeming triumph of evil over His death at the 3:00 p.m. hour. The one hour, just before the darkness, the other hour, just before the light. That is why Satan is so angry and lashes out against those he may still have influence over at that hour... and why those who are summoned at that hour are asked to pray for poor sinners possibly being more tempted at that time.
Posted by: chris K at Dec 30, 2005 6:52:50 PM
Whoever mentioned 3am as the hour for lauds brought to mind the fact that the book of hours or divine office is actually meant to divide the day in 8 three hour segments. Lauds I being from 3am to 6am and Lauds II being from 6am to 9am. The divine office's primary purpose is to worship our Lord but it does have a secondary purpose of warding off evil. The good news is that there is an office for every time of night. While no one needs to say the entire office if they just want something to help them fall asleep it may help to do a little bit from the office of the day and remember that somewhere in the world there is a monk or religious praying for them! Never forget that all time is God's. The idea that the devil owns a particular time of a night is just an illusion.
I found this passage from the intro to the bok of hours pretty interesting:
The Church lives in time and with time. This truth is brought out beautifully in the canonical hours. They provide a perfect way to consecrate the whole day to God, to make it holy. The admonition of our Lord that we are to pray and not grow weary is thus perfectly fulfilled. For every part of the day the Church has drawn up a special prayer form, an hour, as it is called, that corresponds to the particular need of that time of day...
Matins Midnight to 3am
It is night. The turmoil of the day has died away and everything is still. The Church is at prayer. She remembers the night-time prayer of her Bridegroom; she thinks of the night vigils of the early Christians in the catacombs. Times have changed, but the Church continues to insist that night is not just for sleep; night is a time for prayer. From earliest ages Matins was the Church's prayer for the second coming; she prayed and waited for the return of Christ as Judge of all the world. We are all like virgins in the parable, waiting for the bridegroom with our lamps in hand.
First Lauds 3am to 6am
Lauds is a jubilant hour, fresh as the morning dew, perhaps the most beautiful of all the hours. Its symbolism deserves attention. It is night; nature and men are asleep. In the far east the grey of dawn appears; then the ruddy hue of morning, the harbinger of a new day, spreads across the horizon, and the world of nature begins to stir. It was at this beautiful hour that our Savior burst the bonds of death! Resurrection - that is the background theme of lauds.
Posted by: jb at Dec 30, 2005 7:10:57 PM
3 AM is sometimes known as the "Hour of the Wolf". This phrase was used as the title of an Ingmar Bergman horror film and also a Babylon 5 episode.
Posted by: Lawrence King at Dec 30, 2005 8:10:51 PM
Data supporting the three A.M. bladder syndrome? Sure, everyone of those commenting here went wee-wee at three. It even rhymes. Wee-wee at one, two, four, five or six does not rhyme. I believe it is also called the "poet syndrome".
Posted by: Realist at Dec 30, 2005 8:43:50 PM
"In a real dark night of the soul, it is always three o'clock in the morning, day after day."
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Posted by: Woodland Critter at Dec 30, 2005 8:53:32 PM
It's important to remember that the German bishops were supported by the doctrinal congregation in their rejection of the kind of pastoral approach to "possession" used in this case. Cardinal Ratzinger forbade all exorcisms in Germany until the ritual had been revised. And the claim made in a certain popular work that the "new prayers" of exorcism "don't work" belong in the same category as Malachy Martin's Irish blarney in HOSTAGE TO THE DEVIL. It grieves me that Scott Peck continued to admire Martin as an "expert" on exorcism even while acknowledging that he was a liar.
Posted by: Tom Haessler at Dec 30, 2005 9:38:00 PM
Mechanical clocks were invented by monks, so that they could more easily keep the canonical hours. Sundials and water clocks existed from Roman times.
Marked candles were also used to keep time in the dark. Even now, you will sometimes find a candle marked as designed to last X many hours.
And I take alien abductions just as seriously as I take visits from the Wee Folk. Exactly as seriously. They are both fascinating and nasty manifestations of folklore, which I devoutly hope will never manifest around me. Heh!
Look, I try not to rain on anyone's parade. But if people are coming up with crazy ideas which are just designed to get into this poor tired person's head and make a bad situation worse, I will do my best to send a veritable downpour on said parade.
All this devil/alien talk is like standing by some poor already-creeped-out camper's bedside and whispering stories about the guy with the hook and the guy with the cannibalistic junkyard dogs.
Sick, twisted, and not at all helpful.
And if by chance the guy with the hook and the guy with the cannibalistic junkyard dogs really were coming up the hill, that would be the time to be discussing offensive and defensive action, not "why we are dooooooomed, because the devil owns 3 AM. And time. And alarm clocks. And...."
Tell these people to relax, pray before bedtime, turn off extraneous lights, and just go to bed. It'll take some time to get back on a normal sleep schedule, but insomnia happens to all of us now and then.
They might also ask around to find out if the neighbor with the noisy truck is coming home or leaving for work at 3 AM. (Mine leaves at 4 AM. I do love his work schedule.)
Posted by: Maureen at Dec 30, 2005 10:34:06 PM
I can relate to sleeping difficulties- I am easily spooked and lead a high stress student lifestyle (odd sleeping & eating patterns, grade worries, etc). For a number of months I had similar difficulties (waking up in the dead of the night) with fears of evil. I spoke to a good friend who also happens to be a psychologist (and is very devout), here is what he told me:
1) Go out of your way to structure your eating & sleeping schedule. Simple things like avoiding fluids before bed, avoiding foods that cause too much stomach acid can help sleeping be more sound. Waking up and going to bed at the same time is helpful too.
2) If possible, work out a bit. It relieves stress, etc.
3) Undertake activties you find comforting and relaxing- such as prayer or maybe playing some light music. If you convince yourself you're safe you will sleep like you are safe.
4) Avoid activities you find uncomfortable and stressful. For example- I no longer watch the evening news, I find it depressing and it gets me all worked up before bed.
5) Talk about what's going on with a friend or a professional. Simply acknowleding the issue and getting down to its 'roots' can help a person take control over the situation, which is often helpful.
6) Attend Daily Mass and Weekly Confession.
So what does all this actually do about the problem? Well, it attempts a 'simple solution' to what might be a simple problem. Certainly none of the above could hurt, so why not employ them? If these methods are undertaken with an openness to the possibility that the problem can be solved using them it is likely the issue will be resolved.
My long distance diagnosis... maybe seeing the movie awakened an internal desire to have a better relationship with God, and the 3 am awakening is an unconscience expression of that desire?
Posted by: SLU Student at Dec 31, 2005 12:00:22 AM
SLU Student noted:
"Go out of your way to structure your eating & sleeping schedule. Simple things like avoiding fluids before bed" i.e. to prevent "weeweeing" in the night? And of course thereby avoiding the poet syndrome.
Posted by: Realist at Dec 31, 2005 12:14:02 AM
Maureen, your comments are eminently sensible. Especially this one:
All this devil/alien talk is like standing by some poor already-creeped-out camper's bedside and whispering stories about the guy with the hook and the guy with the cannibalistic junkyard dogs.
Posted by: Donna V. at Dec 31, 2005 1:12:49 AM
I think the first time I heard about the 3 am hour as significant for spiritual battle was when I was in college. One of my friends who had been previously involved in the occult explained to a small group of household brothers that he would see visions of a large snarling dog in his dorm room regularly at that hour, and asked for our prayers.
Of course it's not wise to freak out about such things. I mean, really, who is in charge? Focusing on the hour is rather tangential... we are reminded, especially by the Christians of the East, to pray without ceasing. I know hearing that story changed my focus when waking up in the middle of the night. I decided to set my weekly hour of adoration in the perpetual adoration chapel to Fridays at 2 am... an hour in advance, to pray for those most in need. I kept that same hour for the next ten years. It was a great time to pray -- my mind uncluttered after just enough sleep, and I would go back to bed at 3 am with the greatest peace.
Posted by: Clayton at Dec 31, 2005 6:19:22 AM
PS - My former household brother has gone on to become a priest -- and an excellent one at that. All is well that ends well, no?
Posted by: Clayton at Dec 31, 2005 6:22:52 AM
I don't see movies very often, in fact our home has been TV-free for over 7 years. As someone who gets scared easily I don't watch or read such things. But my dh wanted to go see this movie. So we did and I had the same frightening episodes as the original poster.
I started praying the St Michael's Prayer everytime I woke and was scared as well as the Guardian Angel prayer. Our family started praying to St Michael's before bed. I thought about why I was scared, did I have any mortal sin to confess? I took it as a warning, a message from God that I better start acting better, I better not presume that I was going to go to Heaven, that Hell was a distinct possibility. I took the movie seriously and remember distinctly that on Emily Rose's gravestone is the biblical passage, "I will work out my salvation with fear and trembling".
After several months I have finally ceased the scary episodes. My stand is that it was partly me, my own fears with no help from anyone, but partly it was the Devil, trying to pull me away from God. If I cling to Him then I will be safe.
As an aside I went on a retreat to Montecassino, Italy with a group of Catholic ladies. We were in a guesthouse right outside the monastary gates. In the middle of the night the most prayerful woman present woke up crying and screaming. She said she could see dark wispy things flying around in the place. It was very scary, but we gathered around her in a circle and prayed the rosary for about 90 minutes. She calmed down, we went to sleep and it was never mentioned again.
Posted by: kat at Dec 31, 2005 7:31:10 AM
Twas nightcap Cappucino and all through the house screaming was heard as all went wee wee into the night.
Posted by: Realist at Dec 31, 2005 10:06:39 AM
I've never thought of waking up in the middle of the night (which I do fairly often) as anything more than an inconvenience, albeit a major one if it happens for so long and so often that one is generally tired and groggy during the waking hours. I'm surprised that so many others are treating such a mundane thing as a horribly traumatic event.
Posted by: James Kabala at Dec 31, 2005 12:17:21 PM
3 AM also relates to the Bahai faith:
"At 3am on this date in 1892, Baha'u'llah is believed to have left his earthly garment after 40 years of exile and imprisonment."
In a secular vein, Simon and Garfunkel had an album entitled "Wednesday morning, 3 AM"
Posted by: Ann at Dec 31, 2005 1:52:21 PM
I find it a little concerning that people are attributing so much power to a created being who is less than a speck of a speck of a speck in relation to the inexpressibly wondrous, infinite, boundless Creator, who is also our Savior who invested everything in our salvation, all Creation is bent on it.
If such knowledge is not sufficient to sleep peacefully, "the problem, dear Brutus, is not in the stars, but in ourselves."
Posted by: Fr Martin Fox (Septimus) at Dec 31, 2005 2:28:18 PM
On a Protestant Bible site, I found that Jesus walked on the water to the apostles in their boat at the last watch of the night. At first Peter thought it was an evil spirit. In Roman times, the period from 6 PM to 6 AM is divided into 4 watches of 3 hours each. So the approximate beginning time of the last watch of the night is 3 AM.
Remember how Jesus asked the apostles before his agony to stay awake and watch with him and they just couldn't make it? At 3 AM there aren't many folks awake to help you if you need help. And I remember waking up a few times around 3 AM and hearing a lonesome train whistle and realizing how most of the people who lived around me were in the deepest part of their sleep and weren't hearing that whistle at all. You feel really, really alone and vulnerable then.
As to the silliness of being scared by a movie - that's bunk. When I was a kid I had nightmares about flying monkeys for weeks after seeing Wizard of Oz. I avoided seeing Rosemary's Baby when I was pregnant with my first child and never have seen it. Movies, plays and books can really play on your emotions and unconscious fears.
I think "Freaked Out in Memphis" is looking for some explanation of the Biblical or literary significance of 3 AM in the movie to dispell unwanted 3 AM nocturnal fears in the real world. You know, that 3 AM is symbolic and not really when the devil is out and about - as shown in the movie.
Posted by: Julia at Dec 31, 2005 2:38:53 PM
I find it a little concerning that people are attributing so much power to a created being who is less than a speck of a speck of a speck in relation to the inexpressibly wondrous, infinite, boundless Creator, who is also our Savior who invested everything in our salvation, all Creation is bent on it.
Ah, yes, Fr. Fox, how true. But apparently poor P. Pio wasn't bloodied by a "speck" on those awful nights... and he didn't speak to his guardian angel for quite a while due to his lack of assistance! nor, the great patron of parish priests... the Cure of Ars in his battles... but all for the sake of saving those who weren't so strong in their battles as these humble giants.
Posted by: chris K at Dec 31, 2005 8:11:56 PM
chris:
The instances you describe are extraordinary; only certain saints are permitted to face such battles precisely because they are saints.
Or do you subscribe to the belief that God remains aloof as a rebellious angel seeks to take control of any of his beloved? Hmm, curious.
My point was that there's a lot of undue attention being given to the evil one here.
I invite you to cite St. Pio, or St. John Vianney, recommending Christians spend their time contemplating the powers of the evil one, wondering what they are like, etc. -- i.e., the sorts of fascination that has preoccupied this thread.
I await your citations...
Posted by: Fr Martin Fox (Septimus at Dec 31, 2005 9:02:45 PM
Fr. Fox, I believe you read me wrongly. At least your reaction to my comments appears to me to demonstrate that difficulty. I agreed with your former point... no? But I was pointing out that, for some permitted humans with a strong role to play in God's plan, have indeed wrestled with some tough representatives of the dark side. Children as well have witnessed the depths of hell to prove that it exists... and led there by the Blessed Mother Herself (great coverage). The very fact that I mentioned that their sufferings and struggles (Pio and the Cure), btw, always triumphant, had a definite purpose of saving souls, should demonstrate that God therefore could not remain aloof in such cases, since it was only with His permission and therefore His grace that good overcame the attempts by evil in these cases. I would say, though, that for decades now, the success of evil has been to convince the general public that it and its representative do not exist... the great triumph... or so it was thought. And one must admit that the necessary calling forth of a greater number of exorcists these days... especially in Italy... now I believe, in some other countries as well, points to a greater activity and perhaps susceptibility by those who, unfortunately, have not learned the recourse to their Savior due to the culture in which we live today. So I'm sorry not to be able to cite something from the saints that I never even alluded to in the first place. I just meant that in particular situations, the devil does not appear anyway near as just "a speck". And those poor souls who have been in need of an exorcist's assistance, through no fault of their own, have experienced true terror... and P. Pio witnessed such cases because they were brought to him.
Posted by: chris K at Dec 31, 2005 10:43:43 PM
Take a cross to bed with you and keep it under your pillow. Helps to remind you to say prayers when you wake up scared....
Posted by: jane M at Dec 31, 2005 11:28:24 PM
Re: being scared by a movie
I don't think anyone, including me, meant that it was silly to be scared by a scary movie. Since some people get pleasantly spooked by horror flicks and other don't get spooked at all, naturally there are some people who are going to take it hard.
But on the other hand, there's a lot to be said for giving your mind a stiff talking to about "it was only a movie". Yes, serial killers are scary, and serial killers are real, but if you go to see some nasty serial killer flick, you can't let yourself see serial killers in every dark corner for much longer than the trip home. You can't, because you just can't live that way.
(Though mostly, I gave myself a stern talking-to about being stupid enough to read that creeeeepy Octavia Butler book, and made a solemn vow not to read another!)
We don't have total control over our minds, of course, but we can focus on good thoughts (or go see some really nice, gentle, totally non-scary movie). We can also watch for our thoughts going into non-productive ruts and think about something else instead.
If the Devil were tormenting someone with dark thoughts, it would probably frustrate him no end to have her think about fluffy bunnies, happy sunshine, and the Lord's constant and protective love instead of demons and possession. Just a thought. :)
Posted by: Maureen at Jan 1, 2006 12:22:36 AM
How about a nightlight w/ either Jesus, or as someone mentioned before, St. Michael the Archangel? Something comforting, glowing in that darkness, to remind us of the victory over that which we fear.
Bon Soir..
Posted by: St. Jimbob of the Apokalypse at Jan 1, 2006 1:57:41 AM
I agree wholeheartedly with Father Fox about not becoming fascinated by evil beings or evil deeds.
St. Paul says, "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Phil 4:6-8)
To concern oneself day and night with thinking only about what is "true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and praiseworthy" sounds to me like the beginnings of a sure-fire recipe for emotional and spiritual health.
And to spend any significant time at all thinking about evil, sounds to me like a recipe for . . . well, the opposite of one's own health.
Posted by: Marion (Mael Muire) at Jan 1, 2006 2:08:55 AM
Chris:
I did indeed misunderstand you, for which I apologize. Your point -- now that you have patiently explained it further -- makes perfect sense and I agree.
Posted by: Fr Martin Fox (Septimus at Jan 1, 2006 1:11:56 PM
"But apparently poor P. Pio wasn't bloodied by a "speck" on those awful nights... and he didn't speak to his guardian angel for quite a while due to his lack of assistance! nor, the great patron of parish priests... the Cure of Ars in his battles... but all for the sake of saving those who weren't so strong in their battles as these humble giants."
IMHO, more embellishment by the Capuchins since it aided their cause for canonization. I don't think St. Francis of Assisi would be happy with the "Pio-ites" and their demons.
Posted by: Realist at Jan 2, 2006 10:30:00 AM
Dreams occur during REM sleep (rapid eye movement sleep). REM sleep occurs in a fairly regular pattern every couple of hours. The longest periods of REM sleep occur at about 2-3am. During REM sleep your temperature usually dissociates, and you will usually be unusually cold and clammy during a very long REM
If you arouse during REM sleep you will remember your dreams. You may also (rarely) see things (hypnagogic hallucinations) briefly. These are dream intrusions. You may also (rarely) have sleep paralysis where you are unable to move for a few seconds. REM sleep is actually very close to waking, so it is easy to arouse at this time, especially if you have sleep apnea, restless legs, or are unsettled because you watched scary movies.
My own feeling is:
1. get a night light.
2. say a prayer to St. Michael
3. Ask your family physician to give you a prescription for Anafranil for a couple of weeks to suppress REM related nightmares until you have stopped thinking about the movie.
4. If you are still having problems, after six weeks or so, a sleep study to look for sleep apnea may be in order.
Good luck.
Shari DeSilva, MD
Board Certified Sleep Medicine.
Posted by: shari at Jan 3, 2006 8:59:05 PM
The "3am thing" happens to attack me often. Whenever I'm having a bad dream, I will usually be awakened and surprised and scared to see that it's EXACTLY 3am. There were also times when I woke up at exactly 3am and started to feel an invisible presense lurking inside my room. I would then pray and eventually get back to sleep. Since then I started to pray every night before going to sleep. It worked. Though, whenever I would forget to pray before going to rest, I would wake up at exactly 3am again. Then will pray....
Prayer is the best solution.
Posted by: Richard at Jan 5, 2006 5:48:01 AM
There's something to this 3 AM phenomena; I've noticed it too at times in my life, usually occurring in a consistent pattern over a period of a few days. Why that same time? Why not 2:30 one night, then 3:00 the next??
I think we should be humble and entertain any possibility; if a phenomena cannot be reproduced on demand, that does not necessarily obviate its validity.
But understand that the functioning of the brain is poorly understood. One thing that has worked for me is auto-suggestion. If I meditate on a time that I need wake up at when falling asleep, I generally wake up at that EXACT time (though I find that won't work if you don't get a normal amount of sleep...) So apparently some portion of the brain is "awake" that whole time and can sense the passage of time based on experience. I'm also sure I'm not the only one who's experienced this (as a Search might show).
So the 3 AM waking could simply be auto-suggestion; it could be a peak time for REM transition based on when noise starts to die down in most places (midnight); it could be an ESP/spirit communication thing; or it could be due to some other as of yet undiscovered cause. Who is to say that it's sometimes one, sometimes another, sometimes a combination of three? (hence, a "triple-witching" event...)
We know from experience that there are bad things out there, and it is healthy to be afraid of them; I believe avoiding people, places, or things based on intuition can sometimes save us; the subliminal mind sometimes can identify patterns of danger that the focused conscious mind cannot. But those intuitive prejudices (which will somtimes be valid, and sometimes not) must always stand up to the scrutiny of introspection and reexamination; this is the yin-yang conflict that I believe human consciousness is always engaged in (sort of like Freud's id/superego conflict, but instead of the conflict revolving around moral compunction, I believe it revolves around the conflict of linear experiences versus what new beliefs we can logically construct based on juxtaposing and rearranging the fragments, or DNA, as it were, of pure experience). So like Rousseau advocated, and many before him, we must not just experience but interpret what we sense to determine if it is a message or indicator of something, or a prejudiced notion (by analogy, like the famous moon rock that was photographed and appeared to be a frament of a statue's face, but just turned out by coincidence of shadow to appear to be that...)
Circumstantial misleading experiences, like that photo, won't hold up under further scrutiny. Be patient in getting to the bottom of it, and don't fear doing so. If you've examined your recurring experience by thinking hard on it, searching your memories and feelings, and it has no signifigance, get on with living; life's too short to waste living most of it in fear. I personally believe there is such a thing as Evil, and living most of your life in fear and regret is exactly the sort of thing that it would want you to do...
Posted by: Observer at Jan 9, 2006 4:12:14 AM
Hello. I just wanted to comment that after seeing "Emily Rose" I, too, woke up a few times at 3am. The first night I was scared but then I did some research. Always remember "He who is in us(Holy Spirit) is greater than he who is in the world(Satan)." Use the word against Satan. Sing hymns that contain lots of scripture if one doesn't come to mind. SHOUT out loud for Satan to leave and you rebuke him in the name of Jesus. Remember, we have control of the physical plane. If you tell a spirit it has to leave IT HAS TO LEAVE! Ask God to send angels to your bedside as you sleep and watch over you. God listens and he loves us all. God bless you in your endeavor to defeat the enemy.
Posted by: Jonathan at Jan 11, 2006 3:59:24 AM
My husband has woken up at 3:00-3:15 am for the past 5-6 years, I now find myself I waking up now foe thee last year
I have heard aboout the bewitching hour and also wonder if this has something to do with it. He is a non-practicing catholic and me a non-practing baptist, yet I belive in god? do you think there is any relation?
Posted by: robin at Jan 12, 2006 8:30:10 PM
My husband has woken up at 3:00-3:15 am for the past 5-6 years, I now find myself I waking up at the same exact time to find out he is awake for three last years. Which bother's me.
I have heard aboout the bewitching hour and also wonder if this has something to do with it? He is a non-practicing catholic and me a non-practing baptist, yet I belive in god. I wear a Saint Christopher to protect me. Do you think there is any relation with the bewitching hour and waking up at 3 am?
Posted by: robin at Jan 12, 2006 8:37:27 PM
My experience with the significance of '3am' occured when i was based in Krefeld, Germany.
I am an ex british soldier and served for 6 years. I was based in germany for close to two of those years. My regiment being based in an old army camp dating back to the second world war where i believe it was originally a base for an SS division.
My first experience with anything out of the ordinary in krefeld started with what sounded like normal knocks and creaks. Sounds you would expect from an old building. Lights would cool from the days useage and would creak as they do so, etc. This became unusual when the creaking and knocking noises would carry on well into the night. Even so, at this point the noises were simply put down to the building being old.
Next came things that i couldnt put down to a building being old such as lights switching on by themselves, a cup that i left empty before going to the store had instant coffee and sugar in it upon my return.
After a while i would wake up between 2:45 and 3:00 am. At first i would just wake up and go back to sleep. A few weeks into this routine my 3am wake up would be followed by the room going into its 'creaking' fit within minutes of my waking up. It got to the point that the creaking and knocking would start in one end of the room and move around the room, rapidly.
This quickly began to disturb me... very quickly so i started sleeping with ear defenders (noise mufflers) on my ears so the creaking and knocking wouldn't wake me up.
That was when whatever it was stepped it up a notch. I would have frequent nightmares and would wake up at the same time, 3am.
I would have night terrors, being concious of the room around me but i would be paralysed and would feel a heavy weight on my chest and a strong, strong sense of fear. Followed by my waking up at or around 3am.
At one point i was woken by someone poking my thigh very very hard. I turned to ask my room-mate what his problem was only to see him fast asleep in the bed opposite mine.
By this time i was hardly making it through a full nights sleep and was sorely tempted to make a visit to the regimental padre.
The breaking point came when i was awoken just after having a vivid nightmare about a man dressed in a long heavy coat sitting by my bed pounding his fist into his other hand and looking like he was yelling at me although in the dream i couldnt hear him. I woke up wondering what on earth that was about and felt a breeze brush past my face as if someone had quickly ran by only inches from me. I then felt someone reach over the head of my bed and place a hand on my right thigh and another to the side of my left leg and right next to my ear, clear as day i heard a man say in what i can only describe as a serious/urgent voice, "Can you tell me why m...".
I only heard as far as the 'm' because at that point, although i was a 26 year old soldier i was frankly terrified beyond words and at the point of that 'm' it all kind of 'tuned out'. Almost sounding like a rapid "muhmmuhmmuh".
I was sat bolt upright and for the first time since i was a child i was pretty much in tears with terror, my bottom lip quivering and my body feeling like it had been dipped in freezing water.
I left for england on leave soon after that incident and spoke to my family about it. Our family priest held prayers for me at mass and i was given an olive wood cross from Lourdes to take back with me.
When i eventually returned to base after leave the knocking and creaking and 3am wake ups resumed within days of my return.
At my witts end i decided to turn to the only one who i knew could help me in this one and i honestly prayed. Without a word of a lie i prayed like i had never prayed before. I remember just sitting there in bed holding my rosary and just begging and praying for help, forgiveness... anything.
After what felt like hours the creaking, the knocking and the fear eventually faded away and after thanking God for his help and protection i fell asleep.
The wakeups and noises almost dissappeared after that. If they ever did return a prayer pretty much ensured a good nights sleep and freedom from whatever it was.
Since leaving krefeld and the army i have never experienced anything like that since. I had served 2 operational tours in both Bosnia and Kosovo and have seen my fair share of worry, angst and confrontation but never ever have i felt quite as drained and psychologically, spiritually and physically beat up... victorious, but still battered as i did that night in krefeld.
I dont know what the exact significance of 3am is. All i know is that at or around that time things do happen. It happened to me and with God as my witness and my sole ally in that time, all of what i say here is true.
Whether you believe it or not is up to you but since that time my faith has been real strong. I may falter from the path now and again but i know the God is there to guide me and pick me up when i fall. And I know that if either myself, my wife or my child are ever in a situation even close to that one he will be there to fight for us.
Sorry if it sounds a little preachy but that is how i feel on that issue.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Posted by: Jamie at Jan 14, 2006 3:27:12 AM
The 3 AM observation is one made by those who have spent years investigating diabolical infestations, such as the Warrens and David Considine.
The average, ordinary person has nothing to fear from this hour, or waking up repeatedly at this hour. It's only those few, rare individuals who are experiencing vicious haunting activity that need concern themselves with the timing of events.
As for "no clocks" back in the first century, they did have sun dials and other time measuring devices.
Jeff Messenger, author of "The Shroud of Torrington."
Posted by: Jeff Messenger at Jan 17, 2006 7:26:22 AM
I was doing some research for my wife who, since seeing this movie, has now started to wake up at 3:00 AM. After reading through this, I thought I'd add my two cents worth.
First, I have trouble with the whole possession thing. Isn't the goal of satan to turn our soul over to him? This is done by a person's choice, hence, free will. We all have the ultimate choice as to what we do and whom we serve. I think that having demons invade a person causing the head to spin around, clawing and biting walls and inflincting untold amounts of pain and suffering would have the exact opposite effect. "Wow. Look at that. I think I'll join satan and get me some of that." In the movie Broadcast News, Albert Brooks' character summed up what I think about this:
"What do you think the Devil is going to look like if he's around? Nobody is going to be taken in if he has a long, red, pointy tail. No. I'm semi-serious here. He will look attractive and he will be nice and helpful and he will get a job where he influences a great God-fearing nation and he will never do an evil thing... he will just bit by little bit lower standards where they are important. Just coax along flash over substance... Just a tiny bit."
Satan doesn't need to send demons. Mankind is doing his work just fine by themselves: video games, movies, television, advertising, etc. There is all manner of corruption out there and we've managed to do all of that by ourselves. (As an aside, I find it disturbing that a large number of my fellow Catholics who rightly find abortion to be an abomination have no qualms about the death penalty, pre-emptive war and torture. The first is just plain wrong, but the others can be justified, no matter the official stance of the Church.) The power of satan is not in getting us to suddenly commit horrendous crimes or to swear allegience to the dark side. It is in getting us to, bit by little bit, commit the small sins to pave the way for him to gain control. When we do the little things knowingly and then justify it later, we are truly selling ourselves out to the devil. "All of the significant battles are waged within the self" - Sheldon Kopp
The other point I wanted to make was stated earlier by Observer regarding auto-suggestion. I've done this for years as I have often had occasion to be in places where I needed to be up early but had only a watch. If I concentrated on, say, 4:00 AM right before bed, I would wake up at 4:00 AM. It never failed for me. A lot of people convinced about the significance of 3:00 AM could simply be setting themselves up for this sort of thing, including my wife. I think I convinced her of this, but promised the research anyway.
Thanks for letting me respond.
Posted by: Eric Welshons at Jan 18, 2006 10:08:45 AM
I have also been waking up at 3am since watching the movie. After a while I was actually able to look up at the clock and laugh. I couldnt believe that I (a Christian) was letting this get to me. I know many may wonder why I would watch such a movie in the 1st place. When I was just a lil girl probably around 8 or 9, I was new to the Lord and one night, I woke up to this bat-looking-creature on top of my chest with glowing eyes. I tried to scream but nothing came out. Then a second later it flew towards my window but disappeared b4 it got to it. Afterwards I feel off my bed screaming and crying. My mom came to me as quickly as possible and found me by the closet shaking and not able to breathe. I remember thinking I was actually going to die from being so scared and my mom yelling to my dad that I couldnt breathe. I still get tears in my eyes when I repeat this experience. My only thoughts are that God fought off this demon and didnt allow it to "get" me. But basically ever since than Ive tried to understand it, and look into these types of things. Demonic possesion has been a point of interest in my life and I was very happy to come across this site. My mom had just finished telling me that some things you just have to leave alone. But I couldnt. Than I find this site and the first reply comment I read is by Chicago "People who get carried away or "freaked out" about anything to do with Satan should not be encouraged to continue thinking along the lines that lead them to be so obsessed." Youre so right. I need to try and just let this go. Ive been obsessed for so many years trying to convince people what happened to me was real, or even more so trying to convince myself. Again Im happy I came upon this site. I have a feeling Ill be able to sleep good tonite.
Posted by: Cassandra at Jan 26, 2006 12:50:37 AM
After searching the significance of the 3:00 AM awakenings, I ran across this site. The peculiar things I see are that most are referring to the movie. I have been waking up at the same hour (3:00 AM) mentioned here for the past 42 years, 90% of the time anyway, and have always wondered why. It is usually with the same terrifying feelings that are mentioned on this site. I have talked to individuals and searched for answers all those years and have never found a solid "reason" for this until I happened to hear of the 3:00 AM hour being the opposite of the 3:00 PM (Passion of Christ) hour. The 3:00 AM hour being a time when we are most vulunerable to spiritual attacks. This does seem logical.
However, to make one point here. No one here has mentioned this. If you notice that I said that I am awakened at the "same hour" with 3:00 AM in parenthesis. The reason I make this point is that during Central Standard Time, I am awakened at 3:00 AM....however, when the time changes to Daylight Savings Time, I am awakened at 4:00 AM, an hour later by the clock, but the same actual time of night.
Therefore, these awakenings would have nothing to do with clocks, etc. but the time of night/early morning it is. However, it is always exactly 3:00 AM (CST) or 4:00 (Daylight Savings).
I do believe there is a reason for this, whether it be for good (prayer) or evil (spiritual attacks) or both. I must say, I have just learned to live with it over the past 42 years and I guess I will continue until I meet my maker and then will ask why?
Posted by: jack at Jan 30, 2006 9:49:44 PM
In response to Eric Welshons comment:
Eric, ultimately you are right... Satan wants to be seductive and appealing, and perpetrating a horrific haunting and possession is counter productive in this regard.
Yet consider, the diabolical is the antithesis of the Divine... and since, as Christians, we believe that Jesus had ultimate self- control... it stands to reason that a fallen angel might have poor self control. Just as Jack the Ripper was provoked by his perception of prostitutes,... demons target those who practice invitation rituals (such as the use of ouija boards) simply because they CAN. The "invitation" gives them an unlocked door... and in they come... to rape, pilledge, steal, vandalize and murder... because they apparently "get off" on it! They enjoy it!
The demons depicted in New Testament accounts of possession compelled their victims to injure themselves and others... because it was their nature.
Beyond all this, horrific hauntings and possessions DO serve the diabolical, because they promote FEAR, DESPAIR and DEATH. The opposites of Faith, Hope, Love and Life.
So yes...diabolical behavior can be cunning and seductive... and it also can be brutal, animalistic and horrific. One type of agenda doesn't necessarily "rule out" the other.
Jeff Messenger, author of the novel "The Shroud of Torrington."
Posted by: Jeff Messenger at Feb 16, 2006 9:53:41 PM
I have only waken up at 3:33 am when I am in this house. When I am in this house only. The owner of the house is my mother and she fell from the Christian faith and has been accused but not proven to have had dealings with three of her ex husbands deaths. She marries well and than is left with his pensions. Anyway I am online researching anything to do with 3 am. I came back to her house recently with no where else to go. That afternoon I opened a fortune cookie that read before of evil even in the strongest structure and I admit I became upset because I fear her that it had something to do with something. That morning at 3:32 am I woke up to see her standing in the door looking at me. Since than I wake up at 3:33 am but when I am away from this house I wake up at 7 am. The year before she moved into this house and I lived her was when I began to wake up at 3 am and 3:33 am. If the alarm is not set to 7 am I will naturally sleep all the way to 9 am - sometimes 10 am because I am a long sleeper. There is more to this but this is my life - oh well and what is one life. Peace be with us all. In Christian love be strong.
Posted by: Will not leave my name at Mar 4, 2006 8:45:23 PM
Type up 333 in the search engine. Type up 3:33 am and type up 3 am in the search engine.
Posted by: no name at Mar 4, 2006 8:47:03 PM
Ok, this thing about 3am being an evil hour (or the anti-christs hour)is dumb. Everyone does realize it is 3am somewhere in the world every hour, all day? Like everything in the Christian Religion (namely Catholicism) this is a superstition developed to increase fear among their followers, to develop a deeper faith. After all, all religions are based and built on faith, superstition, and fear. Oh and you have to be dumb enough to believe it all also.
Posted by: Evan at May 2, 2006 4:40:47 PM
For the past few months my daughter, who is 4 years old, has been waking up scared in the middle of the night between 3 A.M and 4 A.M. She is so scared she either gets into bed with me and my husband or one of us has to go sleep with her because she cries hysterically and refuses to sleep the rest of the night alone. Two times this week, my 1 year old son has woken up crying during the same hour my daughter does. Both begin crying at the same time making it where my husband has to tend to one while I tend to the other. My daughter tells me she has bad dreams that wake her up but she is unable to recall details when she is awake. Out of the blue earlier this week she asked me "Mommy, does everybody have good dreams and bad dreams?" I answered yes and then she said." I only have bad dreams." Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Posted by: Michelle at May 4, 2006 11:33:02 PM
