The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-10-19
HYPNoTIsM.
Pronouncement of the Church Upon
the Subject.

The word Hypnotism is derived
from the Greek word "hupnos," mean
ing sleep, and for many years past
the remarkable effects that can be
produced in the human object, by
means of this common enough prac-
tlce, have attracted much attention.
Two very different classes of people
are interested in it, writes Father H.
G. Hughes in a Catholic Truth pub
location; namely, those who are curl
GUS about it's marvels, and scientific
men who expect that it may be an aid
to science. 1t is, we are told, related
to mesmerism and owes it's origin as
a practice to mesmeric phenomena.
Of it's nature, it attracted the atten-
ton of the moraist, and so came I'M
der the notice of the Church, which
found it necessary to decide whether
it was right or wrong to indulge in
the practice of hypnotism. Is it
right that curiosity-seekers should
look upon as an amusement the plac-
ing of their fellow-creatures in a con-
dition of hypnos-or unnatural sleep?
Are the medical men justified in u.s.
ing hypnotism, and does physiological
science reap any benefits therefrom?
Since most people know of the gen.
eral degradation of hypnotic seances,
it is not necessary to describe one
1t is sufficient, knowing what we
know of the much-advertised perform
ances in which men and women are
made to perform the most strange
and Questionable actions, to consider
what the Church teaches regarding
the practice and how she has pro-
nounced upon the matter. We must
look to the moral theologians, and
rely, if further instruction be re-
quired, on the educated Catholic con-
science
The Church is very careful, says
Father Hughes, not to condemn any
thing outright, merely because it is
new, or unaccustomed, or apparently
marvellous. Nor will she condemn a
thing which, though good in itself, is
liable to abuse, or has been abused.
She will condemn the abuse and leave
the good untouched. Consequently
the question us Hypnotism right or
wrong?" cannot be answered by a
simple Eyes" or mo"
When first called upon to give
guidance to Catholics on the question
of hypnotism-or, as it was termed,
mesmerism or magnetism, the Holy
See, speaking through one of the
Sacred Congregations, laid down what
we may call the first rule of Catho-
lies in the matter. The Sacred Con-
gregation condemned all superstitious
use of animal magnetism" though
it abstained from total condemna-
ton of the practice in itself apart
from SlIDerStitiOuS uses
1T has been found" wrote the
Congregation of the Holy Inquisition
in 1856, chat new kind of super
stition has been introduced on oc-
casion Of magnetic phenomena by
many lovers of novelties; not to
throw light on physical science
which would be good-but to deceive
and seduce men, thinking that by the
magnetic art, they can discover things
hidden, distant or future. The
malice of men has so increased that,
neglecting the lawful study of science,
they boast of having means of for
tune-telling and divination."
If effects like these were actually
obtained, says Father Hughes, they
could only be attributed to some pre-
ternatural-that is, dia b o. ca /
agency, and the practice of such arts
must plainly be sinful.
The Holy See has condemned all
superstitious use of hypRotism; all
application of physical means that
are otherwise unlawful or forbidden;
and all use Of magnetism Or hypno-
tism for unlawful ends or objects.
Not only as a matter of obedience,
but as a matter of reason, every
Catholic will subscribe to these pro-
hibitions. AS Doctor Samuel John
son, the photographer, said: mo
one who reads the New Testament
can disbelieve the fact that the fallen
angels do exercise a malevolent in
f1uence over man."
That there are intelligences of
far higher order than our own; we
know, says Father Hughes; and there
is nothing impossible in supposing
that they can, and do, take occasion
from mems experimenting with GER
tain little-known forces, which in
themselves are natural, to get into
connection with human beings and to
deceive and influence them by the in
PRODUCTION of their own diabolical
operations into such experiments.
The hypnotic or mesmeric state
may sometimes offer them an occa-
sion of this sort, like the planchette
or medium" of spiritualistic seances.
The terrible dangers of such COM
munications, however they be brought
about, cannot be exaggerated 1t is,
then, the abuse of Hypnotism that
has been condemned, not the prac-
tice itself, with lawful end in view.
Father Lemkuhl, S. j., an authority
on this subject, concludes that there
must be some grave reason for sub
hitting to hypnosis, to make it NOR
ally permissible that person should
do so. AS to the character of the
operator in such cases, for obvious
reasons it is necessary that he should
possess a skilled and unimpeachable
character, that reliable witnesses
should be present, and that it should
be ascertained for certain that the
constitutional disposition of the sub
ject is not such as to make it likely
that any permanent harm to the sys-
L IA n