Religious Chain Letters
Most young people are probably not aware of the chain letters that, unfortunately, once were circulated among the public with a view toward getting them passed on to others. Usually, if you sent copies to ten other people, you would receive a great reward. One person who complied with the conditions set forth in the letter received a $10,000 inheritance, and others received various lesser rewards. Oh, but one unfortunate fellow threw the letter away, thus breaking the chain, and he lost his job the next week, along with two of his front teeth. Accompanying the letter was a list of names. You were required to send $1, $5, or $10 to each of the ten names preceding yours on the list. The letter usually closed with a strict warning not to break the chain. Yes, some people actually followed the instructions. For the most part, these types of scams died out years ago.
Until recently. About two weeks ago, I arrived at the building on Saturday morning and spotted a small bundle of 9 sheets of paper (each about 5" by 2") with a rubber band around them. The printing on each one was the same. The word centered at the top of the page was: NOVENA. Underneath was the following paragraph: "To be said 6 times each day for 9 consecutive days, leaving copies in church each time. Prayer will be answered on or before the 9th day and has never been known to fail." Wow! What a promise! Of course, the word novena is not found in the Bible; but a dictionary explained a novena is a Roman Catholic terme addressed to the Father. Not to Jude. Not to Mary. Not even to Jesus. Our Lord taught His disciples to pray, "Our Father in heaven" (Matt. 6:9). All of the above is to be followed by the Our Father and Hail Mary, which refers to more Catholic traditions that are not enjoined in the Scriptures. Final instructions include making 81 copies to leave on 9 consecutive days. (No money was involved.) It closes with a promise: "You will receive your Intention before the 9 days are over, no matter how impossible it may seem." So, if someone prays for world peace, can all weapons be thrown away? On a less grandiose scale, how about asking that a child's mother and father get along? Someone is sure to ask for a million bucks. Promises such as these are irresponsible to make and may do great damage to those who expect to receive whatever they aske ashamed.