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Brothers and Sisters in Catholic Metal,
Is it blasphemous to make the ‘devil horns’ hand sign made so famous by the late Ronnie James Dio? Part of me thinks it is just a harmless gesture which is more indicative of Metal than it is of the devil, but I know that to some, it is a symbol of rebellion against God and the Church. Do we as Catholic Metal need to create a new culture with new signs, or would that be reinventing the wheel? Do we forsake the horns or conquer them for Christendom?
Perhaps use the Pontifical Swiss Guard’s salute?
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hKXkW1SDntk/SCKo5LqmrtI/AAAAAAAACoQ/nCiHLOzbfJY/s320/swiss14.jpg
Hi, Chris. IMHO holding up and using the metal symbol is akin to the use of gargoyles. Ever examine closely the gargoyles on any of the great European cathedrals? They are meant to look hideous, frightening, scary, etc., for a purpose. The purpose was to scare away evil spirits, and show that such spirits have no power over the Church and those living members of her. I use them as a sign that I, as a soldier in Christ’s Army, am at war with the devil and his ways. So as I see it, it seems closer to your choice of conquering-using them for Christendom. It is the modern-day version of the gargoyle.
Salutations Katholicus,
I totally appreciate your answer. It’s funny…I was just thinking about Gargoyles the other day and wondering if possibly another reason they are used id to remind us of the reality of spiritual warfare. The devil’s greatest accomplishment is convincing the world that he doesn’t exsist.
Hey Chris!
Brother Cesare from Fratello Metallo – had a different take on it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdwuSxyJEL8
Fast forward to the 2:00 mark. At around 3:20-3:40 he reveals what he feels the “horns” mean. I tend to agree with him. The video is in italian, but you should be able to find a translation…if you can’t let me know. I have to get back to the salt mines..lol!!
Yours In Christ!
PRAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY!!
Hey Dave, I was hoping that youtube would have subtitles for the Italian. Would you mind saving me the trouble and telling me what he thinks. Part of me likes the idea of the gargoyle, part of me likes the idea of the I love you sign, and part of me wants to use the hand sign made by Christ in Eastern Rite Iconography. I was told that it is a symbol of the hypostatic union…but nothing I can come up with has as much punch as the good old horns…Dio said that his Italian grandma made the sign to ward off the ‘evil eye’ from suspicious looking characters. Was she speaking of the evil eye mentioned in Bram Stoker’s Dracula? I am a convert from fundamentalism and evangelicalism and I’m trying not to act Protestant and throw out the baby with the bathwater on this one – no disrespect to any of my protestant brothers or sisters.
Pax Domini,
– Chris
PS: New Song about a vision given to St. John Bosco
Hey Chris..Father Cesar saw the “horns” as a way of saying “I love you” to God and he saw it as a sign of praise. There are a lot of Catholic signs that have been taken over by others to mean garbage…for example, I did a gig about 4 years ago and there was a teenager wearing an upside down cross. I went up to him and complimented him on wearing the cross of St. Peter. He looked at me strangely and said that it was the sign of the anti-Christ. I asked him since when and he said since the 1950s/60s with the Church of Satan and Crowley…I told him that it was a symbol in the Catholic Church that trumps that garbage by 2000 years…I met the same kid about a year or two later and he doubted me, but checked and he found out I told him the truth and it led to him leaving all that Crowley nonsense and reclaiming Christ. Dio’s grandmother was doing an old (ancient?) Italian gesture which was to ward off evil and friends of mine that have Italian heritage recognize it as something that’s been going on for centuries.
Back to Father Cesare – in the interview he states how the power and energy of metal can be converted to praise and worship. Cesare was very well respected by quite a lot of the metal community and he did quite a bit to show many people his love of God through music. He used the “horns” in order to use a metal gesture to remind others of God’s love and presence.
In the meantime, I’ll keep on looking for a translation..there was one put out by the BBC and I think the last time I saw it was Christmas 2012…I’ll keep looking and try to get back by the weekend. Thanks for your patience!
Yours In Christ!!
dave
PRAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY!!!
I just gotta say: I’d love to use the “horns” symbol for something good; but anyone using it should be careful not to scandalize others. Not that it’s wrong, but people can be so sensitive that they would automatically freak out when they see it and be closed off to explaination. That includes Catholics and Protestants of all personalitites (amongst others). I think if anyone should use the symbol they should prepare to justify their action before hand or else gradually introduce that it doesn’t have to be an evil symbol. I’m not actually sure if people could be scandalized that bad or at all by Catholic and even Protestant Metalheads suing the “horns;” but you never know cause some people are so freaked out about the horns cuz if the evil association that they’ll be uncomfortable at the least, and I personally don’t like discomforting people without good reason; superstitious inclinations will also make some people think the symbol might curse them, they freak out, and start thinking a demon’s gonna’ get them. (Will admit that I may be wrong, but I am cautious).
I’d also like to say that the Ark of the Covenant had horns To symbolize GOD’s strength since horns in the middle east back in the day symbolized strength (thanks to the ox). And wasn’t the Ark sorta like a throne? If so, the horns can symbolize GOD’s dominion above all things. And since Mother Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant (for bearing GOD as CHRIST), the horns can sorta have a connotation to the Woman who will crush the skull of the serpent.
And I like the gargoly idea.
GOD bless guys!!!
Here is another Fratello Metallo vid that has subtitles….I don’t think I posted this before…but if I did, please forgive me!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5ap3sIaLNYM
Yours In Christ!
dave
PRAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY!!
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