The Didache (The Teaching of the Twelve and having a laugh is not a mortal sin; The History of Tarot
he History of Tarot Cards
Apostles, c. 80) warned, "You shall not however, taking such a horoscope
practice magic." The Council of Ancyra seriously or paying for some astrologer’s Fr. William Saunders, PhD
(314) imposed a five-year penance on advice is.)
anyone who consulted a magician or
fortuneteller. Early Irish canons penalized We believe, as St. John wrote, "God is
with excommunication anyone engaging in love" (I John 4:16). God so loved the
sorcery until forgiveness had been sought world that He gave His only Son that
and penance performed. whoever believes in Him may not die but
may have eternal life" (John 3:16). Jesus
The Catechism of the Catholic Church in is the light of the world, shining through
discussing the first commandment repeats the darkness (John 1:4-5). He is the way,
the condemnation of divination: "All forms the truth, and the life (John 14:6). To
of divination are to be rejected: recourse to invoke Satan or any other power, to enter
Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead, or the darkness (the occult) for any
other practices falsely supposed to 'unveil' assistance, or to attempt to usurp powers Tarot cards probably originated in Italy in
the future. Consulting horoscopes, which belong to God alone is a defiance the 14th century since the earliest known
astrology, palm reading, interpretation of of the authority of Almighty God. To explanation of their usage dates to 1391.
omens and lots, the phenomena of commit such acts is to turn away from The pack of cards, known as the Tarocco,
clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all God and place our own souls in jeopardy. is made up of 22 major enigmas, whose
conceal a desire for power over time, figures represent a synthesis of the
history, and, in the last analysis, other mysteries of life; and 56 minor images
human beings, as well as a wish to incorporating 14 figures in four series
conciliate hidden powers. They contradict (gold, clubs, swords and goblets). The 22
the honor, respect, and loving fear that we Copyright © Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. major enigmas correspond to the letters of
owe to God alone" (No. 2116). Any All rights reserved. Used with permission.
the Hebrew alphabet and the number of
Printed with ecclesiastical approval
practice which utilizes occult powers is hieroglyphs the ancient Jews used in
condemned as contrary to true religion and divination. Each major enigma has an
is generally considered a mortal sin. Any image with a particular meaning, e.g.
specific invocation of the devil would Pope John Paul II Society of Evangelists Enigma I is the Minstrel, which signifies
clearly be a mortal sin. (Please note that P.O. Box 5584, Bakersfield, California 93388
E-mail: info@pjpiisoe.org Phone: 661 393-3239 The Being, the spirit and creation; and
just reading a horoscope in the newspaper www.pjpiisoe.org Enigma XV is the Devil, which signifies
or the message inside the fortune cookie, Pamphlet 057
magic, eloquence, commerce and mystery.
Enigmas I through XI comprise the solar or saints, we as individuals must always such things is an abomination to the
way — active, conscious, reflective and have trust in His divine providence. St. Lord..." (Deut 18:10-12).
autonomous; while enigmas XII through Paul reminds us, "We know that God
XXII denote the lunar way — passive, makes all things work together for the The New Testament also addresses this
unconscious, intuitive and possessed. The good of those who love Him, who have issue: In Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul at
four series of the 56 minor images have the been called according to His decree" Philippi encountered a slave girl with a
following significance: gold signifies (Rom 8:28). While we may have that "clairvoyant spirit" who made money by
intellectual activity; clubs, government; passing curiosity of what will happen in fortune telling; St. Paul exorcized her of
swords, military career; and goblets, the the future, we anchor our lives in the that spirit (Acts 16:16ff). In other
priesthood. Practitioners of Tarot believe Lord, trusting in His love and care. passages, we find condemnations of
that these enigmas, images and series sorcery and occult practices in general: St.
represent the sum of the knowledge of all To try to discover the future through tarot Paul condemned sorcery (Gal 5:19). In
sciences, particularly astrology, and in the cards, palm reading, ouija board or some Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul rebuked
permutations in "dealing the cards" are other form of fortune telling, or to try to Elymas, the magician, calling him "son of
capable of revealing the future and solving control the future through black magic, Satan and enemy of all that is right" (Acts
all problems. While this author has no witchcraft or sorcery violates the first 13:8ff), and St. Peter rebuked Simon
intention or desire of fully explaining the commandment. Keep in mind that fortune Magus, a magician, who wanted to buy
practice of Tarot, this brief overview does telling is inherently linked with the the powers of the Holy Spirit to make
highlight that this practice is connected practices of the occult. Sacred Scripture himself more powerful (Acts 8:9ff). In the
with the occult powers and seeks to reveal has many condemnations of these Book of Revelation, Jesus declared, "As
and control the future. activities: In the Old Testament we find, for the cowards and traitors to the faith,
"A man or a woman who acts as a the depraved and murderers, the
As Catholics, we remember that the first medium or fortune-teller shall be put to fornicators and sorcerers, the idol-
commandment states, "I am the Lord thy death by stoning: they have no one but worshipers and deceivers of every sort--
God. Thou shalt not have any gods before themselves to blame for their death" their lot is the fiery pool of burning
me." When asked what was the greatest (Leviticus 20:27), and "Let there not be sulphur — the second death" (Rev 21:8).
commandment, our Lord Jesus Christ, found among you anyone who immolates
repeating the precept found in his son or daughter in the fire, nor a Adhering to the revelation of Sacred
Deuteronomy, said, "You shall love the fortuneteller, soothsayer, charmer, Scripture, the Church has over the
Lord your God with your whole heart, with diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who centuries formally condemned witches and
your whole soul, and with all of your consults ghosts and spirits or seeks witchcraft, and has judged fortune telling,
strength" (Matt 22:37). While God can oracles from the dead. Anyone who does tarot card reading and the like as sinful.
choose to reveal the future to His prophets
