OF MONKEYS AND DEMONS, THE SATANIC IN THE SIMIAN
I was unnerved when I learned St Thomas Moore had a pet monkey who used play tricks on his guests. Something about the simian has always scared me. To be fair to Thomas, I think monkeys were to him, what Border Collies are to me. But I have found two instances of when demons took the flesh form of a monkey. A priest gave a sermon on the following. In 15th century Naples, in the heart of the city, a self- important man who was prosperous and popular became a cynic and took to mocking practicing Catholics. He had a grand home where he held many lavish parties. Like St. Thomas he had a pet monkey. Unlike Saint Thomas’s, this monkey had an evil and ulterior motive. The macaque dressed in a red velvet waistcoat and matching cap and served the guests like the most nimble waiter, and also performed acrobatics. All with a rictus smile. The local priest got curious and requested an invite. At first the prosperous man declined, he didn’t want a cleric on his territory, but then...
