Catholic Teachings on Demons: Are They Real Spiritual Beings?

This subject is a subject not clearly understood by many of us. For example, according to Catholic Scripture and Tradition, including the Magisterium, demons are real spiritual beings who were originally good angels who permanently rejected God by free choice, leading to their current state of separation from God.  

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 10:18, Timothy 3:6. The Church teaches that Satan was created as a good angel and, at the beginning of his existence, freely and completely chose to reject God. This rebellion also brought other angels to join Satan’s rebellion and separation from God.

Our Catholic Catechism with the Rite of Exorcism confirms that demons are real, personal beings who oppose God and humanity, and that the Church’s exorcism rite is authorized for those believed to be under demonic influence.

The Vatican’s Christian Faith and Demonology (1975) reaffirms that the Church’s teaching on Satan and demons is rooted in Scripture and Tradition, and that the existence of the devil is part of the faith to be held. The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has consistently rejected the idea that demonic reality is optional or metaphorical.

Demons came into being through free will in following Lucifer’s rejection of God.

The Magisterium’s position is affirmed by the Church’s official documents and by exorcists operating within its sacramental rite.

How can we understand how it is possible that Lucifer could commit such a sin of pride after his perfection or purification?

ANSWER – The answer is: God alone is perfect and without sin. Therefore, all creatures sin. If it were possible for creatures not to sin, it would be so only through a gift from God.