Are Angels and the Devil Real?
More Than Christmas Decorations
Mention angels and most people picture chubby winged infants on Christmas cards, or a vague sense of spiritual comfort. Mention the devil and many people smile — surely no one believes in a figure with horns and a pitchfork any more?
The Catholic faith takes both far more seriously. The existence of angels is a truth of faith, taught by Scripture and by the Church (CCC 328). The existence of fallen angels, led by the one we call Satan or the devil, is taught just as clearly. But the real picture is very different from the popular images — and far more interesting.
Part of the Creed
Every Sunday at Mass, Catholics profess faith in God, “maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.” The invisible things include the angels. The Fourth Lateran Council (1215) taught that God, at the beginning of time, created both the spiritual and the bodily creation — the angels and the material world — and then human beings, who share in both.
Angels appear throughout the Bible. They guard the gate of Eden, wrestle with Jacob, stand before God’s throne in Isaiah’s vision, announce the birth of Christ to Mary and the shepherds, minister to Jesus after His temptation, and roll back the stone from His tomb. They are not decoration in the biblical story. They are actors in it.
What Angels Are
Angels are pure spirits. They have no bodies, though Scripture shows them taking visible forms when they appear to people. They are personal beings, with intelligence and free will — not forces or energies, but someone rather than something. They are immortal, and their natural powers far surpass ours (CCC 330).
The word “angel” means “messenger.” That describes their role rather than their nature. As St Augustine put it, “angel” is the name of their office, not of what they are. They are spirits by nature and messengers by mission.
Above all, angels exist to worship God. They see Him face to face and glorify Him without ceasing. They also serve His plan for creation, and especially for the salvation of human beings. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14).
Guardian Angels
The Church teaches that from infancy to death, human life is surrounded by the watchful care and intercession of the angels. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life,” the Catechism says, quoting St Basil (CCC 336).
Jesus Himself spoke of the angels of little children, who “always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). The Church celebrates the feast of the Guardian Angels on 2 October, and many Catholics learn a simple prayer to their guardian angel as children.
Your guardian angel is not a lucky charm or a cosmic bodyguard against every misfortune. He is a friend who prays for you, guides you towards good, and helps you on the way to heaven.
The Named Angels
Scripture names three angels, traditionally called archangels.
St Michael, whose name means “Who is like God?”, leads the heavenly host against the forces of evil (Revelation 12:7).
St Gabriel, “strength of God,” announced the coming of Christ to Mary (Luke 1:26).
St Raphael, “God heals,” guided and protected Tobias in the Book of Tobit.
The Fall of the Angels
The devil was not created evil. Like all the angels, he was created good. Some angels, using their freedom, rejected God and His reign once and for all (CCC 391–392). Their leader is called Satan — “the adversary” — or the devil.
Why could they not repent, as human beings can? The Church’s answer is that angels, with their clear and powerful intellects, made a choice with full knowledge. There was nothing they did not see, nothing that could later change their minds. Their decision was irrevocable — not because God’s mercy is limited, but because of the nature of their choice (CCC 393).
What the Devil Can and Cannot Do
Scripture calls the devil “a murderer from the beginning” and “the father of lies” (John 8:44). He tempted Eve, tempted Christ in the desert, and continues to work against God’s plan by tempting human beings to sin. St Peter warns: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
But the devil’s power is limited. He is a creature, not a rival god. He cannot create, he cannot read our minds, and he cannot force us to sin. Every temptation can be resisted with God’s grace. Christ has already defeated him on the Cross, and God permits his activity only within limits, bringing good even out of it (CCC 395).
The Christian view is neither to ignore the devil nor to be obsessed with him. Both are mistakes. The devil is happiest when people either do not believe in him or think about nothing else.
Protecting Yourself
The Church’s practical advice is simple and reassuring.
Live close to Christ. Prayer, the sacraments and a good life are the best protection. The devil has no power over a soul that belongs to God.
Go to Confession. Grace is restored and strengthened, and the soul is freed from sin.
Avoid the occult. The Catechism warns against all forms of divination and magic — fortune-telling, Ouija boards, consulting mediums, spells and charms (CCC 2116–2117). These are not harmless games. They are a turning away from trust in God.
Pray. Many Catholics pray daily to their guardian angel, and the prayer to St Michael the Archangel, composed by Pope Leo XIII, has long been prayed for protection against evil.
No Need to Fear
The unseen world can sound frightening. In truth it is a source of great comfort. For every fallen angel, there are countless holy ones. You are never alone. A good angel watches over you, the saints pray for you, and Christ has already won the victory.
As St John wrote, “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).