Do demons and evil spirits really exist?
Fifteen year old Megan was afraid of the Pharisees speak in Mt 12:22-32, was
the devil, ever since she watched a horror originally the name of an Old Testament god of
movie about the possession by the evil spirits. the Philistines. The serpent was considered a
Her mom tried to put some ‘sense’ into her by demonic figure in ancient mythologies of
repeatedly saying, “Devil is simply the Mesopotamia, Persia and Egypt. Bible seems to
imagination of your mind.” But Megan knew borrow that imagery. However, personified evil
better than her mom about evil spirits and the does exist among us, whatever his image may
devil. Is devil simply a phantasm or the be, tempting us to apostasy and sin. The
creation of a sick mind? It took Megan weeks Church has an official rite of exorcising the
of research and discussion in the Religious devil. At baptism and Confirmation the
Education classes to get her hands on the candidates are asked to renounce Satan and all
subject his empty promises. When we pray the ‘Our
In the Gospels we see Jesus casting out Father,’ we say ‘deliver us from evil.’
demons and evil spirits (Mt 8:16; 28-34; 9:32- Regarding this the Catechism of the Catholic
33; 12:22; Lk 11:14; 13:16). These spirits Church teaches: “In this petition, evil is not an
often called demons are in fact ‘fallen angels’ abstraction, but refers to a person, Satan, the
(Jude 6). They have many other names in the Evil One, the angel who opposes God. The
scripture; the evil one (1Jn 5:18-19); the devil devil is the one who ‘throws himself across’
from the Greek word diabulos meaning God’s plan and his work of salvation
“slanderer” (Mt 4:1); the ruler of the world (Jn accomplished in Christ” (#2851).
14:30); Satan from a Hebrew word meaning No Catholic is bound to believe the
“accuser” (Mt 16:23); and sometimes serpent current popular notion of the devil as a man in
or dragon. According to the Bible Jesus red suit with horns, tail, cloven hooves and a
believed in demons and so did his early pitchfork. He may exist only in the imagination
followers who understood him well, namely the of some individuals. Devil could assume any
Fathers of the Church. St. Iraneus at the end of form and take advantage of any situation for his
the second century wrote that the devil was “an evil purposes. Should we fear the devil? Yes.
apostate angel.” Tertullian at about the same “Be afraid of the one who after killing has the
time and Origen a century later wrote about the power to cast you into Gehenna” (Lk 12:5). But
Church’s teaching on the existence of the devil. we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ
Whatever his name, Church continues to hold and Satan has no more absolute power over us.
that devil has a personal existence. The Second He cannot force himself on us against our will.
Vatican Council document on the Church in the St. James says, “Resist the devil, and he will
Modern World uses the expression ‘the evil flee from you.” (Jas 4:7).
one’ to designate the tempter at the dawn of “Remember to pray always, ‘Deliver us
human history (#13). A 1975 document named from the evil one.’” That was the religion
Christian Faith and Demonology issued by the teacher’s advice for Megan. She overcame her
Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship in the fear by learning more and affirming to herself
Vatican quotes Pope Paul VI who says: “It is a that she was a child of God, redeemed by Jesus
departure from the picture provided by biblical Christ. She also knew demon possessions were
and Church teaching to refuse to acknowledge rare instances. In our world the numbers of
the devil’s existence; to regard him as . . . a people who practice the occult and witchcraft,
conceptual and fanciful personification of the and involve in satanic cults are steadily on the
unknown causes of our misfortunes.” increase. In that context Megan was glad to
The popular imagery of the time is know the teaching of the scriptures and the
behind some of the details regarding the demon position of the Church regarding demons and
concept in the New Testament. For example, evil spirits.
Beelzebub the prince of demons, about whom Fr Xavier Thelakkatt