What does Catholic doctrine say about the nature of angels and demons?
Angels are purely spiritual creatures, created by God with intellect and free will, possessing no material body. They are personal beings and immortal servants of God who carry out His divine messages and protect humanity. Scripture and Tradition reveal that some angels, led by Satan (Lucifer), irrevocably rejected God's reign through pride and rebellion, becoming demons. Hell was prepared for them. While demons tempt humanity toward sin, their power is strictly limited by God's sovereignty, and Christ has definitively triumphed over them on the Cross.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 328-336
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 391-395
- Revelation 12:7-9
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.