Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare: A Catholic Guide to Spiritual Protection

So let’s begin by talking about the pink elephant in the room.

By that, I mean, of the invisible presence of angels and demons.

Ooh, angels, demons, what a loaded topic.

If you were bred as a secular person, that is, not of the Catholic/Christian variety, unlike me, you may scorn the beliefs in angels and demons as heretic, as superstitious, as occult, as insanity.

But, that may mean you don’t believe in God.

Because to believe in God is to believe in the spiritual realm where His Spirit resides and to believe in the spiritual realm is to believe in the existence of angels and demons.

Is it terrifying to you? To believe in their existence?

Don’t worry, though, we’ll get into the nitty gritty on how exactly to protect yourself against demons (see spiritual warfare).

Catholicism teaches that the world is both visible and invisible. Alongside the physical world which we as living, breathing humans reside in and breathe in and experience every day of our lives, Scripture speaks of angels who serve God, demons who oppose Him and serve Satan, and the spiritual battles that occur every single day, as long as this world is living, in which Christians are called to fight for their Lord and Savior in their faith in Christ.

St. Paul writes:

“For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” - Ephesians 6:12

So, a core belief that Catholics have is that God is the Lord, the Savior, the King of Angels.

God is Lord of all creation, the Savior of humanity, and the sovereign King of heaven and earth. All the holy angels belong to Him, worship Him, and serve His will.

In Catholic theology, God created the angels. The angels are spiritual creatures designed to serve God and designed to protect us from the dark forces that terrorize the fallen world (the world we live in).

As Catholics, those baptized in the Catholic Church, you are given guardian angels.

Ooh, guardian angels, myth and fantasy.

Secular media has taught that angels aren’t real, demons are fantasy and also not real, and stuff of fiction.

So let me pose this interesting question, that, if you’re a real Catholic you might not want to answer because you’re afraid of being called a heretic, or if you’re not a real Catholic, you don’t know the answer to or think it’s a stupid question.

Why silver? Why not gold? And what is the difference between a silver crucifix and a gold crucifix?

We’ll get back to the answer to this interesting question later.

The Catechism teaches:

“The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls ‘angels’ is a truth of faith.”
— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 328

Throughout Scripture, angels worship God, deliver His messages, protect His people, and participate in His providential plan.

Catholic tradition honors the three Archangels named in Scripture:

St. Michael - Defends people against Satan

St. Gabriel - Announces God’s messages

St. Raphael - Companion, Protector, and Instrument of God’s Healing.

Catholics believe in guardian angels. Jesus’ word in Matthew 18:10 supports the care of angels for human beings.

So, now, what are demons?

Demons are fallen angels. Spiritual beings originally created by God for good who have rejected Him and followed Satan instead.

The Catechism explains:

“The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing.”

So let’s pose this interesting question.

What’s evil? People? Certain people? Or demons?

The answer?

Let’s get back to this shortly.

So let’s now talk about spiritual warfare.

Spiritual battles are less dramatic than the movies portray. Spiritual battles can simply mean your mind filled with sinful thoughts given to you by the demons. I mean, ever read The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis? I highly recommend it.

Can demons generate sinful, evil thoughts in your mind?

Sure. Without doubt. Absolutely.

The temptation toward pride, hatred, despair, lust, greed, hatred, dishonesty, envy, resentment, hatred, murder, lust, hatred, lust, evil and abandonment of all things good is the daily battleground in the Christian life.

But don’t worry. Do you know the real reason people become baptized as Catholics? I mean, this is pretty controversial, but the difference between Catholicism and Protestantism, is that the Eucharist, Holy Water are real and the Holy Spirit is not a metaphor but Real, and Catholics become filled with the Holy Spirit when they are Baptized. For real.

So, awesome. If you want to be a good person, just be baptized in the Catholic Church. You’ll be freed from the slow, painful death that evil perpetuates in the sinners who aren’t baptized in the Catholic Church.

Protestants, I’m sorry, but symbolism isn’t going to save you from the Devil.

Jesus, His Blood and Body will.

So now let’s talk about the Amor I mean Armor of God.

Ephesians 6 is a pretty powerful passage.

No it’s not symbolic.

St. Paul tells you to put on the Armor of God, meaning

• the belt of truth

• the breastplate of righteousness

• readiness for the Gospel of peace

• the shield of faith

• the helmet of salvation

• and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God

The real spiritual weapons?

truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, Scripture, prayer, and perseverance

If you stay Christ-centered and live without sin, you will most certainly prevail in spiritual warfare.

But can people really be sinless?

This is why the Sacraments exist.

Why do people go to Confession?

Spiritual warfare is ultimately connected with the struggle against sin. When you sin, you open yourself up to the demons, the darkness of this world. Rather than being preoccupied with the occult and demonic activity, Catholics should go to Confession and clean themselves from sin.

It’s really hygiene, in essence, to go to Confession.

Sin leaves a bloody stain on your soul. Demons are attracted to the scent of sin. Go to Confession to clean the sin off of you so demons will leave you alone.

Is this too hard to understand?

Does this sound like blasphemy?

Not your problem.

Confession, repentance, commitment to Christ by partaking in the Eucharist, daily prayer, Rosary, going to Mass on Sundays…

All essential in spiritual warfare, in NOT succumbing to demons.

So this might sound like the occult.

Which is believing in the supernatural.

“Summoning spirits, seances, divination, psychics, astrology, spells, witchcraft” and seeking supernatural power apart from God.

So what’s the difference between what I’m saying about demons and the occult?

See, astrology twisted the stars to attribute power away from God to the Greek gods. Greeks invented astrology, the whole synastry, and horoscopes to diminish God’s power of us. That’s why the Greek pagans were heretics.

Whether the stars determine our nature during our birth?

That’s for you to discern, to discuss, and to decide.

So more about me? Do I believe in the occult? You’re looking at someone who absolutely hates everything supernatural and horror related.

Vampires? Not real. Werewolves? Not real? Witches?

What are witches?

Basically people who dabble in the supernatural and worship Satan and use the powers of darkness to unleash demons on you. Basically they can attack your mind with their witchy ways, that’s how they get you.

Were they real?

In the Harry Potter way?

Doubt it.

Ever? Like Salem?

Yeah, totally.

So back to sacramentals.

Crucifices, rosaries, scapulars, medals, holy water.

They all help against the darkness.

Why Silver?

Why not God?

Old school Catholics believe that silver is the most potent in warding against evil and demons.

Gold isn’t as potent, demons aren’t afraid of gold.

But silver historically has purifying properties.

So yeah, silver > gold.

If you want to blame someone else for the thoughts attacking your mind and preventing you from acing that exam.

Fine.

But believe me, it’s the demons.

But hear me out.

God is real. Use your angels and sacramentals. Pray for victory in spirtual warfare.
And please be baptized in a Catholic church,

please go to Confession.

If you want to fall to the darkness and ruin your life,

fine.

That’s your prerogative.

Your decision.

Up to you.

But really?

It’s your choice.

Remember, you’re not evil.

The demons are.

And whether you are protected from them or prey for them?

That’s your choice.

You were made with love by God.

But do you love?

Are you love?

Remember the fruit of the Spirit.

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23

The real advantage of being Catholic and choosing the ways of God isn’t to look cool, to be a part of a certain cool culture, or to even get a husband or wife who’s Christian.

It’s so you can win against evil.

So learn and pause before accusing someone of being a heretic.

Blame the Devil, even.

Peace.