Talk on Angels and Demons

 I am glad I was able to attend via Zoom meeting the short talk of Fr. Joseph Mendoza, Chief Exorcist, Lipa, Batangas, entitled “Talk on Angels & Demons.” His book, Iadya Mo Kami, is available at St. Pauls and on Lazada. I thank God for this opportunity.

Somehow, I feel that I am finally beginning to move on from last week’s Spiritual Warfare Conference with the special guest exorcist, Fr. Carlos Martins which I was unable to attend.

Studying spiritual warfare is not something we should be afraid of or simply avoid. In fact, many lay Catholics are not aware of this aspect of our faith, and some priests may also be less familiar or less comfortable discussing it. (pls read: Ephesians 6:12)

For me, the topic was somewhat of a refresher because I had already been reading books about angels and angelology since I was young.

Among the things we learned were the hierarchy of angels and the nine choirs of angels, as well as the traditional understanding that one-third of the angels rebelled against God and fell. This is commonly associated with Revelation 12:4, which speaks of the dragon sweeping away a third of the stars of heaven, although the passage itself does not explicitly say “one-third of the angels.”

Some pointers from the talk:

1.  Angels are messengers of God.
Each of us has a guardian angel assigned to us.

2. Scripture explicitly names three archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. 

There are traditional lists of other angelic names, such as Uriel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Sealtiel, but these names do not have the same biblical authority as Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. It is therefore important to exercise caution in invoking or attempting to communicate with angels whose names are not revealed in Scripture or officially recognized by the Church. We should never knowingly invoke an unknown spiritual entity.

3. Angels are spirits and are not male or female. They are often depicted with wings because wings symbolize their spiritual nature and their mission as messengers of God.

4. Angels can communicate with one another without the limitations of human physical communication. In theological discussions, this is sometimes described in terms of interior or intellectual communication rather than human speech.

5. The higher the choir or rank of an angel, the greater its intellectual and spiritual capacity.
We do not have the authority to arbitrarily give names to angels or command them. God is their Creator and Lord.

6. Angels do not die. They are spiritual beings and are not subject to physical death.

7. The angels who rebelled against God cannot repent and become good again. Their choice against God was irrevocable.

8. The popular belief that “babies who die become angels” is not correct according to Catholic theology. Human beings and angels are different kinds of creatures. We remain human beings even after death; we do not become angels.

9. Angels cannot fall in love with human beings in the way humans do because they are pure spirits, not human beings. Their nature is fundamentally different from ours.

10. The traditional Catholic understanding is that God assigns guardian angels to His children, and the Church's understanding of angels is grounded in Sacred Scripture and developed through the teachings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, including St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.

11. St. Michael is traditionally regarded as the Prince or leader of the heavenly armies. Revelation 12:7 specifically describes Michael and his angels battling the dragon.

IMPORTANT:

The Church does not teach that deceased loved ones freely wander around the world or come back to give messages ("nagpaparamdam"). The clearest biblical passage about this is Luke 16:19–31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. After death, there is a “great chasm” between the two states that cannot be crossed.

In cases where people believe they are seeing or communicating with a deceased loved one, a demon may potentially imitate that person's appearance or presence in order to deceive or confuse them. This is why the Church warns us against occult practices and attempts to communicate with spirits.

Sacramentals and Devotion in Spiritual Warfare

 I’ve been reading and studying spiritual warfare on my own for several years now. I deeply admire Filipino exorcists such as Fr. Jose Syquia and the Dominican exorcist Fr. Winston Cabading. My library also includes books by well-known American exorcists such as Fr. Chad Ripperger, Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, and Fr. Carlos Martins, as well as the works of the late Vatican exorcist Fr. Gabriele Amorth.

Spiritual warfare is very real. Today, we can clearly see the many ways evil is at work in our world. As Roman Catholics, we have been blessed with the sacraments and sacramentals that the Church provides to strengthen us in our spiritual battle.

As shown in the photo, these sacramentals have long been treasured by the Church and are powerful aids in our spiritual life when used with faith and devotion. Above all, they remind us to remain close to Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and a life of holiness, with special devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary, the Queen of Angels, and to St. Michael the Archangel.

The Rosary – Often called the "prayer of roses," the Holy Rosary is one of the most powerful prayers in the Church. It has long been regarded as a mighty weapon against evil and a source of grace through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.

The Brown Scapular – I received my Brown Scapular from a Carmelite brother. It is made of cloth, as the traditional Brown Scapular should be. It is a beautiful sign of consecration to Our Lady and a reminder to live a faithful Christian life.

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary – This beautiful devotion honors the Seven Sorrows of Our Blessed Mother. It is one of my favorite devotions and is also recommended by Fr. Chad Ripperger, especially for those engaged in spiritual warfare and for praying for exorcist priests.

The St. Benedict Medal – The St. Benedict Medal has been used by the Church for centuries and is well known for its prayers of protection against evil. As a Benedictine Oblate, I wear it every day together with my Miraculous Medal.

The Miraculous Medal – As a little girl, I asked Our Blessed Mother to adopt me as her daughter. Having studied in a school run by the Vincentian Fathers and the Daughters of Charity, the Miraculous Medal has always held a very special place in my heart.

The St. Michael Stone from Mt. Gargano, Italy – This stone comes from the Sanctuary of St. Michael on Mt. Gargano, where, according to Catholic tradition, St. Michael the Archangel appeared. It is sometimes associated with exorcism because of the shrine's long spiritual history. This stone is very precious to me because it is not easy to obtain. St. Michael, the leader of the heavenly armies, is the archangel who defeated Satan and continues to protect the faithful through his powerful intercession.

 Prayers for the Laity – Every Catholic should have a collection of sound and Church-approved deliverance prayers. These prayers help us seek God's protection and resist the influence of evil while remaining within the proper role of the laity. I highly recommend Deliverance Prayers for the Laity by Fr. Chad Ripperger. I also keep and regularly use Fr. Jose Syquia's Deliverance Prayer Book, which contains beautiful Catholic prayers for protection, healing, and spiritual warfare. Both are valuable resources for strengthening one's spiritual life and trust in God's power.