Catechism of the Catholic Church
II. THE FALL OF THE
ANGELS
391 Behind the
disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice,
opposed to God, which makes them fall into death out of
envy.266 Scripture and the Church's Tradition see in
this being a fallen angel, called "Satan" or the
"devil".267 The Church teaches that Satan was at first a
good angel, made by God: "The devil and the other demons were
indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their
own doing."268
392 Scripture speaks of a sin of these
angels.269 This "fall" consists in the free choice of
these created spirits, who radically and irrevocably
rejected God and his reign. We find a reflection of that
rebellion in the tempter's words to our first parents: "You will be
like God."270 The devil "has sinned from the beginning";
he is "a liar and the father of lies".271
393 It is the irrevocable
character of their choice, and not a defect in the infinite divine
mercy, that makes the angels' sin unforgivable. "There is no
repentance for the angels after their fall, just as there is no
repentance for men after death."272
394 Scripture witnesses to the disastrous
influence of the one Jesus calls "a murderer from the beginning",
who would even try to divert Jesus from the mission received from
his Father.273 "The reason the Son of God appeared was
to destroy the works of the devil."274 In its
consequences the gravest of these works was the mendacious
seduction that led man to disobey God.
395 The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not
infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is
pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building
up of God's reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of
hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his
action may cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and,
indirectly, even of a physical nature- to each man and to society,
the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength
and gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great
mystery that providence should permit diabolical activity, but "we
know that in everything God works for good with those who love
him."275
thanks for the post sgmacross...i agreed with everything in most
ways except the last part where it says its a great mystery that
God would allow such diablolical acts..it is simple to see
actually..
satan issued a challenge to God's right of sovereignty..citing
that creatures can lead better lives even if limitted by their own
rule than living endlessly under God's rule..
by allowing what has happend to happen, all areas of such self
governance is being tested..mankind has used all forms of
governments till date only to always get into wars and
bloodshed...no happiness..only problems..the faithful man Job is
but a mini version of the entire challenge..being tested by satan
the devil with all ways possible..
hope i had made a clear point on the great mystery..