John Paul II – six catecheses on the angels and demons (July-August 1986)

In July-August 1986, during the Wednesday General Audiences, Saint John Paul II devoted six successive catecheses to the theme of the angels and demons. This series is the most complete magisterial synthesis of the recent Magisterium on angelology and demonology, integrating biblical, patristic, and dogmatic teaching.

Structure of the 6 catecheses

1. July 9, 1986: “The angels: spiritual and free creatures in the divine work”
2. July 23, 1986: “Angels and the invisible world: a dimension of faith”
3. July 30, 1986: “Angels: cooperators in the work of divine Providence”
4. August 6, 1986: “The fall of the rebel angels, origin of spiritual evil”
5. August 13, 1986: “Victory of Christ over the spirit of evil”

1. Catechesis of July 9, 1986, the angels as spiritual creatures

Italian: Le sacre Scritture e la tradizione hanno chiamato propriamente “angeli” quelle creature, che precedono al di sopra di ogni creatura visibile: forte spiriti puri, di natura “sopra-mondale”, naturalmente più vicini a Dio che alle creature materiali. Questi spiriti puri, gli angeli del cielo, costituiscono un autentico “popolo” innumerevole, organizzato in modi diversi e con compiti diversi nella geografia spirituale del cosmo.

English: The Sacred Scriptures and tradition have properly called “angels” those creatures that surpass every visible creature: pure spirits, of a “supra-mundane” nature, naturally closer to God than to material creatures. These pure spirits, the angels of heaven, constitute an authentic innumerable “people”, organized in diverse ways and with diverse tasks in the spiritual geography of the cosmos.

2. Catechesis of July 23, angels and the invisible world

JP2 cites Col 1:16: “In Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible: thrones, dominions, principalities, powers; all things were created through Him and for Him”. The angels belong to the “invisible world” that is part of the Christian faith articulated in the Creed: “creator of heaven and earth, of things visible and invisible”.

3. Catechesis of July 30, cooperators of providence

Italian: La presenza dell’Angelo Custode… è per il singolo cristiano la garanzia tangibile dell’amore di Dio per ciascuno di noi. Così come ci ha rivelato l’Antico Testamento, Dio ha posto un angelo a custodia di ogni uomo: “Quando il Signore ti dette la parola della legge, gli angeli, per così dire, ti accompagnarono al cospetto di Dio” (cf. Ufficio degli Angeli Custodi).

English: The presence of the Guardian Angel… is for every Christian the tangible guarantee of God’s love for each one of us. As the Old Testament has revealed to us, God has placed an angel to watch over every man.

4. Catechesis of August 6, the fall of the rebel angels

Italian: Quegli angeli che da spiriti puri si sono convertiti in spiriti maligni, hanno scelto liberamente il rifiuto di Dio. La “scelta” degli angeli ribelli è stata diversa da quella dei nostri progenitori, non è stata una scelta dovuta alla tentazione di un altro essere, ma una scelta puramente “interiore”, fondata su un atto interiore di ribellione contro la volontà divina. Tale scelta, una volta compiuta, ha segnato in maniera definitiva e irreversibile la sorte degli angeli decaduti.

English: Those angels who from pure spirits turned into evil spirits freely chose the rejection of God. The “choice” of the rebel angels was different from that of our first parents; it was not a choice due to the temptation of another being, but a purely “interior” choice, founded on an interior act of rebellion against the divine will. That choice, once made, definitively and irreversibly marked the destiny of the fallen angels.

5. Catechesis of August 13, the victory of Christ over the spirit of evil

Italian: Cristo è venuto per “distruggere le opere del diavolo” (1 Gv 3, 8). Tutta la sua vita pubblica è infatti caratterizzata da una lotta contro il diavolo. Egli ha vinto Satana sulla croce, ha confermato la vittoria con la sua resurrezione. Tutti i battezzati partecipano a questa vittoria.

English: Christ came to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8). His entire public life is in fact characterized by a struggle against the devil. He conquered Satan on the cross and confirmed the victory by His resurrection. All the baptized share in this victory.

The 9 angelic choirs (Patristic tradition)

JP2 confirms the patristic-medieval tradition of the 9 angelic choirs (Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, 5th century):

The three recognized archangels

Only three angels are named in Sacred Scripture:

• Saint Michael: “Who is like God?”, protector of the Church, conqueror of Satan (Rev 12:7)
• Saint Gabriel: “Strong in God”, messenger of the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38)
• Saint Raphael: “Healing of God”, companion of Tobias (Tob 5-12)

The feast of the three archangels is celebrated on September 29. The feast of the guardian angels is celebrated on October 2.

Doctrinal relevance

JP2’s catecheses establish that the doctrine on the angels:

1. Is an integral part of the revealed Christian faith
2. Is attested in Sacred Scripture, in Tradition, and in the Magisterium
3. Was dogmatically defined at the Fourth Lateran Council (1215)
4. Is confirmed by Vatican II (LG 49-50)
5. Has concrete pastoral implications (devotion to the guardian angels, intercession)

Legacy

The catecheses of 1986 were the direct basis for the angelological and demonological sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992), especially nn. 328-336 (angels) and 391-395 (the fall of the angels).

Further reading

Fourth Lateran Council 1215 | CDF Fede e Demonologia 1975 | Paul VI Confronto col Diavolo

See our complete guide to Catholic Angelology.