In July-August 1986, during the Wednesday General Audiences, Pope Saint John Paul II dedicated six consecutive catechesis to the topic of angels and demons. This series represents the most comprehensive magisterial synthesis on recent angelology and demonology, integrating biblical, patristic, and dogmatic teachings.

**Details:**
– **Pope:** Saint John Paul II
– **Period:** July 9 to August 20, 1986 (6 general audiences)
– **Theme:** Angels and Demons in the Faith of the Church
– **Source:** Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II IX/2 (1986)

**Structure of the 6 Catechesis:**

1. **July 9, 1986:** “Angels: Spiritual and Free Creatures in God’s 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 Rebellious Angels: The Origin of Spiritual Evil”
5. **August 13, 1986:** “Victory of Christ over the Spirit of Evil”

**1. Catechesis July 9, 1986 – Angels as Spiritual Creatures**

> *Italian:* Le sacre Scritture e la tradizione hanno chiamato propriamente «angeli» quei creature, che precedono al di sopra di ogni creatura visibile: forti 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.

> *Portuguese:* As Sagradas Escrituras e a tradição chamaram propriamente «anjos» aquelas criaturas que ultrapassam toda criatura visível: espíritos puros, de natureza «sopra-mundana», naturalmente mais próximos de Deus que das criaturas materiais. Estes espíritos puros, os anjos do céu, constituem um autêntico «povo» inumerável, organizado de modos diversos e com tarefas diversas na geografia espiritual do cosmos.

**2. Catechesis July 23 – Angels and the Invisible World**

John Paul II quotes Colossians 1:16: “In him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; everything was created through him and for him.” He explains that angels are part of the “invisible world” that is part of Christian faith articulated in the Creed: “creator of heaven and earth, of visible and invisible things.”

**3. Catechesis July 30 – Cooperators in 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 diede la parola della legge, gli angeli, per così dire, ti accompagnarono al cospetto di Dio» (cf. Ufficio degli Angeli Custodi).

> *Portuguese:* A presença do Anjo da Guarda… é para cada cristão a garantia tangível do amor de Deus por cada um de nós. Como nos revelou o Antigo Testamento, Deus pôs um anjo à guarda de cada homem.

## 4. August 6th Catechesis: The Fall of the Rebel Angels

> Those angels who, from pure spirits, became malicious spirits, freely chose to reject God. The “choice” of the rebel angels was different from that of our first parents; it was not due to the temptation of another being, but a purely “interior” choice, based on an interior act of rebellion against divine will. Once made, this choice definitively and irreversibly sealed the fate of the fallen angels.

## 5. August 13th Catechesis: Christ’s Victory Over the Spirit of Evil

> Christ came to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Indeed, all his public life was characterized by a struggle against the devil. He defeated Satan on the cross and confirmed the victory with his resurrection. All baptized people participate in this victory.

## The Nine Choirs of Angels (Patristic-Medieval Tradition)

John Paul II confirms the patristic-medieval tradition of the nine choirs of angels (Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagita, 5th century):

## The Three Recognized Archangels

Only three angels are named in Sacred Scripture:

– **St. Michael:** “Who is like God?” – Protector of the Church, victor over Satan (Revelation 12:7)
– **St. Gabriel:** “Might in God” – Messenger of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38)
– **St. Raphael:** “Cure of God” – Companion of Tobias (Tobit 5-12)

The feast of the three archangels is celebrated on September 29th. The feast of angels guardians is celebrated on October 2nd.

## Doctrinal Significance

John Paul II’s catecheses establish that the doctrine regarding angels:

– Is an integral part of revealed Christian faith
– Is attested in Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium
– Was dogmatically defined at the Council of Lateran IV (1215)
– Is confirmed by Vatican II (Lumen Gentium 49-50)
– Has concrete pastoral implications (devotion to guardian angels, intercession)

The five catecheses of 1986 directly laid the foundation for the angelological and demonological sections of the *Catechism of the Catholic Church* (1992), particularly Nos. 328-336 (angels) and 391-395 (fall of angels).

**Additional Reading:**

– IV Lateran Council 1215 | CDF Faith and Demonology 1975 | Paul VI Confrontation with the Devil (November 15, 1972)

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John Paul II – Six Catecheses on Angels and Demons (July-August 1986)

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