Family Familiarity

Satan appeared in church one day and everyone fled. All except for one man who remained seated.

Satan walked up to the man and said, "Do you know who I am?"

The man replied, "I know who you are. I married your sister 25 years ago."

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Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes them fall into death out of envy. Scripture and the Church's Tradition see in the being a fallen angel, called "Satan" or the "devil." The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: "The devil and other demons were indeed creaed naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing." (Catholic Catechism Par. 391)

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 stength 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." (Catholic Catechism Par. 395)