Lucifer
From years of going to mass weekly and attending countless religion classes throughout elementary, middle and High School I have learned a brief history of how Lucifer came to be Satan. Lucifer was once an Archangel, which are known as the messengers of God. Lucifer, which means "bringing light" was jealous of man, smitten with pride, he refused to adore God's creation of man whom were made in his image. Henceforth, Michael the Archangel exiled Lucifer from heaven. He strives now to lead mankind away from God and his love. "Perhaps John's Gospel is the clearest on this point: Satan, the prince of this world [hell], the father of lies who was a murderer from the beginning (Jn 8:44), leads this massive rebellion of spiritual beings against God, His love, Son and plan for creation" (Stravinskas. et al. 298).
It is important to know that Lucifer is not just an idea of evil, he is real and it is not wise to deny his power and existence. Although "the devil remains a created essence whose nature is good...he employs this nature for evil purposes..and he inflicts evils out of hatred for humanity" (Stravinskas. et al. 305). You can also read more about his hatred for man in Job 1:6 which reads, "the devil is not an evil spirit, but an accuser whose function is to test the authenticity of human virtue and fidelity of God. To achieve this, he can afflict evils on human beings, for virtue is not genuine unless tested" (Stravinskas. et al. 304).
The Second Vatican council and dogmatic theology remain "reserved about the power of the devil over human actions. Despite his power he is a finite creature, and his power is circumscribed by the power of God...[therefore]...Satan remains subject to the power of God and is ultimately overcome by Jesus" (Stravinskas. et al. 304-305). During an interview Father Gary Thomas, a renowned exorcist, was asked if Lucifer can read and have control over our minds. His response was, "Satan [Lucifer] can have some sense, I think, of our thoughts or our feelings, but Satan doesn't know us as we know ourselves. He can't predict the future" (qtd. in Coffin). Another thing I found to be interesting about his interview was how he mentioned the reactions the demons possessing a person have when hearing the name of the Blessed Mother. "She's the first disciple, the first to say "yes" in the Gospels...She's the carrier of the Word. From the point of view of an exorcist, Satan and the demons hate the Blessed Mother in a very different way than they hate Christ. And very often the Hail Mary can be more powerful than the prayers of the rite of exorcism" (qtd. in Coffin). Another important piece of information about Lucifer and exorcisms is the fact that "the devil doesn't hope you can guess his name, and neither do his fellow fallen angels" (Burke). The reasoning behind this, is that once the exorcist knows the demon or demons by name they have an advantage over the demonic spirit, making it easier to expel the demon from the victims body.
It is important to know that Lucifer is not just an idea of evil, he is real and it is not wise to deny his power and existence. Although "the devil remains a created essence whose nature is good...he employs this nature for evil purposes..and he inflicts evils out of hatred for humanity" (Stravinskas. et al. 305). You can also read more about his hatred for man in Job 1:6 which reads, "the devil is not an evil spirit, but an accuser whose function is to test the authenticity of human virtue and fidelity of God. To achieve this, he can afflict evils on human beings, for virtue is not genuine unless tested" (Stravinskas. et al. 304).
The Second Vatican council and dogmatic theology remain "reserved about the power of the devil over human actions. Despite his power he is a finite creature, and his power is circumscribed by the power of God...[therefore]...Satan remains subject to the power of God and is ultimately overcome by Jesus" (Stravinskas. et al. 304-305). During an interview Father Gary Thomas, a renowned exorcist, was asked if Lucifer can read and have control over our minds. His response was, "Satan [Lucifer] can have some sense, I think, of our thoughts or our feelings, but Satan doesn't know us as we know ourselves. He can't predict the future" (qtd. in Coffin). Another thing I found to be interesting about his interview was how he mentioned the reactions the demons possessing a person have when hearing the name of the Blessed Mother. "She's the first disciple, the first to say "yes" in the Gospels...She's the carrier of the Word. From the point of view of an exorcist, Satan and the demons hate the Blessed Mother in a very different way than they hate Christ. And very often the Hail Mary can be more powerful than the prayers of the rite of exorcism" (qtd. in Coffin). Another important piece of information about Lucifer and exorcisms is the fact that "the devil doesn't hope you can guess his name, and neither do his fellow fallen angels" (Burke). The reasoning behind this, is that once the exorcist knows the demon or demons by name they have an advantage over the demonic spirit, making it easier to expel the demon from the victims body.