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20111010 Angels, Good and Bad 善與惡的天神

“Who created the angels?” was the question one day asked of some children. The answer was easy: “God.” “But who made the devil?” This was difficult! They thought, reflected, and thought again, and then suddenly one exclaimed: “God created him an angel, and he made himself a devil.”

This story is taken from an old catechism. We learn from our catechism that God alone is the Creator of heaven and earth, and He made all things out of nothing by His almighty power.

The chief creatures of God are angels and human beings. Angels are created spirits, without bodies, having understanding and free will.

However, not all the angels remained faithful to God; some of them sinned and became devils.

The fall of angels

Father John Hardon, SJ, the author of the Modern Catholic Dictionary, wrote, “There are good and bad angels because some angels remained faithful to God when they were mysteriously tested by Him, and some were unfaithful to God.”

Theologians have speculated that the test had to do with the incarnation, the Son of God becoming man. It is possible that God told the angels about the creation of human beings, and that the Son of God would become, not an angel, but a man, and that all the angels must serve this Person and acknowledge Him as their Head.

One of the angels, Lucifer, refused to obey and declared, “I will not serve!” He led one-third of the angels to rebel against God. St. Michael, on the other hand, led the other two-thirds in their faithfulness to God.

Lucifer (light-bearer) became Satan (the opposer). The devils became “unclean spirits” because of their pride.

Blessed Catherine Emmerich, a visionary and mystic, wrote: “At first all [angels] were lost in contemplation out of self, but soon some of them rested in self. At that instant I saw this part of the glittering choirs hurled down, their beauty sunk in darkness.”

If we are humble, we imitate the good angels, but if we are proud, we imitate the bad angels.

My guardian dear

In heaven the good angels see, love, and adore God. Here on earth God assigns a guardian angel for each one of us. One catechism lists the following good offices performed by our guardian angels:

1. They protect our bodies, warding off the dangers that threaten us, and preserving us from a multitude of accidents.

2. They prevent devils from harming us.

3. They suggest to us pious thoughts to encourage us to do good and shun evil.

4. They offer our prayers to God, and join their prayers to ours.

Regarding our duties toward our guardian angels, St. Bernard said that we should have respect, because of his presence; devotion, because of the solicitude for us which he manifests; and confidence, because of the protection with which he surrounds us.

Begone, Satan!

The chief way in which the bad angels try to harm us is by tempting us to sin. “Temptation” is the main weapon of the evil one.

There are three effective ways to fight against the temptations of the devil:

1. Humble and confident prayer, especially invoking the holy names of “Jesus” and “Mary.”

2. Making use in all confidence of the sacraments and sacramentals, especially making good confessions and using holy water.

3. An utter contempt of the devil. St. Augustine pointed out that the devil is like a chained dog, which can bark but cannot harm those who keep a distance from him.

St. John Bosco pointed out two things which the devils are most afraid of: good resolutions made in confession, and devotion to Our Lady.

「『誰創造了天神?』有一天,一些孩子們被問到這個問題。答案是容易的:『天主』。『但誰造了魔鬼呢?』困難就在這裡!他們想了,細加思索,又再想想,突然有人大聲說『天主創造了他作天神,但他自己變成魔鬼。』」

上述故事取自一本教理書。從天主教教理,我們知道,天主是天地的唯一造物主。祂以自己的全能從虛無中創造了一切。

在天主造的萬物當中,天神和人類是最尊貴的。天神是無形無像的神體,有著明理和自由意志。

並非所有的天神都忠信於天主;有一部分的天神犯了罪而變成了醜陋的魔鬼。

墮落的天神

若翰哈頓神父曾經寫過:「天神有好的也有壞的,因為當天主奧妙地考驗他們時,一部份天神維持對天主的忠信,另一部份並不忠信於天主。」

神學家們推測這個考驗是與天主子的降生成人有關。可能是天主籲告天使,有關創造人類的計劃,並籲告有關天主聖子將攝取人性。所有天神都要為這位人而天主的聖子服務,並承應祂是眾天神之首。

天神路濟弗爾拒絕服從並宣稱「我不會侍奉!」他帶領了三份一的天神反叛天主。另一方面,聖彌額爾帶領其他三份二的天神向天主保持忠信。

路濟弗爾(光的承載者)變成了撒殫(敵對者)。魔鬼們都變成了「不潔淨的神體」是因為他們的驕傲所致。真福嘉琳艾瑪,一位擁有神視之恩的聖者這樣寫過「起初,所有的天神在自己以外忘我地默觀,但不久一部份卻止息於自己內。在這瞬間,我看見那一部份[以自我為中心] 閃爍天神團由高天墜落,他們的美麗就從此深埋在黑暗中。」

假若我們謙遜,我們是效法好的天神;但是如果我們驕傲,我們便是效法壞的天神。

敬愛的護守天神

在天上,善良的天神瞻仰,愛慕和朝拜天主。在地上,天主為每一個人派遣了一位護守天神。一本教理書列下了護守天神的神聖職務:

  1. 他們保護我們的身體,擋隔著可能禍害我們的危險,從多方面的意外中保護我們。
  2. 他們防止魔鬼傷害我們。
  3. 他們提示我們以敬畏上主的思想,鼓勵我們行善避惡。
  4. 他們跟我們一起祈禱,並將我們的禱告逞獻於上主。

聖伯爾納德教導,我們對護守天神的責任主要有三:第一,尊重他,因為他的臨在。第二,愛戴他,因為他關心著我們。第三,信賴他,因為他在我們身旁,保衛我們。

走開吧,撒殫!

魔鬼首要傷害我們的方法是引誘我們犯罪。誘惑是它們主要的武器。

要戰勝魔鬼的誘惑,我們有三個有效的方法。

  1. 謙虛、信賴的祈禱。特別是籍著呼求「耶穌」和「瑪利亞」的聖名。
  2. 懷着信心來參與聖事和聖儀。特別是辦妥善的告解,和使用聖水。
  3. 對魔鬼予以輕親。聖奧斯定指出,魔鬼似是一隻縛絆了的狗,它只能吠;只要你能與它保持距離,它是傷不了人的。

聖若望鮑思高曾指出兩件魔鬼最怕的事,就是:告解中所定的善志和對聖母的敬禮。