Questions / God and the Trinity

Is the devil real?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Bishop Robert Barron

Video: Bishop Barron on The Devil, Bishop Robert Barron, published Jul 25, 2012. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Yes. A fallen angel, but just a creature, not God’s evil twin. His power has limits. CCC 391 CCC 395

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Scripture and the Church’s Tradition see in Satan a fallen angel, created good by God, who became evil by his own choice. CCC 391

His power is not infinite: he is only a creature and cannot prevent the building of God’s Kingdom. CCC 395

Our words

Take him seriously, don’t obsess over him. Jesus has already won. Stay close to the sacraments and you’re on the winning side.

Watch another on this

Play video: How Guardian Angels Actually Work, Ascension Presents, from Ascension Presents, 6 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

Are angels real?

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Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 391, 395 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.