Who Is the Devil? A Catholic Guide for Homeschool Parents
Scripture, Tradition, and Catholic Wisdom
Whether you like to think about him or not (and I hope you don’t), the devil is an ever-present character in the drama of salvation. From the Garden of Eden to the Temptation of Christ to God’s final victory over the forces of evil at the end of time, the devil as much a part of our story as we ourselves.
But what do we really know about the devil? What comes from divine revelation and what comes from literature or Hollywood? And if our kids come asking about the devil, what’s the best way to approach conversations on the topic?
Today, I chat with Homeschool Connections’ theology instructor, Holly Vaughan, about the Adversary.
Let’s start with the words we use to speak of the Enemy. He goes by many names—devil, Satan, Lucifer, etc. What are the various names for the devil, and what do they mean?
The Church, through Sacred Scripture and Tradition, gives us several names for the devil. These names are not given at random; each reveals something about his identity or activity.
Satan comes from the Hebrew śāṭān, meaning adversary or accuser. This emphasizes his role as one who opposes God and brings accusations against humanity. We see this in the Book of Job, where Satan accuses Job before the throne of God. (cf. Job 1–2; Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:10).
Devil comes from the Greek diabolos, meaning slanderer or one who throws apart. This speaks to his work of division—between God and humanity, and among human beings themselves (cf. Matthew 4:1; John 8:44). The devil is a sower of discord.
Lucifer means light-bearer and comes from the Latin translation of Isaiah 14:12. While the passage originally refers to the King of Babylon, Christian tradition has long seen in it a typological reference to the fall of a proud angel. St Paul also warns us that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (cf. 2 Cor. 11:14).
Other titles given in Scripture include the evil one (Matthew 13:19), the tempter (Matthew 4:3), the ancient serpent (Revelation 12:9), Beelzebul (Matthew 12:24), and the ruler of this world (John 12:31). These names emphasize not his power, which is limited, but his deceptive, accusatory, and divisive nature. For more, I recommend reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 391–395.
From what biblical passages do we derive most of our information about the devil?
There are several biblical passages that mention the devil, but none of them presents the whole picture. Our understanding of the devil has developed organically throughout salvation history. For instance:
- Genesis 3: The serpent tempts humanity—later in Scripture, we are shown that this serpent is identified as Satan (Revelation 12:9).
- Job 1–2: Satan is an accuser who tests human fidelity.
- The Gospels: We see references all throughout, but especially in the temptation of Christ (Matthew 4; Luke 4), accounts of exorcisms, and teachings about evil.
- John 8:44: Jesus identifies the devil as a liar and murderer “from the beginning.”
- Revelation 12: Presents a vision of the dragon’s rebellion and defeat.
The Catholic Church reads these passages together (we should always read Scripture as a whole), guided by Tradition and the Church’s teaching authority, rather than isolating any single text.
Is there any reliable tradition concerning what rank of angel the devil belongs to?
The Church definitively teaches that the devil is a fallen angel, but has not dogmatically defined his specific angelic rank. Sacred Tradition tells us—and writers such as St. Augustine, St. Gregory the Great, and St. Thomas Aquinas attest—that Satan was likely a seraphim, the highest choir of angels. This view is based on the way he is referred to in Scripture, particularly in Isaiah.
Why does our tradition seem to imagine the devil as a goat creature with horns?
This imagery seems to have developed symbolically and culturally throughout European history. Going back to the Bible, goats appear in Scripture as symbols of separation from God (cf. Matthew 25:31–46) and are known for their stubborn nature. Horns in ancient cultures were symbols of power and pride. Medieval art developed these themes and created grotesque imagery to portray the spiritual distortion caused by sin, as represented by the devil. We should also mention the Jewish practice of the “scapegoat” that carried sins comes into play here as well (cf. Lev. 16), the image of the goat being used by early Christians to depict the sins it carried away.
I think it’s important to understand that these images are meant to function catechetically, not literally. Scripture avoids physical descriptions, instead using symbols (serpent, dragon, lion) to communicate spiritual realities. Catholics do not believe the devil is literally a goat monster—even though what he does is monstrous.
How much thought should average Catholics give to the devil?
Catholic tradition consistently warns against both denial of and obsession with the devil. Both can be a problem in the spiritual life! Ignoring the devil underestimates the reality of spiritual warfare, which is certainly real (cf. Ephesians 6:12). We should be absolutely aware that there is a battle going on around us, that there is one who would destroy our souls, and that we need to take action against temptation. However, obsessing over Satan gives him undue attention and can cause spiritual harm as well. Our baptism gives us spiritual armor, and we only have to call upon the name of Christ for protection.
As with most things, a balanced approach works best: remain sober and vigilant, grounded in Christ, the sacraments, prayer, and charity. As the Catechism emphasizes, the devil’s power is real but not infinite. He is just a creature, and he is already defeated by Christ (CCC 395). His only weapon is temptation, and practicing our faith devoutly equips us to battle back in that area.
What have the saints taught us about warding off the devil?
Across the lives of the saints, several consistent themes emerge:
1) First, practice the virtue of humility: Pride opens the door to temptation; humility closes it.
2) Cultivate a solid prayer life and frequent the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession. This will give powerful and protective graces, shielding us against the forces of demonic influence.
3) If you are tempted, call on the name of Jesus and speak Scripture over your life. This is one of the ways Jesus Himself battled the devil at His own temptation.
4) Finally, don’t engage: many saints refused to dialogue with temptation, but turned immediately to God in prayer.
The Saints did not focus on the devil; they focused on God. Their confidence rested not in their own strength, but in Christ’s victory. This is the best attitude we can adopt with regard to the ancient Enemy.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Join other homeschooling parents and me in the Homeschool Connections Facebook Group or in the HSC Community to continue the conversation.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Make sure to check out Holly Vaughan’s high school theology courses at Homeschool Connections!
