Is it Catholic to affirm that the
functions of Incubi and Succubi belong indifferently and equally to
all unclean spirits? And it seems that it is so; for to affirm
the opposite would be to maintain that there is some good order among
them. It is argued that just as in the computation of the Good there
are degrees and orders (see S. Augustine in his book on the nature of
the Good), so also the computation of the Evil is based upon
confusion. But as among the good Angels nothing can be without order,
so among the bad all is disorder, and therefore they all
indifferently follows these practices. See Job x.: A land of
darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any
order, and where the light is as darkness.
Again, if they do not all indifferently follow these practices, this
quality in them comes either from their nature, or from sin, or from
punishment. But it does not come from their nature, since they are
all without distinction given to sin, as was set out in the preceding
question. For they are by nature impure spirits, yet not so unclean
as to pejorate their good parts; subtle in wickedness, eager to do
harm, swollen with pride, etc. Therefore these practices in them are
due either to sin or to punishment. Then again, where the sin is
greater, there is the punishment greater; and the higher angels
sinned more greatly, therefore their punishment they have the more to
follow these filthy practices. If this is not so, another reason will
be given why they do not indifferently practise these things.
And again, it is argued that where there is no
discipline or obedience, there all work without distinction; and it
is submitted that there is no discipline or obedience among devils,
and no agreement. Proverbs xiii.: Among the proud there is
always contention.
Again, just as
because of sin they will all equally be case into Hell after the Day
of Judgement, so before that time they are detained in the lower
mists on account of the duties assigned to them. We do not read that
there is equality on account of emancipation, therefore neither is
there equality in the matter of duty and temptation.
But against this there is the first gloss on I
Corinthians xv: As long as the world endures Angels are set
over Angels, men over men, and devils over devils. Also in Job
xl it speaks of the scales of Leviathan, which signify the members of
the devil, how one cleaves to another. Therefore there is among them
diversity both of order and of action.
Another question arises, whether or not the devils can be restrained
by the good Angels from pursuing these foul practices. It must be
said that the Angels to whose command the adverse Influences are
subject are called Powers, as S. Gregory says, and S. Augustine (de
Trinitate, 3). A rebellious and sinful spirit of life is subject
to an obedient, pious and just spirit of life. And those Creatures
which are more perfect and nearer to God have authority over the
others: for the whole order of preference is originally and in the
first place in God, and is shared by His creatures according as they
approach more nearly to Him. Therefore the good Angels, who are
nearest to God on account of their fruition in Him, which the devils
lack, have preference over the devils, and rule over them.
And when it is urged that devils work much harm
without any medium, or that they are not hindered because they are
not subject to good Angels who might prevent them; or that if they
are so subject, then the evil that is done by the subject is due to
negligence on the part of the master, and there seems to be some
negligence among the good Angels: the answer is that the Angels are
ministers of the Divine wisdom. It follows then that, as the Divine
wisdom permits certain evil to be done by bad Angels or men, for the
sake of the good that He draws therefrom, so also the good Angels do
not altogether prevent wicked men or devils from doing evil.
Answer. It is Catholic to maintain that
there is a certain order of interior and exterior actions, and a
degree of preference among devils. Whence it follows that certain
abominations are committed by the lowest orders, from which the
higher orders are precluded on account of the nobility of their
natures. And this is generally said to arise from a threefold
congruity, in that such things harmonize with their nature, with the
Divine wisdom, and with their own wickedness.
But more particularly as touching their nature. It is agreed
that from the beginning of Creation some were always by nature
superior, since they differ among themselves as to form; and no two
Angels are alike in form. This follows the more general opinion,
which also agrees with the words of the Philosophers. Dionysus also
lays it down in his tenth chapter On the Celestial Hierarchy
that in the same order there are three separate degrees; and we must
agree with this, since they are both immaterial and incorporeal. See
also S. Thomas (ii. 2). For sin does not take away their nature, and
the devils after the Fall did not lose their natural gifts, as has
been said before; and the operations of things follow their natural
conditions. Therefore both in nature and in operation they are
various and multiple.
This harmonizes
also with the Divine wisdom; for that which is ordained is ordained
by God (Romans xiii). And since devils were deputed by God for
the temptation of men and the punishment of the damned, therefore
they work upon men from without by many and various means.
It harmonizes also with their own wickedness.
For since they are at war with the human race, they fight in an
orderly manner; for so they think to do greater harm to men, and so
they do. Whence it follows that they do not share in an equal manner
in their most unspeakable abominations.
And this is more specifically proved as follows. For since, as has
been said, the operation follows the nature of the thing, it follows
also that those whose natures are subordinate must in turn be
subordinate to themselves in operation, just as is the case in
corporeal matters. For since the lower bodies are by natural
ordination below the celestial bodies, and their actions and motions
are subject to the actions and motions of the celestial bodies; and
since the devils, as has been said, differ among themselves in
natural order; therefore they also differ among themselves in their
natural actions, both extrinsic and instrinsic, and especially in the
performance of the abominations in question.
From which it is concluded that since the practice of these
abominations is for the most part foreign to the nobility of the
angelic nature, so also in human actions the foulest and beastliest
acts are to be considered by themselves, and not in relation to the
duty of human nature and procreation.
Finally, since some are believed to have fallen from every order, it
is not unsuitable to maintain that those devils who fell from the
lowest choir, and even in that held the lowest rank, are deputed to
and perform these and other abominations.
Also it must be carefully noted that, though the Scripture speaks of
Incubi and Succubi lusting after women, yet nowhere do we read that
Incubi and Succubi fell into vices against nature. We do not speak
only of sodomy, but of any other sin whereby the act is wrongfully
performed outside the rightful channel. And the very great enormity
of such as sin in this way is shown by the fact that all devils
equally, of whatsoever order, abominate and think shame to commit
such actions. And it seems that the gloss on Ezekiel xix means
this, where it says: I will give thee into the hands of the dwellers
in Palestine, that is devils, who shall blush at your iniquities,
meaning vices against nature. And the student will see what should be
authoritatively understood concerning devils. For no sin has God so
often punished by the shameful death of multitudes.
Indeed many say, and it is truly believed, that no one
can unimperilled persevere in the practice of such vices beyond the
period of the mortal life of Christ, which lasted for thirty-three
years, unless he should be saved by some special grace of the
Redeemer. And this is proved by the fact that there have often been
ensnared by this vice octogenarians and centenarians, who had up to
that time ruled their lives according to the discipline of Christ;
and, having forsaken Him, they have found the very greatest
difficulty in obtaining deliverance, and in abandoning themselves to
such vices.
Moreover, the names of the
devils indicate what order there is among them, and what office is
assigned to each. For though one and the same name, that of devil, is
generally used in Scripture because of their various qualities, yet
the Scriptures teach that One is set over these filthy actions, just
as certain other vices are subject to Another. For it is the practice
of Scripture and of speech to name every unclean spirit Diabolus,
from Dia, that is Two, and Bolus, that is Morsel; for he kills two
thing, the body and the soul. And this is in accordance with
etymology, although in Greek Diabolus means shut in Prison,
which also is apt, since he is not permitted to do as much harm as he
wishes. Or Diabolus may mean Downflowing, since he flowed down, that
is, fell down, both specifically and locally. He is also named Demon,
that is, Cunning over Blood, since he thirsts for and procures sin
with a threefold knowledge, being powerful in the subtlety of his
nature, in his age-long experience, and in the revelation of the good
spirits. He is called also Belial, which means Without Yoke or
Master; for he can fight against him to whom he should be subject. He
is called also Beelzebub, which means Lord of Flies, that is, of the
souls of sinners who have left the true faith of Christ. Also Satan,
that is, the Adversary; see I S. Peter ii: For your adversary
the devil goeth about, etc. Also Behemoth, that is, Beast, because he
makes men bestial.
But the very devil
of Fornication, and the chief of that abomination, is called
Asmodeus, which means the Creature of Judgement: for because of this
kind of sin a terrible judgement was executed upon Sodom and the four
other cities. Similarly the devil of Pride is called Leviathan, which
means Their Addition; because when Lucifer tempted our first parents
he promised them, out of his pride, the addition of Divinity.
Concerning him the Lord said through Esaias: I shall visit it upon
Leviathan, that old and tortuous serpent. And the devil of Avarice
and Riches is called Mammon, whom also Christ mentions in the Gospel
(S. Matthew vi): Ye cannot serve God, etc.
To the arguments. First, that good can be found without
evil, but evil cannot be found without good; for it is poured upon a
creature that is good in itself. And therefore the devils, in so far
as they have a good nature, were ordained in the course of nature;
and for their actions see Job x.
Secondly, it can be said that the devils deputed to work are
not in Hell, but in the lower mists. And they have here an order
among themselves, which they will not have in Hell. From which it may
be said that all order ceased among them, as touching the attainment
of blessedness, at that time when they fell irrecoverably from such
rank. And it may be said that even in Hell there will be among them a
gradation of power, and of the affliction of punishments, inasmuch as
some, and not others, will be deputed to torment the souls. But this
gradation will come rather from God than from themselves, as will
also their torments.
Thirdly,
when it is said that the higher devils, because they sinned the more,
are the more punished, and must therefore be the more bound to the
commission of these filthy acts, it is answered that sin bears
relation to punishment, and not to the act or operation of nature;
and therefore it is by reason of their nobility of nature that these
are not given to such filthiness, and it has nothing to do with their
sin or punishment. And though they are all impure spirits, and eager
to do harm, yet one is more so than another, in proportion as their
natures are the further thrust into darkness.
Fourthly, it is said that there is agreement among
devils, but of wickedness rather than friendship, in that they hate
mankind, and strive their utmost against justice. For such agreement
is found among the wicked, that they band themselves together, and
depute those whose talents seem suitable to the pursuit of particular
iniquities.
Fifthly, although
imprisonment is equally decreed for all, now in the lower atmosphere
and afterwards in Hell, yet not therefore are equal penalties and
duties equally ordained for them: for the nobler they are in nature
and the more potent in office, the heavier is the torment to which
they are subjected. See Wisdom vi: “The powerful shall
powerfully suffer torments.”