Pagans complained  that neglecting their gods made Rome decline. St. Augustine replies that, even if  it were true, it’s far better to face adversity than to worship demons. But it’s not true. Only God can really make us prosperous. What beings are really propitiated by practicing such abominations in worship? Because Christianity has exposed the perversity and trickery of those devils (and it is also by their power that magic deceives people’s minds), and because it has brought out the distinction... Read more

The evil angels can put on a good show, says St. Augustine. But that doesn’t mean they’re better than we are. We should remember that we who are on the side of God accomplish  far greater miracles every day. It is easy for the most worthless spirits to do things with their ethereal bodies that astonish souls weighed down by earthly bodies—even the souls of the better inclined. Earthly bodies themselves, once they are trained in skill and practice, can show... Read more

St.  Augustine explains  why we don’t  worship  angels. Just  as  Paul and Barnabas refused to be worshiped when pagan Greeks tried to pay them divine honors, so the good angels have only one desire: to lead us to God. The only angels who desired worship were the ones who were cast out of Heaven. See what holy men do—men who are like the angels. If you find some holy man who serves God and try to worship him instead of God,... Read more

The Name of God is wonderful and powerful, says St. John Chrysostom. It’s the only name a Christian can invoke. It’s fine to ask the angels for help, but if we pray to them as if they were gods, they’ll throw our prayers away, because all they want is the honor of God. There is nothing equal to this Name. Everywhere it is wonderful. “Your name is oil poured out,” it says (Song 1:3). Whoever speaks it is filled with per-... Read more

Some human beings are called “gods”  even in the Bible, says St. Augustine – although of  course only metaphorically.  But Scripture never calls angels gods even metaphorically,  so that we will understand that  angels desire that  we should not worship them, but the God whom they and we serve. So that no one may think that there is no living and intelligent nature that delights in the pagan sacrifices, the Apostle adds, “what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not... Read more

Satan can transform himself  into an angel of light, says St. Augustine. If  he does, we need to rely on the help of God to keep us on the right path, and to teach us to see through Satan’s disguise. It’s very important to be able to see and know when Satan has trans- formed himself into an angel of light; otherwise, by deceiving us that way, he could seduce us into doing real damage. There’s no danger to our religion... Read more