Questo articolo è disponibile anche in:
Italian 
English
Question
Good evening, Father.
I have a question to ask you: are the devil and the other demons both in hell and on earth ? Or are they just in hell?
Why did the demons cry at Jesus in the anecdote of the possessed man: have you come to ruin us before the time? Why did they express those words given that they are already ruined, being eternally condemned to hell?
When a devil takes possession of a man’s body, does it reside only in that man’s body or is it also in hell?
Thank you.
Answer
Dear friend
1. I bring you the thought by St. Thomas, which is always clear and perfect.
He so writes in the Summa Theologiae:
“man’s welfare is disposed by Divine providence in two ways: first of all, directly, when a man is brought unto good and withheld from evil; and this is fittingly done through the good angels. In another way, indirectly, as when anyone assailed is exercised by fighting against opposition. It was fitting for this procuring of man’s welfare to be brought about through the wicked spirits, lest they should cease to be of service in the natural order. Consequently a twofold place of punishment is due to the demons: one, by reason of their sin, and this is hell; and another, in order that they may tempt men, and thus the darksome atmosphere is their due place of punishment.
Now the procuring of men’s salvation is prolonged even to the judgment day: consequently, the ministry of the angels and wrestling with demons endure until then. Hence until then the good angels are sent to us here; and the demons are in this dark atmosphere for our trial: although some of them are even now in hell, to torment those whom they have led astray; just as some of the good angels are with the holy souls in heaven. But after the judgment day all the wicked, both men and angels, will be in hell, and the good in heaven.” (Summa Theologiae, I, 64, 4).
2. Referring to the second question “Why did they express those words given that they are already ruined, being eternally condemned to hell?”, the Holy Fathers comment that this claim implies “you have come to ruin our work among men because we cannot take them with us”.
3. For the third question I will answer you again by St. Thomas: “although the demons are not actually bound within the fire of hell while they are in this dark atmosphere, nevertheless their punishment is none the less; because they know that such confinement is their due. Hence it is said in a gloss upon James 3:6: “They carry fire of hell with them wherever they go.” ” (Summa Theologiae, I, 64, 4, ad 3).
I thank you for the questions and I bless you.
Father Angelo