The modern Satan

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sonofbarry

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He’s almost never mentioned as an actual, evil entity - a real, conscious being. I’ve heard teachers talk about ‘the evil within’. He barely rates a mention in Mass.
Yet, one of Jesus’ most critical moments was in his confrontation with the former archangel who he knew very well. Satan must have thought “This is it. He’ll never be more vulnerable. If I can make him even blink…”.
(And, as an aside, this is often called the temptation in the desert. It wouldn’t be called that if Jesus was not tempted, even in the slightest degree.)
I wonder how he appeared to Jesus. What tone of voice?
I also wonder how he ‘naturally’ looks now - still supremely beautiful, or a wretched-looking creature?
I imagine Satan as a shape-shifter, impossible to pin down.
He must still be active, but I fear for his wellbeing. After all, he has thrown in all his chips on a cause that he surely knows he can’t win. All he can do is cause some damage along the way. I still hope he repents.
This begs the question: is he capable of repentance? Does God’s forgiveness extend to fallen angels? He promised it to people, but not necessarily to his angels.
What are your thoughts on the ‘modern Satan’?
 
We can only speculate - on such forgiveness from God.

It’s not worth speculating on Satan.

Keep in mind, yourself, first and foremost.
Fear - for your well being.
 
Don’t give the enemy any thought.

He exists, he’s a personal being and he’s dangerous.
He is extremely active now. It’s ironic that people don’t talk about the devil when he’s more active now than in the ages of Faith.
 
I think we should fear the fact that that is a possible place of ending up once we die, and if you believe in one you gotta believe in the other. I think we should only make mention of him so we know how to properly defend ourselves against his snares.
 
He cannot repent. Angels made a one-time, irreversible decision. They are done. If he appears beautiful, it is his lying, deceptive nature that causes it. Although he suspected it not, Christ saw him in all of his ugliness, as Christ cannot deceive or be deceived. The devil rejected all truth and beauty - which has its source in God.
 
sonofbarry said:
(And, as an aside, this is often called the temptation in the desert. It wouldn’t be called that if Jesus was not tempted, even in the slightest degree.)
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You’d have to look up the original Greek in which the synoptic gospels were written. If they weren’t written in Greek, then use whatever the language it was. Then, you’d have to look at magisterial teaching on the verses.
sonofbarry said:
I wonder how he appeared to Jesus. What tone of voice?
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He probably appeared in whatever form he calculated to be most effective in fait accompli .
sonofbarry said:
I also wonder how he ‘naturally’ looks now - still supremely beautiful, or a wretched-looking creature?
I imagine Satan as a shape-shifter, impossible to pin down.
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You actually answered your own question there 🙃
sonofbarry said:
I still hope he repents.
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I tell my 4-yo that it’s best not to think of him. (because Satan will hijack and redirect any thought of him in any other regard than “enemy”, which is the Hebrew word in which scripture mentions him back in the Old Testament because he’s the father of lies just like in Genesis…but he’s too young to grasp that part)
sonofbarry said:
This begs the question: is he capable of repentance? Does God’s forgiveness extend to fallen angels?
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Malapropism alert: you mean raises the question. Some reputable article or video or podcast recently taught me that becuase their choice was made in full possession of the beatific vision (meaning not tainted by the fall of man or seeing through spiritual blinders in a sinful world) their decision was eternal. John Milton summed the choice up thusly: “Better to reign in hell than serve in Heaven.” Just before he says that line, he says “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heav’n of hell, a hell of heav’n”, which brings us back to thinking about him.

IDK, hope it helped. Hope I didn’t make it worse! 🤯
 
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This is why the Prayer to Saint Michael should be restored at the end of each mass:

SAINT Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our refuge against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
 
The catechism. You do have one, don’t you? As to their irrevocable choice, look under “demon.”
 
So many questions! (referring to the OP)

What do you mean by the modern Satan?
 
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In perhaps his greatest achievement, he has convinced modern man that he does not exist.
 
As many others have said, the devil is real, and doesn’t change. It is best to trust in prayer (especially a daily rosary), and to have nothing to do with him.

However, we are called to be as wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16), and not to be ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11), so I disagree with the advice that we should not think about him. If you were leading a war against an enemy, how would you effectively defeat his army if you continued to ignore his presence and movements?

When Jesus was first baptized and anointed, the first thing He did was contend with the devil in the desert directly. If you look at the lives of the saints, many of then also contended with the devil directly, and sometimes physically (St. Teresa of Avila, St. Anthony of the Desert, and St. Padre Pio come to mind). Most of us won’t have to deal with that, but we cannot be ignorant of the way the devil’s agents affect our emotions or thoughts, and lead us into even the most basic sins (like pointless arguments in the family, or an incident of unnecessary road rage, or even giving a dirty face to a coworker you disagree with).

We are called to be entirely filled with the Charity of God, and the devil works to counteract us in every way possible. It is a spiritual battle, and the devil fights invisibly and subtly, hoping to increase our sins, for sin to him is like money in the bank.

The modern Satan has continued with what he has always done - to convince the world that neither he nor God exists, and unfortunately, we continue to fall for it.
 
Might have come from there. Don’t remember where I first heard it.
 
Yes and of course a corollary to disbelief in God is disbelief in His first creatures, the angels, in particular the prince of the rebellious angels. Once this happens, it’s a small step to moral relativism, since there is no longer sin.
 
Rather than thinking of him, we would do well to reflect on our own weaknesses and really own them. He cant hurt us. Our own choices do us damage.
 
The devil is far more powerful than we are. We should never take him lightly, or assume that we can defeat him without divine aid. We should pray this often:

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."

And whenever the voice of the devil or one of his many demons whispers in your ear or attempts to direct your thoughts to wickedness and sin, pray this:

Hail Mary, full of grace.
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

These are the best choices.
 
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We know that he exists.
We know that he is well and active.
We know that he has evil intent for all of God’s people.
You ‘worry’ about the devil? Why?
He will be around and busy causing chaos long after we’re gone.
We have all heard the expression
“Give the Devil his due.”
Why? Why should we laud or recognize him?
What are his virtues, good deeds or accomplishment
that favor mankind?
I was brought up and told the more you recognize
or speak his name…the more powerful he becomes.
 
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