Ah, woe is me, what torment does this
mistake cause me! My persecutions only brought out more clearly his doctrine of
humility and patience. In persuading Judas to betray Him, and the Jews to
subject Him to the deadly torture of the Cross, I merely hastened my ruin and
the salvation of men, while the doctrine I sought to blot out was only the more
firmly implanted. How could One who is God humiliate Himself to such an extent?
How could He bear so much from men who are evil? How could I myself have been
led to assist so much in making this salvation so copious and wonderful?
O how
godlike is the power of that Man which could torment and weaken me so? And how
can this Woman, his Mother and my Enemy, be so mighty and invincible in her
opposition to me? New is such power in a mere creature, and no doubt She
derived it from the divine Word, whom She clothed in human flesh. Through this
Woman the Almighty has ceaselessly waged war against me, though I have hated
Her in my pride from the moment I recognized Her in her image or heavenly sign.
But if my proud indignation is not to be assuaged, I benefit nothing by my
perpetual war against this Redeemer, against his Mother and against men. Now
then, ye demons who follow me, now is the time to give way to our wrath against
God. Come all of ye to take counsel what we are to do; for I desire to hear
your opinions.”
Some
of the principal demons gave their answers to this dreadful proposal,
encouraging Lucifer by suggesting diverse schemes for hindering the fruit of
the Redemption among men. They all agreed that it was not possible to injure
the person of Christ, to diminish the immense value of his merits, to destroy
the efficacy of the Sacraments, to falsify or abolish the doctrine which Christ
had preached; yet they resolved that, in accordance with the new order of
assistance and favour established by God for the salvation of men, they should
now seek new ways of hindering and preventing the work of God by so much the
greater deceits and temptations. In reference to these plans some of the astute
and malicious demons said: “It is true,
that men now have at their disposal a new and very powerful doctrine and law,
new and efficacious Sacraments. a new Model and Instructor of virtues, a
powerful Intercessor and Advocate in this Woman; yet the natural inclinations
and passions of the flesh remain just the same, and the sensible and delectable
creatures have not changed their nature. Let us then, making use of this
situation with increased astuteness, foil as far as in us lies the effects of
what this Godman has wrought for men. Let us begin strenuous warfare against
mankind by suggesting new attractions, exciting them to follow their passions
in forgetfulness of all else. Thus men, being taken up with these dangerous
things, cannot attend to the contrary.”
718.
Acting upon this counsel they redistributed the spheres of work among
themselves, in order that each squadron of demons might, with a specialized
astuteness, tempt men to different vices. They resolved to continue to propagate
idolatry in the world, so that men might not come to the knowledge of the true
God and the Redemption. Wherever idolatry would fail, they concluded to
establish sects and heresies, for which they would select the most perverse and
depraved of the human race as leaders and teachers of error. Then and there was
concocted among these malignant spirits the sect of Mahomet,
 |
| One of the demons appearing as an angel of light to mahomet |
the heresies of
Arius, Pelagius, Nestorius, and whatever other heresies have been started in
the world from the first ages of the Church until now, together with those
which they have in readiness, but which it is neither necessary nor proper to
mention here.
 |
| Arius denying the divinity of Christ |
Lucifer showed himself content with these infernal counsels as
being opposed to divine truth and destructive of the very foundation of man’s
rescue, namely divine faith. He lavished flattering praise and high offices
upon those demons, who showed themselves willing and who undertook to find the
impious originators of these errors.
Some
of the devils charged themselves with perverting the inclinations of children
at their conception and birth; others to induce parents to be negligent in the
education and instruction of their children, either through an inordinate love
or aversion, and to cause a hatred of parents among the children. Some offered
to create hatred between husbands and wives, to place them in the way of
adultery, or to think little of the fidelity promised to their conjugal
partners. All agreed to sow among men the seeds of discord, hatred and
vengeance, proud and sensual thoughts, desire of riches or honours, and by
suggesting sophistical reasons against all the virtues Christ has taught; above
all they intended to weaken the remembrance of his Passion and Death, of the
means of salvation, and of the eternal pains of hell. By these means the demons
hoped to burden all the powers and the faculties of men with solicitude for
earthly affairs and sensual pleasures, leaving them little time for spiritual
thoughts and their own salvation.
