I tend to think that "ghosts" are really demonic spirits somehow allowed to visit Earth
but I have heard such things as .. when they manifest, they are trying to get our attention bc they need our help
I am wondering what catholics think?
Paukla Haigh's Fairyland is Hell, Magic is demon power.
Chapter Two: The Devil and His Demons
Doctrinal Foundations
Fairies, elves, gnomes, nymphs, dryads, trolls, fauns, satyrs, merpeople, leprechauns, poltergeists, familiars, spirit-guides, yeti, Bigfoot, ET, aliens and all such denizens of the “Otherworld” have also inhabited this world since the creation of Adam and Eve. In fact, it all began with the Fall of the Angels.
The Church’s definitive work on demonology, The Malleus Maleficarum (1486), states against those who hold that belief in devils and witches is “altogether illusory and fanciful are plainly heretical,” for disbelief in devils is founded upon absolute infidelity:
‘… because the authority of Holy Scripture says that devils have power over the bodies and over the minds of men, when God allows them to exercise this power, as is plain from very many passages in the Holy Scriptures. Therefore those err who say that there is no such thing as witchcraft, but that it is purely imaginary, even although they do not believe that devils exist except in the imagination of the ignorant and vulgar, and the natural accidents which happen to a man he wrongly attributes to some supposed devil, ... But this is contrary to true faith, which teaches us that certain angels fell from heaven and are now devils, and we are bound to acknowledge that by their very nature they can do many wonderful things which we cannot do. And those who try to induce others to perform such evil wonders are called witches. And because infidelity in a person who has been baptized is technically called heresy, therefore such persons are plainly heretics.’ (Dover ed, pp. 2-3)
The fundamental point made here is that it is heresy to disbelieve in the Devil, or Lucifer-Satan – heresy in the baptized and, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, founded upon “absolute infidelity” or apostasy.
Created on the First Day of Creation Week, in the Empyrean Heaven, the Angels were subjected to a test of their fidelity before they could be admitted to the Beatific Vision. Once bathed in the Vision of God’s glory and beauty, they could never be tempted again. They would be forever confirmed in Grace.
Theologians do not agree as to the precise nature of the trial to which the Angels were subjected, but sound tradition has it that they were given to understand the great event of the Incarnation: that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity would become Man, taking His Human Nature from the Immaculate Ever-Virgin Mary.
Lucifer, one of the highest Angels of the heavenly hierarchy, and those who identified with him in his pride, refused to consent that the Word of God should so humble Himself as to assume human nature from the Woman, thus twice-lowering Himself to a status below that of the angelic. These rebellious Angels refused their homage and obedience to the God-Man Who was to come to Earth in the fullness of time. Most of all, Lucifer’s pride was enraged by the exaltation of the Woman who was to be the Mother of the Incarnate God, for homage from him was required to Her also as the Queen of Heaven with Her Son. In other words, Lucifer set himself in eternal opposition to the Plan of God for Creation.In light of the nature of his sin, it is clear that Lucifer’s followers are the great rebels and revolutionaries of history, always opposing the order established by God in the beginning and by His Church throughout history.Lucifer had pitted himself against the natural order of society even before the Incarnation, as we see in Cain’s rebellion against God’s law of fraternal love by murdering his brother. Cain also rebelled against the natural agricultural way of life by building the first city and – again, against the natural law of paternity – naming it after his son. Nimrod’s defiance of God’s Sovereignty in building the Tower of Babel that aspired “to reach unto heaven” was undoubtedly inspired by Lucifer’s lust for power over all men in a centralized human authority. Since the founding of the Church in whom our Lord invested His Divine Authority, heretics and founders of sects even before the major rebellion of Luther in the 16th century, manifested Lucifer’s incessant activity against the Woman and Her Seed as God foretold in Genesis 3:15. Nor was Galileo free of satanic influence when he split, with the sword of his arrogance, the mind of man from faithful adherence to the Word of Divine Revelation.
In the great trial of the Angels, it is believed that the greater number of the angelic host remained faithful to God and to His Plan for Creation. These were immediately received into the Heaven of the Blessed Trinity and confirmed in Grace. But Lucifer and his angels were cast down to the Earth and hell was created for them in its depths.The entire Angelic Host is described by St. Paul’s convert, Denis the Areopagite, as consisting of Nine tremendous Choirs grouped in three Orders: Assisting, Governing and Ministering. The first Choir is formed by the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. These are the Angels who never leave the Throne of God, although God did appoint one of the Cherubim to guard the Gates of Paradise and the Tree of Life after Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden (Gen. 3:24). Perhaps this indicates how near to Heaven the Garden of Eden really was. According to St. Thomas, Lucifer was of the Choir of the Cherubim and these Angels are most excellent for their luminous knowledge. The Governing Angels are the Dominations, Virtues and Powers. These are delegated by God to oversee the actions of all the heavenly bodies and are appointed to assist the heads of nations and cities on Earth. Lastly, there are the Ministering Angels: Principalities, Archangels and Angels. These are appointed to guard and assist individuals on Earth. Amongst these are our Guardian Angels. These hierarchies of the Angelic Host are important for our theology of the demons because it is believed that some Angels fell from each of the three Orders though not from each of the Nine Choirs. Some theologians believe, for example, that none of the Seraphim fell because their very nature is fiery Love, whereas Lucifer, the Cherubim, noted for his knowledge, fell more easily into pride, according to St. Thomas.
But also important for this subject is the nature of the Angels. They are pure spirits of tremendous intellect and will, far greater in power and purity than men in their rational nature. Franciscan theologian Fr. Valentine Long, says that all of them are “instant theologians.” Not only that, but as soon as there existed a Universe to contemplate, the Angels were also:
‘… instant astronomers. Our telescopes, probing its vast reaches, can only pick out the less remote stars; so that what we have learned of the cosmos remains infinitesimal compared to the magnitude of our ignorance. But we must not ascribe to the Angels our limitations. At a glance they comprehended it all.’[1]And if “instant astronomers”, then also “instant” physicists, “instant” biologists, and scientists generally, seeing into the very constitution of natural creatures and understanding nature’s laws in a manner inaccessible to the human mind. In fact, this can be docuмented, as will be described later.
All this being so, it is important to realize that when Lucifer and his rebellious legions fell from Grace, the love and sanctity that had been theirs and was to have been theirs in its fullness, was turned and transformed into implacable malice and hatred. Since they could not attack God directly, they first turned their evil intent towards their fellow Angels. The great War against Michael and the faithful Angels then began. Michael victorious, Lucifer and his legions were cast into the Hell that was then created especially for them. They now direct all their malevolence against mankind. We human beings are destined to fill the thrones left vacant and forever forfeited by the evil angels. When all those empty places have been filled by human souls, the number of the Elect will be complete and the great Angel of the Apocalypse will proclaim that Time is no more. Then will God bring about a new heavens and a new Earth.
[1] Fr. Valentine Long: The Angels in Religion and Art (1970), p.48. 
Topic: what do you believe about ghosts? demons? (Read 3516 times)