Thomas Aquinas on Spiritual warfare
Through those means, and also by commanding evil spirits to leave, or exorcising them, in Christ's name
"Consequently it is fitting that before Baptism the demons should be cast out by exorcisms, lest they impede man's salvation."
THE POSITION
The demons' assault is real and comes from their malice and envy, though God orders it to good and stops it when he wills. Exorcism belongs in the rite of baptism: before baptism the demons are cast out so they cannot hinder salvation, and the exorcisms are sacramentals rather than sacraments. He also holds that not every sin comes from the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
6 OTHERS HOLD THIS
ABOUT THIS FIGURE
Dominican friar, author of the Summa Theologiae. Synthesized Aristotelian philosophy with Christian doctrine; the reference point for later Catholic theology.
Cite this page
"Thomas Aquinas on Spiritual warfare", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/aquinas/spiritual-warfare (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/aquinas/spiritual-warfare).