Question Five of Chapter Two of the Third Decade
That a demon transformed into an angel cannot be adored without sin, even by one who is ignorant
It is asked whether the devil, transforming himself into an angel of light or appearing in the appearance of Christ, can be adored as an angel or as Christ without sin.
To this it first appears that one must respond affirmatively.
For ignorance of fact, when diligence has been applied, excuses from sin. But since this person is ignorant of what has happened and applies diligence, it appears that he does not sin by adoring the devil as Christ.
In response it must be said that Satan, transformed into an angel of light or appearing in the appearance of Christ, must not be believed to be Christ and cannot be adored without sin. Therefore he must in no way be adored; and if someone were ignorant, ignorance would not excuse him from sin.
The reason for this is threefold.
The first is that everyone has been forewarned through Sacred Scripture that the angel of darkness transforms himself into an angel of light, as is said in Second Corinthians, chapter 11, and in Matthew, chapter 24: “Many will come in my name,” and so forth.
And therefore he is bound to examine the matter and not to adore immediately.
The second reason is that he possesses the remedy of prayer.
Hence, if he were to pray to God with his whole heart that God reveal the truth to him, God would not permit him to be deceived.
For in this case that saying of John, chapter 15, is understood: “Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you”—that is, as Blessed Augustine expounds, “whatever you ask which pertains to salvation, he will give you.”
It is therefore evident from this that the one who adores does not apply all the diligence which he ought to apply.
The third reason is that he could easily avoid the danger by adding a condition in this way: “I adore you if you are Christ.”
These things are from Alexander in Part III of the Summa, question 16, article 4.