The most common opinion is, that to each man there is deputed a special demon.
The early Fathers of the Church, Tertullian, Origen, St. Gregory, all held this. The same is taught by the greatest of modern schoolmen, Suarez. And it seems probable, for the demon attempts in everything to rival Almighty God.
Now God has given to each man a guardian angel, and the demon would therefore be supposed to assign one of the fallen angels to tempt, and therefore to oppose, contradict, and, if possible, frustrate God’s designs.
Therefore it is possible, nay rather probable, that that companionship commences with a man’s conception, and continues to his grave, as in the case of the guardian angels.
At times that temptation may (it is believed) cease : either because the demon may hope that man may lose caution, being untempted, and that he might find it more easy to wile him after a season of peace, or that continual temptations may only lead to continual triumphs, and therefore to greater graces and higher degrees of glory on the part of the tempted or that God, seeing that man may yield under continual temptation, may command the wicked angel to desist or because of signal struggles, as in the case of the Saints, when rest may be absolutely needed.
We, however, need never fear, God is with us always.
His beautiful angel never leaves our side, and is far more watchful and unremitting in protecting us than the evil one in assaulting us.
