The Physics of the Fall: Fr. Chad Ripperger on Angelic Intellect and Why One-Third Fell

Why did one-third of the angels choose eternal damnation? And why can’t a fallen angel ever repent?

In a captivating clip from the Shawn Ryan Show, Catholic exorcist and Thomistic theologian Fr. Chad Ripperger breaks down the scholastic angelology of St. Thomas Aquinas, shedding light on the mechanics of angelic intellect, the instantaneous nature of their choice, and the spiritual reality behind the fall of Lucifer.

Infused Knowledge: Human vs. Angelic Intellect

To understand why the angels fell, Fr. Ripperger emphasizes that one must first understand how their minds operate compared to ours:

• Human Intellect (Sensory & Gradual): Humans learn gradually through sensory experience, process information in steps, and often make mistakes out of ignorance or clouded judgment. Because our minds are limited and fallible, God extends ongoing mercy to us.

• Angelic Intellect (Infused & Instantaneous): Angels do not learn through senses. At the first instant of their creation, God infused them with complete knowledge of all created essences. They exhaust everything there is to know about a concept instantaneously.

[Human Learning]  ➔ Senses ➔ Gradual Steps ➔ Hazy Understanding ➔ Room for Regret & Mercy
[Angelic Mind]   ➔ Infused Knowledge ➔ Instantaneous Comprehension ➔ Absolute Clarity ➔ Fixed Will

The Test: Self-Perfection vs. Divine Assignment

Because angels possessed perfect intellectual clarity, they knew God’s triune nature, the future Incarnation of Christ, and the exact assigned task God had given each of them. They also clearly understood the consequences: eternal beatitude in Heaven if faithful, or eternal damnation if they rebelled.

So how could a sin occur?

Fr. Ripperger explains that in the second instant of their existence, each angel was presented with a test. They saw higher levels of perfection above their own nature. To attain those perfections on their own terms, however, they would have to abandon the assigned task given to them by God.

1. The Holy Angels: Sacrificed the desire for self-exaltation to remain obedient to God’s assigned task, choosing the supreme good of seeing God face-to-face.

2. The Fallen Angels: Desired lower created perfections for themselves, rejecting God’s authority and following Lucifer’s rebellion.

The “One-Shot Deal” and the Immutable Will

Based on traditional Church Fathers’ interpretation of Revelation 12:4—where the dragon’s tail sweeps down a third of the stars—theology holds that one-third of all angels fell.

Crucially, because an angel’s choice was made with total, flawless foresight without any ignorance, their will became permanently fixed. There is no redemption or second chance for demons.

Fr. Ripperger noted that even during minor exorcism sessions, when asked if they regret their rebellion, demons reveal their fixed nature: they detest the torment of Hell, but given the choice, they would make the exact same decision again.

The Core Lesson for Humanity

Ultimately, Fr. Ripperger notes that the angelic conflict mirrors the daily human struggle. God created intelligent beings with genuine free will because He desires voluntary love, not forced compliance. Every day, humans face the same fundamental choice: to sacrifice self-centered desires for God’s higher good, or to prioritize self-will and suffer spiritual bankruptcy.

An Exorcist Reveals Why One-Third of the Angels Chose Hell

Watch Fr. Chad Ripperger’s full theological breakdown on the Shawn Ryan Show.