Dear Conner:

The idea that silver, or any other object or substance on earth, has an effect on demons is pure fiction and Hollywood. Although I'm not sure of the origin of the use of silver to ward off evil, such as the silver bullet to kill a werewolf, it is likely sourced in the fact that silver is a symbol for purity, among other things. Thus, the idea would be that purity staves off evil. This notion is merely a literary convention, however, and has no substance in reality.

Demons are part of the spiritual world and not the material world. There is nothing in the material world that has effect upon them because of this. While the mere presence of a crucifix may cause demons some small pause because of what the crucifix represents, what really has an effect are objects which are blessed. It is the blessing upon the object and not the object itself to which demons may be effected.

Blessed objects are made blessed by a priest creating what is called the sacramental. The sacramentals, however, whether it be a rock, a crucifix, a scapular, a rosary, or any other object, are not talismans. These objects have no power in itself. The power of the sacramental is not in the object but in the faith of the person who uses it.

In addition, some demons can be affected by the mere fact that the object is blessed. Demons do not like to be around blessed objects because, in a way, a blessed object has the fingerprint of God upon it. However, the use of a blessed object is not a guarantee that all demons will be scared away. Blessed objects are like no trespassing signs. Some people will respect the no trespassing sign, other people will ignore the sign and trespass anyway, and some people will shoot bullet holes for the sign and trespass anyway. Demons come in a hierarchy of power, thus some demons will be scared away by the mere presence of the blessed object and others may attack a person anyway. Again, sacramentals are not talismans and should never be treated as if they are.

Sacramentals represent one tool, one weapon, in the arsenal that we have to resist and fight against demons. As it is in human war, we do not fight that war with just one weapon, we use an entire arsenal of weapons. In spiritual warfare we have an arsenal of weapons of which sacramentals are but of one. Other weapons include the Sacrament of Confession and the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. These two Sacraments represent the greatest and most powerful weapon against the devil that exists. Other weapons include the Communion of the Saints, that is, appealing for intercession of the Saints of Heaven, appealing for protection from God's angels, especially our Guardian Angel, prayers and devotions, and especially living the best Christian life one knows how to live. These are among the weapons we have in our arsenal to fight against demons. All of this is predicated upon the conversion to Jesus Christ. Those who are not believers in Jesus Christ, and/or are not living the Christ-life do not have ready access to this arsenal and thus are made far more vulnerable to attacks from the devil than are devout Christians.

Purity, therefore, which silver represents, does ward off demons. But it is not the substance of silver that does this. It is, rather, the purity of heart and devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ that may ward off demons.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary