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- Biblical Origins
- 7 Deadly Sins/7 Virtues
- Spiritual Warfare and the Church
- Exorcisms
- Saints to Ask for Help From
Spiritual warfare recognizes that the devil is real, evil exists, and each day, these forces attempt to drive us towards living lives of sin.
It exists both in the dramatic moments but also in the mundane, daily experience of every day life, according to Fr. Dwight Longenecker.
“Our basic default setting for the Christian life is spiritual warfare,” he told the National Catholic Register. “We have to understand that we’re confronted with spiritual warfare every day in multiple ways….It’s in the perseverance of faith that the real spiritual warfare takes place.”
Spiritual Warfare: Biblical Origins
The New Testament gives us plenty of examples of Jesus casting out demons and, later, commissioning the disciples to do the same (Luke 9:1).
There are smaller spiritual battles that we face each day.
In the first letter of Peter, we’re reminded that all humans undergo these challenges, which seek to divide us from God:
Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
While the BIble references spiritual warfare, it also gives us examples of how to battle it.
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a famous example of this:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-20)
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
In “Talking Back: A Monastic Handbook for Combating Demons,” Evagrius of Pontus, a 4th-century monk, collected 498 passages from the Bible and provided instruction on how they could be used to “talk back” to demons amid spiritual warfare.
Spending time with Scripture helps us stay close to God and avoid the temptation of sin.
7 Deadly Sins and Virtues
Sin turns our hearts away from God’s love for us. If we turn away from God and His law, we turn closer to the devil.
The “Seven Deadly Sins” as we know them were articulated by Pope Gregory the Great in the sixth century:
- Anger
- Greed
- Lust
- Pride
- Gluttony
- Sloth
- Envy
He identified one sin as the root or gateway to others:
“For when pride, the queen of sins, has fully possessed a conquered heart, she surrenders it immediately to seven principal sins, as if to some of her generals, to lay it waste,” he wrote.
Conversely, there are seven corresponding virtues that help us make good moral choices and draw closer to God:
- Charity
- Chastity
- Diligence
- Humility
- Kindness
- Patience
- Temperance
When we avoid these sins and opt for their corresponding virtue, we strengthen our resolve in spiritual battle against the snares of the devil.
Spiritual Warfare and the Church
Spiritual warfare has a long history, but it’s not limited to history: It exists today, as the Church is acutely aware.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes reference to the “spiritual battle” that we all fight, and how prayer is key in this battle.
“Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. It always presupposes effort. the great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he himself, all teach us this: prayer is a battle. Against whom? Against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God. We pray as we live, because we live as we pray. If we do not want to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ, neither can we pray habitually in his name. the “spiritual battle” of the Christian’s new life is inseparable from.” (CCC 2775)
In a 2014 meditation, Pope Francis reminded us that “the Devil exists and we have to fight against him.”
In 2021, Pope Francis reminded us of the power of the Holy Spirit to nourish us, guide us, and protect us in spiritual battle:
“Thus, the life of the community is regenerated in the Holy Spirit; and it is always thanks to him that we nourish our Christian lives and continue to engage in our spiritual battle.”
But some instances of spiritual warfare are more severe than others. And the Church has guidelines for those, too.
Spiritual Warfare and Exorcisms
Popular 1973 horror movie “The Exorcist” introduced many to the concept of demonic possession and exorcism.
Although Hollywood movies and television shows often exaggerate, dramatize, or misrepresent many aspects of faith, including exorcisms, they are indeed a reality of our world.
The USCCB teaches us that there are two forms of exorcisms: minor and major. Minor exorcisms take place before Baptism and RCIA. The Rite of Baptism includes a “Prayer of Exorcism” that the celebrant prays:
Almighty and ever-living God, you sent your only Son into the world to cast out the power of Satan, spirit of evil, to rescue man from the kingdom of darkness, and bring him into the splendor of your kingdom of light. We pray for this child: set him (her) free from original sin, make him (her) a temple of your glory, and send your Holy Spirit to dwell with him (her). We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Major exorcisms, like those seen in the movie The Exorcist, are different. Only bishops or priests with special permissions can perform major exorcisms, which are directed toward “the expulsion of demons or to the liberation [of a person] from demonic possession.”
According to Fr. Vincent Lampert, who leads Hallow’s course on spiritual warfare, there are four main criteria that the Church uses to establish a valid case of demonic possession in an individual:
- the ability to speak and understand languages otherwise unknown to the individual,
- exhibiting extraordinary strength (beyond the normal ability of the individual),
- elevated perception with knowledge beyond natural power, that is, information otherwise unknown to the individual, and finally,
- strong resistance against all divine influences i.e. the Bible, sacred places, crucifix, holy water, relics, etc.
Today, the Pope Leo XIII Institute assists bishops, priests, and deacons in supporting those dealing with this serious condition. It also works with laity to create prayer teams who support exorcisms by praying for those afflicted.
Indeed, prayer is the most simple form of protection amid spiritual warfare that we have available to us. When we pray, we can ask for angels and saints to intercede for us.
Saints: Intercessors for Spiritual Warfare
The communion of saints offers many holy men and women who are able and willing to pray for us as we battle spiritual warfare.
St. Michael the Archangel is one saint that many people turn to when seeking protection. In fact, many churches conclude Mass by praying the St. Michael prayer. You can also pray the St. Michael Chaplet.
Since he protected the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph is also a popular saint for intercession against spiritual warfare.
Many people also ask for the intercession of St. Padre Pio. In his letters, he wrote often about being mindful of spiritual battles we face:
Drive away what the enemy is whispering loudly in your when he wants you to believe you are almost on the point of being lost. Despite these evil insinuations, the Lord is with you as never before in your tribulations. God tells us. Take heart, then, and don’t be afraid, for it is quite certain that the one who fears to be lost will not be lost and the one who fights with his eyes fixed on God will cry victory and the triumphal hymn. There is nothing to be afraid, for the heavenly Father has promised us the necessary help to prevent us from being overcome by temptations.
More Prayer Resources
When we stay close to God in prayer, and fill our hearts and minds with desires to do His will, we make it harder for the devil to find a space to tempt us or lead us astray.
Consider praying the rosary or committing to pray a novena, such as the Mary, Undoer of Knots novena. You can also deepen your trust and reliance on God by praying the Litany of Trust.
Finally, Hallow’s course on spiritual warfare, led by Fr. Vincent Lampert, is available in the Hallow app.