What is Spiritual Warfare and how do we fight it?
Catechism Meditation:
The doctrine of original sin, closely connected with that of redemption by Christ, provides lucid discernment of man’s situation and activity in the world. By our first parents’ sin, the devil has acquired a certain domination over man, even though man remains free. Original sin entails “captivity under the power of him who thenceforth had the power of death, that is, the devil”. Ignorance of the fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action and morals. The consequences of original sin and of all men’s personal sins put the world as a whole in the sinful condition aptly described in St. John’s expression, “the sin of the world”. This expression can also refer to the negative influence exerted on people by communal situations and social structures that are the fruit of men’s sins. This dramatic situation of “the whole world [which] is in the power of the evil one” makes man’s life a battle: The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by God’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity. ―Nos. 407-409
REFLECTION. Spiritual warfare is the ongoing battle for the human soul — the conflict between the grace of God drawing us toward holiness and the forces of evil seeking to draw us away from God into sin and ultimately into eternal separation from Him. This battle is not only a physical one but also a mental, emotional, and spiritual struggle. It is not a battle fought with physical weapons but with prayer, the sacraments, virtue, and the grace of God. Every human being, wounded by original sin and living in a fallen world, is subject to temptation from three sources: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Spiritual warfare is the daily, lifelong effort to resist these temptations and grow in union with God.
The Catholic Church teaches clearly and unambiguously that the devil is real — not a symbol, not a metaphor, not a psychological projection, but a real spiritual being who was created good and fell through his own free choice. Satan and the other fallen angels (demons) are real spiritual beings with intelligence and will, who actively work against human salvation. They cannot force us to sin — they can only tempt, deceive, and accuse. However, their influence is real and should not be dismissed. Scripture shows Satan’s presence from the Old Testament (e.g., Job 1–2, Isaiah 14:12–15) to the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 4:1–11, John 12:31), where Jesus confronts him directly. While this topic can be frightening, the Church also teaches that we have powerful weapons to protect ourselves: faith, prayer, the sacraments, and the protection of God and His angels. Understanding demons and spiritual warfare is important for Catholics because it helps us recognize the reality of evil and the importance of staying close to God.
Fr. Gabriel Amorth (1925-2016), former chief exorcist of the Vatican and a champion in Catholic spiritual warfare, had this to say to the devil about being protected from him in an interview from the book God is More Beautiful Than the Devil: “I am wrapped in the mantle of Our Lady; what can you do to me? I have St. Michael the Archangel on my side, try fighting with him. I have my guardian angel watching over me lest I be touched; you cannot do anything.” Fr. Amorth recommends doing three things to help stay protected from the devil, especially at the hour of death when our souls go up to God for judgement: (1) stay close to the Blessed Mother in this life and pray her rosary every day. (2) Pray the St. Michael Prayer devoutly, especially at the end of Mass. (3) Pray the Guardian Angel Prayer devoutly every day.
Many parishes, recognizing the magnitude of the spiritual warfare going on within the Church and in the world we live in today, are zealously opting to pray the powerful St. Michael the Archangel Prayer at the end of the Mass. The Prayer to St. Michael was composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1886, reportedly after he had a vision of the devil boasting to God that he could destroy the Church. The Pope was so shaken that he immediately composed this prayer and ordered it to be said after every Low Mass — a practice that continued until the liturgical reforms of the 1960s. The prayer was restored to widespread use by Pope John Paul II, who encouraged Catholics to pray it again.
The Prayer to St. Michael prayer is appropriate after Mass, before sleep, when facing temptation, when sensing spiritual oppression, or as part of a daily spiritual warfare routine. This prayer reminds us that we are not alone in our spiritual battles and that God provides powerful protection through His angels. This prayer teaches us to be vigilant and to recognize the reality of evil in our world. This prayer also reminds us of our responsibility to pray for the protection of others, especially those who may be vulnerable to spiritual attack. Through this prayer, we express our trust in God’s providence and our commitment to stand firm in faith, knowing that with God’s help, we can overcome any spiritual challenge.
PRAYER. Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Timeless Wisdom Quote:
“In the spiritual life, we must be prepared for the battle, as the enemy is always seeking to lead us astray.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen