Confession:
Penance is a powerful weapon for spiritual combat because it allows us to confess our sins and receive absolution from a priest. When we confess our sins, we acknowledge our wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness. This act of humility and contrition helps us turn away from sin and towards God, and the priest’s absolution grants us the grace of forgiveness and helps us start anew on the path of righteousness. Confession of sins is especially important for those who have become entrenched in a life of sin, as it offers a chance to break free from that cycle and turn towards God. The devil often tries to scare people away from confessing their sins, knowing that it can be a transformative and powerful experience. By confessing our sins and receiving absolution, we can resist the influence of the devil and draw closer to God.
Holy Communion
Receiving Holy Communion is another powerful weapon for spiritual combat. In Holy Communion, we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ, truly present in the bread and wine. This sacrament is a source of grace and strength, and helps us to draw closer to Christ and to live out our faith more fully. The devil has no power in the presence of God, and so receiving Holy Communion can be a particularly effective way to drive away the influence of the devil in our lives. When we receive Holy Communion, we unite ourselves more fully with Christ and his Church, and this unity helps to strengthen us in the face of spiritual warfare. It is important to approach Holy Communion with reverence and a proper disposition, preparing ourselves through prayer and examination of conscience before receiving the sacrament. By regularly receiving Holy Communion, we can draw on the strength and grace of Jesus Christ to combat the forces of evil in our lives.
The Virgin Mary
Entrusting ourselves to the Virgin Mary can be a powerful weapon for spiritual combat. The Virgin Mary is the mother of God and a powerful intercessor in heaven. By entrusting ourselves to her, we place ourselves under her maternal care and protection and ask for her intercession on our behalf. According to Italian exorcist Fr. Sante Babolin, the devil hates the Virgin Mary and cannot stand those who invoke her name. This suggests that entrusting ourselves to Mary can be an effective way to resist the influence of the devil and to seek protection from the forces of evil. The Virgin Mary is also a model of faith and humility, and entrusting ourselves to her can help us to grow in these virtues as well. This can be done through practices such as praying the Rosary, wearing a Miraculous Medal, or consecrating ourselves to Mary. By turning to the Virgin Mary in times of spiritual warfare, we can draw on her maternal protection and intercession to help us overcome the challenges we face.
St Joseph
Turning to St. Joseph can be a powerful weapon for spiritual combat. St. Joseph is the foster father of Jesus and is venerated as a patron saint of the Church. According to Fr. Donald Calloway, St. Joseph played a key role in the life of Bl. Bartolo Longo, a former Satanic priest. Longo was devoted to St. Joseph, particularly his title of “Terror of Demons,” and encouraged others to turn to him in their fight against temptation. This suggests that St. Joseph has a special role in helping to protect against the influence of the devil. St. Joseph is also known for his humility, faith, and devotion to the Holy Family, and turning to him can help us to grow in these virtues as well. This can be done through practices such as praying the St. Joseph Chaplet, consecrating ourselves to St. Joseph, or simply asking for his intercession and guidance in times of spiritual warfare. By turning to St. Joseph, we can seek his protection and guidance in overcoming the challenges we face.
Scapular
Wearing the Brown Scapular with devotion can be a powerful weapon for spiritual combat. The Brown Scapular is a devotional garment consisting of two small pieces of brown wool connected by strings, worn over the head and around the neck. The scapular is associated with the Carmelite order, and is seen as a sign of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to tradition, the devil greatly fears the Brown Scapular and those who wear it with devotion. One story tells of how the devil once howled at Francis of Assisi, “Take off the habit which snatches so many souls from us!” when Francis replaced his scapular. This suggests that the Brown Scapular has a special power to protect against the influence of the devil. Wearing the scapular with devotion involves making a commitment to live a life of faith, following the Carmelite way of life, and seeking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. By wearing the Brown Scapular with devotion, we can seek the protection of Mary and draw on her intercession to help us overcome the challenges we face.
Prayer
Establishing a daily habit of prayer can be a powerful weapon for spiritual combat. Prayer is a way for us to communicate with God and to seek his presence and guidance in our lives. The devil loves disorder and will do everything he can to disrupt our prayer life, knowing that a strong prayer life is essential for our spiritual well-being. By establishing a daily habit of prayer, we show God our priorities and demonstrate our commitment to seeking his presence in our lives. This can help to push Satan out of our lives and give us the strength and guidance we need to overcome the challenges we face. It is important to establish a routine of prayer that is both consistent and flexible, allowing for both set times of prayer and spontaneous prayers as the need arises. By making prayer a regular part of our daily routine, we can draw on the strength and guidance of God to help us in our spiritual warfare.
Humility
Remaining humble is a powerful weapon for spiritual combat. Humility is a virtue that involves recognizing our own limitations and recognizing that we are dependent on God for everything. It involves a willingness to admit when we are wrong and to seek forgiveness when we have wronged others. Humility helps us to turn away from pride and self-centeredness, which can be major stumbling blocks in our spiritual lives. The devil loves pride and will do everything he can to try to inflate our ego and lead us away from humility. By remaining humble, we can resist the influence of the devil and draw closer to God. This can be done through practices such as self-examination, seeking the guidance of others, and regularly confessing our sins. By remaining humble, we can open ourselves up to the grace and guidance of God and be better equipped to overcome the challenges we face in spiritual warfare.
Fasting and abstinence:
Fasting and abstinence are practices that involve intentionally depriving ourselves of certain things in order to draw closer to God and to grow in self-control. These practices can be particularly effective at helping us to resist the influence of the devil, as they involve denying ourselves the pleasure of certain things and instead seeking the pleasure of God. By fasting and abstaining, we demonstrate our dependence on God and our willingness to submit to his will. These practices can also help us to grow in humility and self-control, as they require us to deny ourselves certain things that we might normally desire. In the Catholic tradition, fasting is typically understood to mean abstaining from food (or eating only very simple or small meals) for a certain period of time, while abstinence refers to refraining from certain kinds of food (such as meat) or certain kinds of behavior (such as engaging in sexual activity). By fasting and abstaining, we can draw closer to God and strengthen our ability to resist the influence of the devil in our lives.
