Three Basic Fundamentals of Catholic Spiritual Warfare

What are the basics of Catholic spiritual warfare? How would one describe the fundamentals of battling alongside the angels and saints for the sake of the Kingdom of God? What exactly are the essentials to living out our faith as good Catholics pleasing to God? Three basic fundamentals of Catholic spiritual warfare are discussed in this post.

This post is based upon what I have learned mainly from Catholic spiritual warfare experts. I have some of my favorite Catholic spiritual warfare experts listed below.

Catholic Spiritual Warfare Experts

What is Catholic Spiritual Warfare?

I would describe Catholic spiritual warfare as the Church’s ancient and ongoing battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil (Genesis 3:14-15).

“Against Christ’s army the world arrays a twofold battle line. It offers temptation to lead us astray; it strikes terror into us to break our spirit. Hence if our personal pleasures do not hold us captive, and if we are not frightened by brutality, then the world is overcome. At both of the approaches Christ rushes to our aid, and the Christian is not conquered.” – St. Augustine

3 Basic Fundamentals of Catholic Spiritual Warfare

This post is especially written for anyone new coming into the Catholic faith or anyone reverting back to the Catholic faith. Welcome, and let us pray for each other!

1. Sacramental Life in Christ

Jesus said…“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. John 6:35

Sacraments

First, we must have faith in Christ, in our baptism, and we should continually strive to renew our baptismal promises. I believe it is essential as Catholics to renew our baptismal promises at least once a week, especially on Sundays before Mass.

Renewal of Baptismal Promises

Frequent participation in the other sacraments given to the Catholic Church by Christ, especially the Eucharist, is a must. Sunday Mass, Daily Mass, Eucharist adoration, and growing in knowledge about the Eucharist are essential in Catholic spiritual warfare.

CCC 1324 The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church

Finally, we must continually strive to be absolved from our sins and atone for our sins by the authority of ordained bishops and priests in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Sacramentals

Frequent participation in the sacraments should be supported by use of the sacramentals: holy water, rosaries, scapulars, medals, crucifixes, exorcised salt, etc. will help keep our families protected from the presence of evil and evil influences.

The Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b

In Catholic spiritual warfare, you want to humbly receive as much grace as Christ will allow. The sacraments confer the grace of the Holy Spirit upon us. The sacramentals prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it (CCC 1670).

“Grace and the gift of the Trinity are given by the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit.” – St. Athanasius

2. Devout Prayer Life in Christ

Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Romans 12:12

In Catholic spiritual warfare, you must have a devout prayer life. The end goal of Catholic spiritual warfare is eternal salvation in Christ, and we do this by having faith in Christ battling for us on the cross. You might offer your prayers before a crucifix.

TBC #344. Q. Why do we pray before the crucifix and the images and relics of the saints? A. We pray before the crucifix and images and relics of the saints because they enliven our devotion by exciting pious affections and desires, and by reminding us of Christ and of the saints, that we may imitate their virtues. Source: The Baltimore Catechism, Lesson Thirty-First

Consider praying vocal and meditative prayers from the heart to God, and you want prayer devotions that resonate with your spirit. Some prayer devotions to consider praying daily are the Rosary, the Angelus, and the Litany of St. Joseph. There are hundreds if not thousands of Catholic prayers and prayer devotionals to choose from.

It is important to pray for others, especially those who are in need of God’s mercy.

Finally, find a saint that is of interest to you, and establish a life-long, loving devotion to that saint in your own spiritual warfare. Some examples: The Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Michael the archangel, St. Padre Pio, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Benedict, St. Francis, St. Therese of Lisieux, and St. John Vianney.

“Prayer is nothing else but union with God.” – St. John Vianney

3. Formation in God’s Word

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy; and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever he does prospers. Psalms 1:1-3

When I came back to the Catholic faith years ago from the emptiness I experienced living a secular life, I opened up my first Bible. I noticed some of the books in the Bible were printed in red font, the Gospels, so I decided to start reading those first.

I didn’t know what the Gospels were! The Gospels are the good news of Jesus Christ. I had never considered the reality of spiritual warfare, the devil, and evil influences.

Q: Why do you think so many people question the devil’s existence? A: They do not know the Gospel and therefore do not know Jesus who continually talks about the devil. Fr. Paolo Carlin, diocesan exorcist Source: Catholic Digest

Anyone starting out or coming back to the Catholic faith should probably begin by reading the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and continue in formation from there with the Book of Acts, St. Paul’s epistles, Old Testament books, etc.

You might supplement your Bible study with spiritual readings and books from saints, scholars, Catholic authors, the catechisms, and spiritual warfare experts.

Formation in the Word is critical in Catholic spiritual warfare. We must strive to know who God is before we can truly love and serve Him best with our talents and resources, and we do this by life-long learning about Him in the Bible, the Word of God.

“The Word of God enables man to know God and to love Him.” – St. Lawrence of Brindisi

Recap

Here is a recap of 3 Basic Fundamentals of Catholic Spiritual Warfare.

Sacramental life in Christ
Devout prayer life in Christ
Formation in God’s Word

If you strive to live out these three fundamentals in good faith, not only should it help to keep you and your family free of evil influences, but also to grow in love of God.

In response to concerns about evil influences: “If you have a strong faith life, a strong prayer life, and a strong sacramental life, then you have nothing to worry about.” – Fr. Gary Thomas, exorcist (Source: Saint Michael Manual for Spiritual Warfare p.33)

I will add some lagniappe here, fortify your prayers in faith with almsgiving and fasting. And let your joy in life be learning about who God is in Sacred Scripture +

“Oh God, let me know you and love you so that I may find my joy in you.” – St. Anselm, bishop (1033 – 1109 A.D.)