Spiritual warfare, preparation

[traillius]

Hello,
Are we called to specific spiritual warfare? How do I know if I am ready to become a spiritual warrior? What should I do to prepare?
Most importantly, how can I make sure its God calling me to it, not my own stupid pride ( i.e. I am big and bad, let’s rumble satan!) If I go that way, I will get my spiritual clock cleaned, as it were. I want to make sure I am doing right, and for the right reasons. I also want to be ready if and when God says I should do it.

 

[Belle10]

I think we’re all called to spiritual warfare in the sense that we are warriors for God in all that we do. Praying is a big part of the war – to prepare I would stay close to the sacraments, ask God for His strength and discernment, and put on the full armor of God:

Ephesians 6:10-20

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For 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. 13Therefore 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. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And 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 saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

:knight1:

 

[po18guy]

We live in the princedom of the evil one and his minions. We are constantly under attack, as is everything good and holy. I have found spiritual warfare to be most effective in response to a perceived attack. However, this is not always the correct route, as attacks occur incessantly. I think it is best to target your warfare, in emulation of physical warfare. Choose your enemy and take aim. It will be most effective when you zero in and are specific.

Google “Catholic spiritual warfare prayers” and read through a few, to get an idea of their structure. Inquire at your parish regarding spiritual direction, as this can save you a lot of time and focus you on the enemy more effectively. Have no fear, as the evil one and his servants are cowards. Ask the Lord to rebuke them and they obey.

Christ’s peace.

p.s. Father Frank Pavone advises not to speak to satan or his spirits. Rather, ask the Lord to rebuke them. Engaging them yourself can involve risk, as your power to resist varies. God is perfection in His power against evil. Let the pro do it.

p.p.s. Since you will be combatting the enemy, expect personal attacks from time to time. Not to worry, as spiritual warfare prayers are very powerful in such cases.

 

[TOP]

The thing I don’t get about spiritual warfare is that if you are doing God’s will, why does He allow the fight? I agree with the “armor of God”, 911 prayers and staying close to the Sacraments and would add a consecration to Jesus through Mary. I don’t think I would persue a fight as much as just being a living witness.Tim

 

[beckycmarie]

Hello,
Are we called to specific spiritual warfare? How do I know if I am ready to become a spiritual warrior? What should I do to prepare?
Most importantly, how can I make sure its God calling me to it, not my own stupid pride ( i.e. I am big and bad, let’s rumble satan!) If I go that way, I will get my spiritual clock cleaned, as it were. I want to make sure I am doing right, and for the right reasons. I also want to be ready if and when God says I should do it.

We are all involved in spiritual warfare whether we are aware of it or not. Some recommended podcasts from St. Michael’s Media:

Saint Michael and the Angels

**Hell **
The Demonic and the Occult

Now as far as being a spiritual warrior goes, the number one thing you can do is become holy.

You do not have the power yourself to defeat or fight demons. The power to cast out demons comes from God, and it’s very dangerous to seek a confrontation with demons. One should not attempt deliverance work without training.

However, if you feel called to spiritual warfare through a deliverance ministry, I recommend visiting the St. Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling website. There is a good deal of information there, along with a Q&A forum, a discussion forum, information about deliverance, and information about the training they offer. They also have a spiritual warrior prayer team Catholics can join to pray for their clients. See the link below for more details.

St. Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling

 

[KingAlfred]

Hello,
Are we called to specific spiritual warfare? How do I know if I am ready to become a spiritual warrior? What should I do to prepare?
Most importantly, how can I make sure its God calling me to it, not my own stupid pride ( i.e. I am big and bad, let’s rumble satan!) If I go that way, I will get my spiritual clock cleaned, as it were. I want to make sure I am doing right, and for the right reasons. I also want to be ready if and when God says I should do it.

I know God wants me to help defend the Church. It’s intuitive, on one level, but also something I consider a fact of my life, on another. I took the Church for granted for much of my life. One day I realized that no, we shouldn’t do that, ever. The Church is a special and priceless gift from God. We must take care of it, and hand it down, in good condition, to successive generations.

 

[tessi]

In my personal experience, the spiritual warfare came from the most unexpected place. I always try to be prepare but suddenly something I don’t expect comes along. A humilliation, an abrupt change on a situation, somebody doing something to me, etc. Always a suffering that teaches me to be ready for anything, even the most absurds and almost unreal things.

 

[KingAlfred]

In my personal experience, the spiritual warfare came from the most unexpected place. I always try to be prepare but suddenly something I don’t expect comes along. A humilliation, an abrupt change on a situation, somebody doing something to me, etc. Always a suffering that teaches me to be ready for anything, even the most absurds and almost unreal things.

Same here. Well said. I was cruising along on the internet one day, when I stumbled onto a website almost totally devoted to attacking the Catholic Church. I tried to reason with posters at first, then got angry and starting quarrelling with them.Their hatred actually depressed me for awhile. I couldn’t ‘process’ it. The experience refreshed my awareness of enduring, virulent anti-Catholicism in the U.S. I don’t want to sound paranoid, but I truly believe we can never become complacent as a religious community.

 

[Spirithound]

Are we called to specific spiritual warfare? How do I know if I am ready to become a spiritual warrior? What should I do to prepare?
Most importantly, how can I make sure its God calling me to it, not my own stupid pride ( i.e. I am big and bad, let’s rumble satan!) If I go that way, I will get my spiritual clock cleaned, as it were. I want to make sure I am doing right, and for the right reasons. I also want to be ready if and when God says I should do it.

Allo, my friend. You are a warrior already! The Rosary is your weapon (as well as any other prayer). Use it well!

The thing I don’t get about spiritual warfare is that if you are doing God’s will, why does He allow the fight?

To test us. We shall be as gold tested in fire!

 

[Henning]

Two interesting related books by Fr. Gabriele Amorth
“An Exoricist Tells His Story”
“An Exorcist More Stories”

 

[MarieVeronica]

We are in a spiritual warfare… whether we admit it… or not (I know some people don’t admit it). That’s why we on earth, are called “The Church Militant”.

The best “weapons” you can use, in this fight… are frequent reception of the Sacraments… Reconciliation and the Eucharist. And pray the Holy Rosary. The devil hates Our Blessed Mother (she who crushes the head of the serpant)… so you will win many “battles” by praying, devoutly… the Holy Rosary. God bless.

 

[Al_Masetti]

Two things:

1. Say a brief prayer to the Holy Spirit asking simply for the Holy Spirit to put the right words in your mouth.
2. Start reading with “Catholicism and Fundamentalism” by Karl Keating. Even if fundamentalism isn’t of immediate concern, because the arguments in the book really cut to the heart of the matter. The folks of concern may come from different directions, but the issues really are the same.

shop.catholic.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-B0121.html?L+scstore+nmcm7681ffaf72af+1274502454

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Same here. Well said. I was cruising along on the internet one day, when I stumbled onto a website almost totally devoted to attacking the Catholic Church. I tried to reason with posters at first, then got angry and starting quarrelling with them.Their hatred actually depressed me for awhile. I couldn’t ‘process’ it. The experience refreshed my awareness of enduring, virulent anti-Catholicism in the U.S. I don’t want to sound paranoid, but I truly believe we can never become complacent as a religious community.

I’m presently less concerned about anti-Catholic Protestants than I am about anti-Catholic secularists. The latter condemn Christianity as a whole, largely based on some extremely unfair representations of the Medieval Ages and Church teaching. Their numbers are growing. The number of anti-Catholic Protestants is declining, I think, because they’ve endured so much fracturing that they’ve come to be very accepting of differences, a lot of the time. But the anti-Christian secularists are a bit frightening.

 

[KingAlfred]

I’m presently less concerned about anti-Catholic Protestants than I am about anti-Catholic secularists. The latter condemn Christianity as a whole, largely based on some extremely unfair representations of the Medieval Ages and Church teaching. Their numbers are growing. The number of anti-Catholic Protestants is declining, I think, because they’ve endured so much fracturing that they’ve come to be very accepting of differences, a lot of the time. But the anti-Christian secularists are a bit frightening.

I agree, with regard to anti-Christian secularism, but Christian Fundamentalism in America, especially in the South, is a serious problem for American Catholics. Many of its adherents are almost *violently *anti-Catholic, and have derived from the Bible, through gross misunderstandings, truly appalling conspiracy theories about us. It can be depressing, upon full revelation. The Bible in the hands of extremely uneducated, poorly ministered believers can actually become a dangerous weapon. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but this has been my experience, and I’ve been dramatically influenced by it.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

KingAlfred:

I agree, with regard to anti-Christian secularism, but Christian Fundamentalism in America, especially in the South, is a serious problem for American Catholics. Many of its adherents are almost violently anti-Catholic, and have derived from the Bible, through gross misunderstandings, truly appalling conspiracy theories about us. It can be depressing, upon full revelation. The Bible in the hands of extremely uneducated, poorly ministered believers can actually become a dangerous weapon. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but this has been my experience, and I’ve been dramatically influenced by it.

Yes. I agree with everything you just said- I guess I just haven’t experienced it much myself, so I emphasize different things.

I grew up in a conservative American Protestant household and have been surrounded with Protestants all my life. It’s just a different circle of acquaintances from the kind you’re talking about. I’ve seen those websites saying “Why Catholics are going to Hell,” seen the banners at my university, seen the odd news story, but I normally pass them by without paying attention. I’ve never confronted them like you did.

I presently have mixed feelings about fundamentalists, but the pre-dominant emotion in me is respect, in spite of the anti-Catholic verbal attacks I read about. I respect them because they have so much emphasis on the Word of God being completely true, on the importance and value of personal relationships with Christ, and on holding to your religious beliefs in spite of the abuse of surrounding secular society. I really admire that about them. Also, they take conservative religious morals into politics, which I strongly approve of.

I haven’t experienced a wide array of scathing attacks like you have, so I tend to see and think about the good more than the bad primarily for that reason. Particularly because I grew up in a conservative Protestant circle that wasn’t at all anti-Catholic.

I guess it’s just an experience difference that creates our different emphases. But Protestantism in America of all kinds, I think, is being undermined. Just like Catholicism is. The secular morals of today are really shaking the country’s religious heritage to the foundations. That’s where my battle is, though I applaud anyone who tries to shrink the anti-Catholicism in right wing Protestant circles.