Start Here: What Is Spiritual Warfare?

Start Here

What spiritual warfare is, and why you do not need to be afraid.

Scripture and the Church teach that Satan and the other demons were created good by God and became evil by their own free choice. They rejected God irrevocably, and they hate His image in us (Catechism 391 to 395). “Spiritual warfare” is simply the Christian name for the struggle every soul faces: the pull of our own fallen nature, the pressure of a world that has forgotten God, and the real activity of evil spirits.

For almost everyone, that activity takes the form of ordinary temptation. Msgr. Stephen Rossetti puts it plainly:

“First of all, we’re all tempted by Satan. All of us, we call that Satan’s ordinary thing.”Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, Lila Rose Show E243 at 0:18:08

Fr. Chad Ripperger explains that there are several kinds of diabolic influence, from the infestation of places and objects to possession, and that the most common by far is the one everyone shares:

“Ordinary diabolic influence. This is what everybody suffers. It’s ordinary temptation.”Fr. Chad Ripperger, Shawn Ryan Show #285 at 0:45:30

The Church is clear that Satan’s power “is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature.” What he does is permitted by divine providence, and “we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him” (Catechism 395).

The exorcists say the same thing from the front lines. Fr. Ripperger finds it a source of confidence:

“All power that means that demons even know that they can’t do anything without Christ’s permission.”Fr. Chad Ripperger, Tucker Carlson at 0:05:05

“The entire battlefield is completely controlled by Christ. So even the demons can’t do anything in relationship to us unless Christ gives them his permission.”Fr. Chad Ripperger, Shawn Ryan Show #324 at 1:13:15

Why would God permit any of it? Fr. Dan Reehil points to the saints, who united their sufferings to the Cross:

“In every attack the enemy throws at us we have the power to overcome him by uniting to Jesus’ cross and converting our trials into grace to rescue more souls.”Fr. Dan Reehil, Shawn Ryan Show #141 at 2:50:03

He adds that when we live our lives “loving and obeying God and His laws,” we are generally protected from the supernatural works of the enemy. (Shawn Ryan Show #141 at 2:49:10)

The point of learning about this battle is not to become fascinated with the devil. It is to turn more completely to Christ. Msgr. Rossetti describes the moment he was first attacked, reaching for his rosary:

“Compared to the Blessed Mother he’s dust, and when she shows up he’s gone.”Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, A Reason For Hope Podcast at 0:04:39

“Jesus loves you. I mean, never, never, never doubt that. Never doubt his love for you.”Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, A Reason For Hope Podcast at 0:40:45

He closes the same conversation with simple advice: “trust in Jesus” and “be at peace.” (A Reason For Hope Podcast at 0:41:23)

If you or someone you love is struggling, start with your parish priest. If there is any risk of self-harm, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or 911 right away. Spiritual help and medical help work together; the Church asks that illness be ruled out first (Catechism 1673).

Step 1 of 8

← Previous: Spiritual Warfare guide overview

• Catechism of the Catholic Church 391 to 395
• Lila Rose Show E243, Msgr. Stephen Rossetti
• Shawn Ryan Show #285, Fr. Chad Ripperger
• Tucker Carlson, Fr. Chad Ripperger
• Shawn Ryan Show #324, Fr. Chad Ripperger
• Shawn Ryan Show #141, Fr. Dan Reehil
• A Reason For Hope Podcast, Msgr. Stephen Rossetti
• Matt Fradd, Pints With Aquinas Ep. 268, Fr. Vincent Lampert
• Bishop Frank Caggiano and Msgr. Stephen Rossetti
• Queen of Peace Media, Fr. Gary Thomas

Quotes come from the interviews’ captions, lightly punctuated, with links to the exact moment so you can hear them in full context. Video descriptions summarize each conversation; they are not quotations.