separateurCreated with Sketch.

The first two weapons in spiritual combat

JACOB WRESTLING AN ANGEL
whatsappfacebooktwitter-xemailnative
Philip Kosloski - published on 01/10/19
whatsappfacebooktwitter-xemailnative

The key is trust in God and distrust in self.Our spiritual life naturally entails a certain “spiritual combat,” whereby we engage in battle against the dark spiritual forces of this world.

St. Paul put it clearly in his letter to the Ephesians, “For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

However, it’s not always easy to know how to engage in this spiritual fight.

Italian priest Fr. Lorenzo Scupoli sought to address this problem in his spiritual classic The Spiritual Combat, published in 1589. In it, he begins by explaining the first two weapons needed in our ongoing spiritual war.


SAINT MICHAEL
Read more:
Pray this St. Michael prayer for personal protection



Read more:
How to Beat the Devil:  Advice from Rome’s Chief Exorcist

Newsletter
Did you enjoy this article? Would you like to read more like this?

Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. It’s free!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.