Monday, 2 February 2026

Spiritual Warfare - The Hidden Battle

It’s not a subject many people like to talk about. In fact, even in the Church, spiritual warfare isn’t mentioned very much at all. 

We talk about love, mercy, hope and peace — all of which are essential — but not often about the struggle that lies behind all of it. 

Yet from the very first moment of creation, a battle has been going on, unseen but very real. It isn’t fought with weapons of steel or fire, but in the quiet places of the soul.

The Hidden Battle

Scripture makes this perfectly clear. St Paul tells us, “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, RSV-CE) That isn’t poetic language. It’s a reality check. The spiritual world is not some vague idea or medieval superstition. It is where the true battle for human hearts is fought every day.

We may not see it with our eyes, but we feel it in our conscience — that pull between good and evil, light and darkness, grace and temptation. The saints were never shy about speaking of this struggle. St Padre Pio, St Teresa of Avila, and countless others described moments of fierce spiritual attack, sometimes even physical oppression. They knew what they were up against, but they also knew who was on their side.

Recognising the Enemy

We tend to forget that the devil is real. Perhaps that’s exactly what he wants — to be ignored. If no one believes in him, he can work quietly. The world laughs at the idea of evil spirits. It tells us that sin is just “human nature,” that there’s no absolute right or wrong, and that everything is relative. But behind that laughter and that shrug lies something ancient and intelligent — the same voice that told Eve, “You surely will not die.” (Genesis 3:4)

The good news is that this isn’t a hopeless war. Christ has already won the decisive victory through His Cross and Resurrection. What remains is for each of us to live out that victory in our own lives. But it does mean being alert, being equipped, and not pretending that there’s no danger.

The Armour of God

When a soldier goes to war, he doesn’t go unarmed or untrained. And yet, many Christians do exactly that in their spiritual lives. We leave our armour gathering dust while wondering why temptation always seems to get the better of us. St Paul gives us a powerful image when he writes of the “armour of God” — truth as a belt, righteousness as a breastplate, faith as a shield, salvation as a helmet, and the Word of God as a sword. (Ephesians 6:13–17) These are not just pious metaphors; they are spiritual realities that protect us and strengthen us when the attacks come.

Practical Weapons

So how do we fight back in practical terms? The Church gives us everything we need. The sacraments are our first and most powerful weapons. Every Confession breaks the chains of sin and disarms the enemy who thrives on guilt and shame. Every Mass brings us into the heart of the battle already won, uniting us to the Body of Christ, who triumphed over death itself.

Then there is prayer — not just words said out of duty, but prayer that draws us into real communion with God. It doesn’t have to be dramatic; in fact, the quieter the better. The devil cannot bear humility or silence. He thrives on noise, distraction, and pride. When you kneel before God in honest prayer, you are doing something profoundly defiant in the face of evil.

And let’s not forget the Rosary. It may look simple — just beads, repetitions, and familiar prayers — but it is a weapon of immense power. The saints called it “a chain that binds the devil.” St Pius V credited the Rosary with the victory at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, and countless exorcists today will tell you the same thing: the Rosary terrifies Satan because it keeps us close to Mary, who crushes the serpent’s head. Every “Hail Mary” is like a hammer blow against the gates of hell. When you pray the Rosary daily, even quietly and imperfectly, you are on the offensive.

Other weapons are just as vital. Fasting and penance humble the flesh and strengthen the will. Jesus told His disciples that some kinds of evil can only be driven out by prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). Holy Scripture too — read, prayed, and memorised — is a sword in the hand of the believer. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He answered each lie with the truth of Scripture. We can do the same.

Then there’s adoration — sitting in the stillness before the Blessed Sacrament, letting Christ Himself drive out the darkness that crowds our minds. Charity, too, is one of the greatest weapons, because love disarms hatred. When we forgive someone who has hurt us, when we respond with gentleness instead of bitterness, the enemy loses ground. He cannot fight love.

United in the Battle

We are not alone in this struggle. We are part of the Church Militant — the living members of Christ’s Body on earth, engaged in this lifelong contest. The saints in heaven form the Church Triumphant, and the souls in purgatory the Church Suffering. Together, all three are united in one great communion of battle and prayer. When we invoke Our Lady, St Michael the Archangel, or our patron saints, we are calling upon powerful allies.

It’s comforting to remember that Mary herself is not just a gentle mother but a warrior queen. In the Book of Revelation, she is shown as “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Revelation 12:1) She stands radiant, fearless, and victorious, with the dragon defeated beneath her. That is who intercedes for us. When we pray, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death,” we are asking her to stand beside us in the moment when our battle reaches its final test.

Living the Victory

Spiritual warfare doesn’t have to frighten us. It should awaken us. The enemy’s greatest victory is to make Christians lukewarm — to keep us comfortable, distracted, and disengaged. But once we recognise what’s really going on, everything changes. We start to see that our daily choices matter eternally — every act of patience, every word of kindness, every temptation resisted is a victory for heaven. The battlefield may be invisible, but the results are real.

Christ does not ask us to be fearless; He asks us to be faithful. We fight not in our own strength but in His. When you make the Sign of the Cross, when you whisper a prayer before sleep, when you forgive instead of curse — you are, in your own small but mighty way, participating in the triumph of Christ.

So if you ever feel weary or discouraged, remember that you are not fighting alone. The angels fight with you, the saints cheer you on, and the grace of God surrounds you. You were born into this battle — but you were also born for victory.

A Short Spiritual Warfare Checklist

Here are a few daily habits to help you stay spiritually awake, protected, and ready for the battle each day:

  • Begin your day with the Sign of the Cross — a declaration that you belong to Christ.

  • Pray the Rosary — even one decade, prayed with devotion, is a spiritual shield.

  • Read a short passage of Scripture daily — the Word of God strengthens the mind and heart.

  • Receive the Sacraments regularly — especially Confession and the Holy Eucharist.

  • Ask for St Michael’s protection each morning and night.

  • Practise small acts of penance or fasting — offer them quietly for souls in need.

  • Show charity and forgiveness — nothing weakens evil more than love.

  • End your day with a brief Examen — thank God for His graces and seek His mercy for any failings.

Keep these small but mighty practices close. They are not burdens but blessings — the tools of victory in a battle already won by Christ.

For all who read this blog post and all who never will.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You are our light, our strength, and our victory.
In the moments when we feel weak, remind us that You have already conquered the darkness.
Protect us from the snares of the enemy,
Arm us with faith, hope, and love,
And help us to remember that we are never alone in this battle.
Through the intercession of Mary, our Blessed Mother,
St Michael the Archangel, and all the saints,
Keep us steadfast in courage and strong in grace.
May every prayer we say and every act of love we offer
Bring light to the world and glory to Your name.
Amen.

Though the battle is unseen, it is not uncertain. Christ has already triumphed. Every prayer, every act of love, every whispered “Jesus, I trust in You” is a victory wave in His name.

So take courage. Stand firm. And remember: you fight not for victory, but from victory — the victory of Christ on the Cross.

-