Manual for Spiritual Warfare Quotes

“St. Bernard of Clairvaux tells us: “However great may be the temptation, if we know how to use the weapon of prayer well, we shall come off as conquerors at last, for prayer is more powerful than all the demons.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“Listen: There are two things the Devil is deathly afraid of: fervent Communions and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament. Do you want Our Lord to grant you many graces? Visit him often. Do you want Him to grant you only a few? Visit Him only seldom. Do you want the Devil to attack you? Rarely visit the Blessed Sacrament. Do you want the Devil to flee from you? Visit Jesus often. Do you want to overcome the Devil? Take refuge at Jesus’ feet. Do you want to be overcome by the Devil? Give up visiting Jesus. Visiting the Blessed Sacrament is essential, my dear boys, if you want to overcome the Devil. Therefore, make frequent visits to Jesus. If you do that, the Devil will never prevail against you.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“our days in this life provide a season for God to test, purify, strengthen, and perfect us, making us fit to live with Him forever in heaven. To that end, the demons serve as useful tools for Him as they constantly test us by tempting us, so that we become purer and stronger and closer to perfection every time we resist the temptation.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“God gives the Devil power against us in two modes: either for punishment when we sin, or for glory when we are tested.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“In one of his sermons, St. John Vianney preached: The Sign of the Cross is the most terrible weapon against the Devil. For this reason, the Church displays images of the cross so that we can have it continually in front of our minds to recall to us just what our souls are worth and what they cost Jesus Christ. For the same reason, the Church wants us to make the Sign of the Cross ourselves at every juncture of our day: when we go to bed, when we awaken during the night, when we get up, when we begin any action, and above all when we’re tempted. . . . Fill your children, my dear brethren, with the greatest respect for the Cross, and always have a blessed cross on yourselves. Respect for the Cross will protect you against the Devil, from the vengeance of heaven, and from all danger.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“The weapon of worship Of course, prayer isn’t just a private matter. Praying not just for others, but with others, forms an important part of spiritual warfare. And the most perfect prayer in which we can join with our fellow warriors is the prayer of the Mass.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“The Scripture tells us that the fervent prayer of righteous believers has great power in its effects (see Jas 5: 16). That’s why, when Our Lord Himself taught us how we should pray, He included the petition: “Deliver us from evil”—which can also be translated, “Deliver us from the Evil One,” that is, from the Devil.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“Your adversary is the Devil, with his army of demons. Your battle with him rages not only all around you, but also within you, a fierce conflict for control of your mind, your heart, and your ultimate destiny.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into various trials, knowing that the trying of your faith produces patience. And let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and whole, lacking nothing. Jas 1:2–4”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“Like it or not, you are at war.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“Matrimony. The Devil’s first attack on the human race was focused on a married couple.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“Each time we sin, the Devil strengthens his grip on us. Through Penance, we loosen that grip and pull free of his control. Not only do we receive forgiveness of past sins; we receive grace to resist temptations to come.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“the other great refuge from the Devil and his wiles is prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“Frequent Mass attendance, then, is an effective weapon of our warfare.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“No doubt the Devil is busy tempting us and trying to distract us even when we attend Mass.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“We can see how much the Devil fears those who pray, since there’s not a moment of the day when he tempts us more than when we’re at prayer. He does everything he possibly can to prevent us from praying. When the Devil wants to make someone lose his soul, he starts out by inspiring in him a profound distaste for prayer. However good a Christian he may be, if the Devil succeeds in making him either say his prayers badly or neglect them altogether, he’s certain to have that person for himself.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“Worship is a spiritual weapon. When we worship God, we enter into His presence in a powerful way. Because demons tremble at His presence, they are reluctant to follow us there.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“In addition, forgiveness is crucial to deliverance from the Evil One, because a bitter heart gives him a foothold in our lives.”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare

“The LORD goes forth like a mighty man, Like a man of war He stirs up His fury; He cries out, He shouts aloud; He shows Himself mighty against His foes. Is 42:13”
― Paul Thigpen, Manual for Spiritual Warfare