The Catholic Book Blogger
PETE: What was your motivation behind writing your new book Manual for Spiritual Warfare?
PAUL THIGPEN: I was motivated by several factors.
First, I’ve had multiple personal encounters with demonic powers that have confirmed for me what Sacred Scripture and Tradition teach about spiritual warfare. Yet I find many people, even Catholics and other Christians, who have adopted the modern secular notion that belief in the Devil and other demons is an outdated superstition. So I wanted to write a book that challenges what I believe to be a naïve and even dangerous denial of a reality that daily impacts our lives, both as individuals and as a society.
Second, I’ve found that even many Catholics and other Christians who believe in the existence of demonic powers are unaware of the spiritual battle raging constantly for their souls. They seem oblivious to the fact that they have a mortal Enemy who wants to keep them from God, both in this life and the next. They are like children playing on a battlefield, unaware that bullets are whizzing past their heads and land mines are set up all around them. So I wanted to alert them to the danger.
Providentially, the Devil has recently been in the news, so to speak. Pope Francis has been quoted as warning about him repeatedly. An international association of exorcists was recently recognized by Rome, as reported by major news outlets. Hollywood continues to produce films (of varying quality) whose storylines assume the existence of demons (such as Deliver Us From Evil). And recently there was even national news coverage of a dramatic case of demonic possession in Indiana.
Third, many exorcists seem to agree that the more serious kinds of demonic activity are on the increase in Western society, for two reasons: More people today are opening themselves to demonic influence, both through occult practices (such as witchcraft and Ouija boards) and certain serious sins, such as abortion and sexual immorality. At the same time, as people have abandoned their faith and become more secularized, they have lost not only an awareness of the danger, but also the spiritual weapons and armor that they need to protect themselves.
It’s a deadly combination, and the Enemy is taking advantage of it. But this book can alert readers to the dangers and help them understand what kinds of weapons and armor God has provided us for the battle.
PETE: The term “spiritual battle” may seem intimidating or off-putting to some. For those who have not read the book, can you give some insight into what spiritual battle is all about?
PAUL THIGPEN: In Scripture, St. Paul speaks more than once about a “warfare” that is taking place, in which we must fight the Devil as he seeks to thwarts God’s purposes by taking us away from Him. Consider what the Apostle told the Ephesians:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. 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. Therefore, take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph 6:10–13).
Some people might not like the use of military imagery to speak of spiritual matters, but if that’s the case, their argument is with God’s Word, not with me. Anyone who has ever seriously engaged the Enemy of our soul, as many of the saints have done, can affirm that the battle is real, and the battle is fierce.
This book lays out the essentials of the Church’s teaching about the Devil and demons, and how they seek to influence us toward evil. Though I do talk some about what is called the extraordinary activity of the Devil—the kind of frightening demonic phenomena that Hollywood loves to sensationalize—my focus is on the ordinary activity of the Devil. By that, I mean the everyday strategies by which he attempts to deaden our spiritual lives and separate us from God. Most often, that activity involves various sorts of temptations to sin and doubt.
The book also talks about the Commander, the comrades, the spiritual weapons, and the spiritual armor that God has given us through the Church to fight this battle and win it decisively.
The second part of the book provides a collection of Scripture texts, prayers, and devotionals to help us in the struggle. It also includes anecdotes of spiritual warfare from the lives of the saints, as well as quotes from the saints about how to resist and overcome the Devil.
PETE: With the advent of the Internet it seems the Enemy has one more resource in his arsenal. How do you feel this has impacted us as far as spiritual battle goes?
PAUL THIGPEN: Technology is always a two-edged sword. The Internet has certainly provided the Enemy with an unprecedented distribution network for occasions of sin, such as pornography, occult literature, and false religious propaganda, just to name three.
But the Internet is also being employed in spiritual battle by Catholics in many wonderful ways. Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the teachings of the Sacred Magisterium are more widely available than ever before. Classic spiritual literature and traditional sacred art and music and are being disseminated. Catholic commentary on contemporary issues and current events is flourishing.
Even the social media are being put to great use: More than once, I’ve posted an urgent prayer request on Facebook, for example, and within only a few hours, I’ve had more than 200 people respond that they are praying for that intention. What a great aid in spiritual battle, if we use it wisely!
PETE: In our day and age it seems people have become tolerant and almost oblivious to the multitude of temptations thrown at us. Why do you think that is and how can your book help?
PAUL THIGPEN: I can think of several reasons. First, the more temptations that flood our surroundings (through the media, especially), the more we become accustomed to them and lose our sense of danger.
Second, through poor catechesis, we have lost our sense of sin in general. We don’t even recognize as sinful many attitudes and behaviors that are now viewed in our culture as “normal” (such as couples living together outside marriage). And rather than seeking to be virtuous, we seek to be “nice.”
Third, we allow our worldly pursuits of possessions and pleasure to distract us from living in the presence of God. Ubiquitous social and entertainment media have intensified those distraction.
This book can help readers overcome these problems by alerting them to the temptations and showing them how God has made it possible to resist them—thus vanquishing the Enemy and overthrowing his plans for us.
PETE: Time for my signature ending question. This is a blog about books. What books are currently on your bookshelf to read?
PAUL THIGPEN:
Victim Souls, a 1927 classic by Abbé Paulin Giloteaux.
Spiritual Friendship by the twelfth-century English Cistercian abbot St. Aelred of Rievaulx.
Introduction to the Science of Mental Health by Fr. Chad Ripperger, whose insights were quite helpful in my writing this particular book.
Voyage to Alpha Centauri, a novel by Michael O’Brien.
Nick Bostrun, Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. The title says it all.
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. I have three young grandchildren, and I read to them often!
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Other books by Paul Thigpen:
A Year With the Saints: Daily Meditations with the Holy Ones of God
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