Comments on: Introduction to spiritual warfare… Part I http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i Seek Him - Find Him - Follow Him Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:33:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dan Burke http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i/comment-page-1#comment-677 Dan Burke Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:27:18 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=1562#comment-677 Dear Andrew in Christ, Do you have a spiritual director? Have you ever read Interior Castles by St. Teresa of Avila? Pax Christi Dear Andrew in Christ,

Do you have a spiritual director? Have you ever read Interior Castles by St. Teresa of Avila?

Pax Christi

]]> By: Andrew http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i/comment-page-1#comment-675 Andrew Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:08:39 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=1562#comment-675 I need help; every day my prayer life becomes stronger and the closer I come to as the saints were on their journey; but I suffer from temptations everyday and I can not drive to go to a church and my mother is saving the money she has; since the people who help you when you loose your job hasn't been paying her. What can I do to a room in the house to make a spot for holiness and for prayer? Would that give some comfort from dealing with temptations and give me a break from them? Please let me know what I can do. Thank you very much and God Bless. I need help; every day my prayer life becomes stronger and the closer I come to as the saints were on their journey; but I suffer from temptations everyday and I can not drive to go to a church and my mother is saving the money she has; since the people who help you when you loose your job hasn’t been paying her. What can I do to a room in the house to make a spot for holiness and for prayer? Would that give some comfort from dealing with temptations and give me a break from them? Please let me know what I can do. Thank you very much and God Bless.

]]> By: Mary Macharia http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i/comment-page-1#comment-465 Mary Macharia Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:41:18 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=1562#comment-465 God bless you Fr. John. Now I understand why I feel there is something I don't quite understand but which is holding me back from experiencing some progress in my ardent desire to feel near to Jesus. Thank you very much for making me understand what is at play in my heart and the cause of my desolation when I feel I am heading nowhere. God bless you Fr. John. Now I understand why I feel there is something I don’t quite understand but which is holding me back from experiencing some progress in my ardent desire to feel near to Jesus. Thank you very much for making me understand what is at play in my heart and the cause of my desolation when I feel I am heading nowhere.

]]> By: Becky Ready http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i/comment-page-1#comment-458 Becky Ready Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:24:53 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=1562#comment-458 Fr. Bartunek, I loved your imaginary exercise with the "Spiritual Warfare Daily News." Well done! Right to the point! We, as Catholics, need to be more aware and more trained in this holy pursuit of "spiritual warfare." I am a DRE in my parish and see many signs all around me of the need for more skilled warriors. Keep on teaching..keep on praying....and most of all keep on sharing your wisdom from God. I can't wait for your next book!! Fr. Bartunek,
I loved your imaginary exercise with the “Spiritual Warfare Daily News.” Well done! Right to the point! We, as Catholics, need to be more aware and more trained in this holy pursuit of “spiritual warfare.” I am a DRE in my parish and see many signs all around me of the need for more skilled warriors. Keep on teaching..keep on praying….and most of all keep on sharing your wisdom from God. I can’t wait for your next book!!

]]> By: Lynne http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i/comment-page-1#comment-457 Lynne Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:02:36 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=1562#comment-457 Betsy, did you skip over this paragraph? <blockquote>As a result, the forces of evil (the devil and his minions, the demons – these are fallen angels who exist in permanent rebellion against God) are interested in influencing those decisions. They want to lure us away from God, expanding their rebellion. They work their influence through temptation. At the same time, God and his servants (the angels and the saints) are working to strengthen us against temptation, so that we can overcome the attacks of evil. This is the normal state of affairs here on earth, and it will be so from now until our Lord comes again at the end of history.</blockquote> And the binding prayer that you mention is In the name of Jesus, I bind you Spirit of ______ and send you to the foot of the Cross to be judged by our Lord where _____ is anger or envy or some other sin you are battling... Betsy, did you skip over this paragraph?

As a result, the forces of evil (the devil and his minions, the demons – these are fallen angels who exist in permanent rebellion against God) are interested in influencing those decisions. They want to lure us away from God, expanding their rebellion. They work their influence through temptation. At the same time, God and his servants (the angels and the saints) are working to strengthen us against temptation, so that we can overcome the attacks of evil. This is the normal state of affairs here on earth, and it will be so from now until our Lord comes again at the end of history.

And the binding prayer that you mention is In the name of Jesus, I bind you Spirit of ______ and send you to the foot of the Cross to be judged by our Lord where _____ is anger or envy or some other sin you are battling…

]]> By: Mary Macharia http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i/comment-page-1#comment-452 Mary Macharia Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:39:02 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=1562#comment-452 Thank you Fr. John. Your uncomplicated explanation of what the spiritual warfare is all about it very illuminating, especially to one like me who cannot differentiate between my own"comfort zone" which I use not to upset my lifestyle too much and the can insiduously, become an instrument for the evil powers to lead me astray by enticing me to avoid doing the good I need to do which God wants me to do. Please teach us more on this. You have no idea how it is helping us in our spiritual journey which is made more muddled by the daily situations which Satan uses to penetrate our lives and lead us astray - not in major sins which we are aware of and reject outright - but the little things that help us grow in our Faith. God bless you Thank you Fr. John. Your uncomplicated explanation of what the spiritual warfare is all about it very illuminating, especially to one like me who cannot differentiate between my own”comfort zone” which I use not to upset my lifestyle too much and the can insiduously, become an instrument for the evil powers to lead me astray by enticing me to avoid doing the good I need to do which God wants me to do. Please teach us more on this. You have no idea how it is helping us in our spiritual journey which is made more muddled by the daily situations which Satan uses to penetrate our lives and lead us astray – not in major sins which we are aware of and reject outright – but the little things that help us grow in our Faith. God bless you

]]> By: joan smidowicz http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i/comment-page-1#comment-451 joan smidowicz Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:19:04 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=1562#comment-451 I usually say the prayer to St Michael the Archangel when I feel that there might be spiritual warfare waging around. On other occasions it might be simply, Jesus I give you my heart and my soul please help me. I usually say the prayer to St Michael the Archangel when I feel that there might be spiritual warfare waging around. On other occasions it might be simply, Jesus I give you my heart and my soul please help me.

]]> By: Mark http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i/comment-page-1#comment-450 Mark Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:04:59 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=1562#comment-450 Dear Father, Wow! I am a cradle Catholic and am old enough to have studied from the Baltimore Catechism. I admit that I kind of thought the whole "spritual warfare" thing was a vestige of an older time in Catholic life and, maybe when I learned it as a kid, I remembered it, well, as a kid. You shed an incredible light on this topic. Please write more! Mark Dear Father,

Wow! I am a cradle Catholic and am old enough to have studied from the Baltimore Catechism. I admit that I kind of thought the whole “spritual warfare” thing was a vestige of an older time in Catholic life and, maybe when I learned it as a kid, I remembered it, well, as a kid. You shed an incredible light on this topic. Please write more!

Mark

]]> By: Karen Hjelstrom http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i/comment-page-1#comment-448 Karen Hjelstrom Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:47:11 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=1562#comment-448 Very well put, I used it with my 8th gr class to explain the subject. Keep it coming Very well put, I used it with my 8th gr class to explain the subject. Keep it coming

]]> By: Zilkia Jimenez http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2009/10/26/introduction-to-spiritual-warfare-part-i/comment-page-1#comment-446 Zilkia Jimenez Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:05:18 +0000 http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/?p=1562#comment-446 Thank you so much for this. I definitely want to learn more. I personally feel the spiritual battle getting stronger. My husband and I (along with some friends who follow your blog) belong to a marriage ministry. Surely you can imagine the difficulties when it comes to ministering to marriages/families. Please do share more with us. It would be beneficial for us to learn how to battle or just know what else we could do especially during our retreats. Thank you. Thank you so much for this. I definitely want to learn more. I personally feel the spiritual battle getting stronger. My husband and I (along with some friends who follow your blog) belong to a marriage ministry. Surely you can imagine the difficulties when it comes to ministering to marriages/families. Please do share more with us. It would be beneficial for us to learn how to battle or just know what else we could do especially during our retreats. Thank you.

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