Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest

Soldiers study to find the weak point of their enemies so as to attack and conquer. Wrestlers, Boxers also try to discover where their opponents have an opening so as to punch hard or tackle to the ground for the knock-out or countdown. Those engaged in a serious debate, study to capture where their opponent has no argument of defense for the verbal debate and victory.

Equally important is the knowledge we must acquire so as to attack, as well as to defend ourselves, against the deadly assaults of the devil in our spiritual battle, our spiritual wrestling or boxing match.

The wise men of the past insisted on the capital importance of SELF-KNOWLEDGE. The Desert Fathers coined the axiom, short but poignant: KNOW THYSELF! The wise Socrates expressed it in these words: “A life not examined is a life worth not living.” An Historian quipped up with these sage words: “He who does not know History is condemned to repeat the same errors.”

That said, what is one of the essential elements for making a Good Sacramental Confession? To be direct, it is not simply detecting the sin and confessing it to the priest, but also examining the reason that led us to commit that sin.

Finally, one of the essential hallmarks of Ignatian spirituality is the practice of the classical “Daily-Examen.” Saint Ignatius stated forcefully that this practice should never be omitted. By this practice one comes to know with greater clarity and precision the working of God’s grace, the maneuvers of the devil, and a greater self-knowledge.

Therefore, the basic purpose of this essay is not simply to know the tactics of the devil, who in the words of Saint Ignatius is the enemy of our salvation, but also to formulate clear guidelines and practices to conquer the enemy.

In a word, we must formulate a clear spiritual strategy to conquer the presence, the perniciousness, and the power of the devil in our lives. We should never forget the words that Jesus uses to describe the devil: “He is a liar and a murderer from the beginning.”

TEN STEP STRATEGY TO CONQUER THE DEVIL

1. IN DESOLATION—USE FOUR PRACTICES TAUGHT BY ST. IGNATIUS. In Rule Six of the Rules for Discernment, Saint Ignatius offers us four practices to use when we find ourselves in the state of desolation—in other words, when we find ourselves sad, discouraged, and depressed. These are: prayer, meditation, penance, and examination of conscience.

1) PRAYER: Pray more, rather than less. Prayer conquers the devil!

2) MEDITATE. Read and meditate upon the Word of God. St. Paul calls it a two-edged sword meant for the battle.

3) PENANCE. Jesus states clearly that some devils are cast out only by prayer and fasting.

4) EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE. Find out what is casting you into the state of desolation.

2. KRYPTONITE RULE—PRACTICE THE OPPOSITE VIRTUE. In desolation, the devil aims at our spiritual weak point and he goes for the kill. Get to know yourself; get to know your Kryptonite, your Achilles heel, your point where you are most vulnerable. The list of the CAPITAL SINS is the key to self-knowledge. When tempted in that weak-point you must strive to practice the opposite virtue.

Capital Sins and the opposite virtue to be practiced. (The Agere Contra)

1) GLUTTONY—THE VIRTUE OF TEMPERANCE IN EATING

2) LUST—THE VIRTUE OF PURITY OR CHASTITY OF LIFE

3) AVARICE—THE VIRTUE OF GENEROSITY IN GIVING

4) SLOTH/LAZINESS—THE VIRTUE OF DILIGENCE IN WORK

5) ENVY—THE VIRTUE OF ADMIRATION OF OTHERS AND GRATITUDE

6) ANGER—THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE AND MEEKNESS

7) PRIDE—THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY

3. PROCRASTINATION—WORK ETHIC (SHORTNESS OF LIFE!) To overcome the devil of procrastination—put it off until tomorrow, a concrete remedy must be applied. Write out a PLAN OF LIFE and be faithful to it. Ask your Spiritual Director to assist you! This helps to order the disorder in our lives. The Procrastinator lives a disorderly existence.   

4. RESENTMENT AND REVENGE—PRACTICE IMMEDIATE FORGIVENESS AND MERCY. The devil works overtime in bringing to mind present or past hurts and injuries. If we dwell on these, we will live an angry and depressed existence. The best remedy is to live the Gospel of Mercy and forgive those who hurt us immediately. And if the devil brings the hurt or injury to mind again, forgive again immediately! A sure sign of forgiveness is to pray for that person. Each time they come to mind, say three Hail Marys for them. The Bible teaches us clearly: “Do not let the sin go down on your anger.” (Eph. 4:26)

5. WORLD OF IMAGES—TEMPTATION TO VIEW PORNOGRAPHY—SEEK GOOD IMAGES!!! The wolf is on the prowl, better said, many wolves are on the prowl related to the world of images and most specifically, the reality of pornography. Surround yourself—in your room, home, and car with beautiful images of Jesus, Mary, the angels and the saints. Therefore, when tempted to go down the dark and ugly path of porn, look at these beautiful images as a reminder of your dignity and your destiny. We are Temples of the Holy Spirit; our destiny, Heaven with God forever!

6. LAZINESS/ SLOTH/INDOLENCE—THE ETHIC OF HARD WORK, SHORTNESS OF LIFE.  How true the saying: “Idleness is the workshop of the devil.” If you have nothing to do, the devil will offer you tons of activities to do with him and for him. Meditate on how short our life is on earth and how we will be judged by our actions. Let us work hard in this life, in imitation of the saints, and then we can rest forever in Heaven.

7. BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS MORALS—CHOOSE ONE OR A FEW GOOD FRIENDS. The Bible teaches us that a true friend indeed is a treasure and a brass wall of defense. On the contrary, a bad friend or friends could be our ruin or demise. Bad friends lead us into sin; good friends lead us to Jesus, Our Best of Friends, and eventually Heaven. As soon as we are aware of a noxious and poisonous friendship—formed by the devil—we must terminate this relationship. 

8. WANDERING EYES (REMEMBER THE SIN OF DAVID!)—LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. If we have the tendency to allow our eyes to wander where they should not be going, then we must form the habit of living in the PRESENCE OF GOD! If we are keenly aware of God’s eyes looking at us with love and concern, it will be much more difficult to wander and fix our eyes on what is offensive to God.

9. DEVIL OF DISOBEDIENCE—OBEY WILLINGLY AND PROMPTLY! The devil sinned due to disobedience. He cried out in rebellion against God: “I will not serve!” Therefore, whenever we are tempted to imitate the devil in his disobedience, we must call to mind the obedience of Jesus and Mary to the will of God, to help us obey promptly. Remember the words of St. Paul: “Jesus was obedient, even to death and death on the cross.” (Phil 2:8)

10. DEVIL OF COLDNESS TO AND REJECTION OF MARY—TENDERNESS AND LOVE FOR MARY!!! One of the tactics of the devil is to seduce and trick people to leave the Catholic Religion and enter a Religious Sect or Protestantism. Almost immediately these false-religions will attack the Blessed Virgin Mary or at least show great coldness or indifference towards Mary. If we are tempted in one way or another to reject Mary or to show Mary coldness or indifference, then we should do the opposite. How? Read a good book on Mary. Enthrone an image of Mary in your room. Pray the most Holy Rosary. Cultivate filial devotion to Mary!

In conclusion, we have concluded our mini-course on the Strategy that we should implement in our battle against the devil in our lives. Indeed, not only must we know the tactics and the temptations of the devil, the enemy of our salvation, but how we are to react to put out the fiery darts of the devil. May Our Lady help us, by her powerful intercession, to crush the ugly, infernal head of the devil in our lives, so we can serve Our Lord and Savior Jesus the King!

No doubt, the best way to transform the world into a better place is to strive to become a saint. Many will stare at you shocked if you tell them that they are called to become saints. “Me, a saint? That is not for me!”

The reason for this shock is that many do not know what God’s will is for us! God wants every one of us to become a saint, even more than we want to become a saint. Many think that a saint must work extraordinary miracles while on earth. The saint should be able to bi-locate, heal the sick, raise the dead, and stop the course of the sun. Actually, none of these are necessary for one to become a saint. Though it is true, after death, miracles must be attributed to a holy person who is to become beatified, and eventually canonized a saint.

Jesus commands us to become saints! Jesus spoke with utmost clarity on this topic of the universal call to holiness: “Be holy as your Heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48) In the Sermon on the Mount, one of the Beatitudes reiterates the same theme: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness; they will be filled.” (Mt.5:6) Saint Paul in his Letter to the Thessalonians repeats the topic: “This is the will of your Heavenly Father, your sanctification.” (1 Thess. 4:30)

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta expressed holiness in these concise but penetrating words: “Holiness is not the privilege of the few, but the duty of all.” Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer (Founder of Opus Dei) lamented in these words: “The biggest crisis in the world is the lack of saints.” The French writer of the 1900’s, Leon Blois quipped: “The greatest tragedy in the world is to not become the saint that God calls us to be.”

One of the most authoritative documents in the modern world, from the Second Vatican Council, the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, Chapter V, focuses on one specific topic: The Universal Call to Holiness. In a word, the Council Fathers insist on the moral imperative and imperious obligation that all people, from all places, cultures, and backgrounds, must strive to become holy. All must do their part in trying to become saints.

Want heaven and holiness: become saints! In fact, all of those in Heaven have arrived at holiness; they are saints. Many, probably most in Heaven, might be termed anonymous saints. By this is meant that they were not canonized—that is, declared officially by the Church to be saints. Still, they are saints!

Therefore, taking into account this “Universal Call to Holiness”, we will proceed to highlight some practical guidelines or suggestions that can serve as a motivation or stimulus for us in striving to become the saint that God has called each of us to be. Indeed, without practical guidelines and a true spiritual GPS—or roadmap, the pursuit of holiness will prove very arduous. Athletes need coaches; writers, mentors; and artists, models. So it is with those pursuing holiness of life, guidelines and pointers—in the right direction of course—are indispensable!

1. GOD’S GRACE. First and foremost, we need God’s grace. In fact, without His grace we can accomplish nothing in the pursuit of holiness. We can sin abundantly, but trying to live a life of holiness without God’s grace is a pursuit in futility.

2. PRAYER. Normally God’s grace funnels and is communicated through the channel of prayer. Saints have spent long hours in prayer. Prayer is communing with God and He does the work of sanctification and transformation. Specifically, in prayer it is the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier who transforms us from sinner to saint.

3. WILL IT! On one occasion, the sister of the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, asked her brother how might she become a saint? Aquinas responded concisely with two words: WILL IT! Indeed, God’s grace precedes every good action. In the Theology of grace, this is termed Prevenient Grace. However, there must be our active collaboration with God’s grace. In other words, God will always do His part, but we must do ours!

4. AVOID OBSTACLES. On the part of the future saint, there must be a sincere, concerted effort to avoid the near occasions of sin. The saying is so true: “He who plays with fire, will be burnt; he who plays in danger, will perish in it.” Sin, indeed, is the major obstacle in the pursuit of holiness. Thus, sin should be avoided like the plague!

5. READ THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS. Another great help in our pursuit of holiness is to get in the habit of good spiritual reading. Why not give ten minutes on a daily basis to reading the life of a saint or saints. By doing so, we start to form criteria on how the saints lived, acted, prayed, thought, and spoke, that is to say, how they arrived at this heroic degree of virtue. Reading their lives will stimulate us to imitate their actions and virtuous paths. Saint Ignatius of Loyola received many graces in his process of conversion by reading the lives of the saints. He made a determined determination to be like them! And it happened!

6. HOLY SPIRIT: THE SANCTIFIER. One of the many titles attributed to the Holy Spirit is The Sanctifier—meaning He who makes us holy. Pope Saint John XXIII stated: “The Saints are the Masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.” DaVinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Shakespeare —all were artistic or literary Masters in their prospective fields. The prospective field of the Holy Spirit is that of forming and molding men, women, and children into saints!

7. SACRAMENTAL LIFE. As members of the Mystical Body of Christ—the Church, the most efficacious channels for grace flow through the Sacraments. By definition, the Sacraments are exterior signs instituted by Christ to confer grace. By receiving frequently and fervently, with excellent disposition of heart, mind, and soul, the Sacraments of Confession, as well as the Holy Eucharist, graces rain down into our souls like a deluge. In Confession, Jesus heals us as the Divine Physician; in Communion, Jesus nourishes and strengthens our soul with His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

8. JOYFUL PRESENCE. A key quality in the lives of the saints is JOY!!! The person who lives with joy in their heart has wind in their sails in their spiritual journey! They will be able to overcome many obstacles climbing the mountain of holiness. The devil suffers mortal blows in the company of a joyful person! A joyful disciple of Jesus appeals and attracts others like a magnet! J.O.Y.—Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last!!! 

9. HEAVEN: THE HOME OF THE SAINTS! An enormous stimulus or motivation on our highway to holiness is to have our goal constantly before our eyes—Heaven! God created us for one purpose: to be happy with Him forever in Heaven! Saint Paul exhorts us not to look to the earth, but to have our eyes fixed on the heavenly realm where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father. If we think more about Heaven—the joy of the Presence and Friendship of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with the angels and saints, and Mary as our Queen and Mother—our crosses will become easier to bear in anticipation of the glories to come!

10. MARY: QUEEN OF THE ANGELS AND SAINTS. Finally, Mary can be of enormous assistance in our pursuit of holiness, in our desire to become saints! Indeed, Mary is Queen of the angels and saints. Pray to Mary; love Mary, call on Mary; love and pray the Rosary. If you do this, Mary will be close to you all your life, and she will help you to arrive safe and sound to your Heavenly Home.

Conclusion. Let us all start right now and strive to live out the command of Jesus: “Be Holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” The only thing that really matters in life is to become a saint. May this be our goal, and may we attain it through the grace of God and the prayers of Mary, the full of grace and the Queen of the angels and saints!

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Father Ed Broom, OMV, serves as Associate Pastor at St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Religious Order, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and was ordained by Saint John Paul II in St Peter’s Basilica on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed is a Retreat Master and teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction. He is the author of three books: From Humdrum to Holy, Total. Consecration to Jesus through Mary though the Mysteries of the Rosary and Road Map to Heaven, A Catholic Plan of Life