Have you ever felt at war with yourself during Lent?
Lent is a season of grace, conversion, and prayer. It is also a time of spiritual warfare, a true “battle against the spirit of evil” (Collect Prayer for Ash Wednesday). During these forty days, we are called to pray, listen to the Word, and practice fasting and penance. All of this helps us purify our hearts and prepare for our encounter with Christ. But spiritual warfare is not an abstract idea: it is lived every day, in our choices, our actions, and our prayers.
The saints, too, fought the spiritual battle
If you feel more conflicted than usual during Lent, know that this is normal. This season of conversion brings trials and temptations, because it is precisely when we seek to draw closer to God that the enemy tries to lead us away from the path. But we are not alone in this battle. The great saints also experienced this struggle and left us valuable advice for facing it. One of them was Saint Francis de Sales, who strongly recommended one particular book: Father Lorenzo Scupoli's Spiritual Combat. For centuries, this text has been a reference point in Christian spirituality, helping us recognize our vices, fight temptations, and strengthen our hearts in trust in God.
A handbook for the inner battle: why read it during Lent
Spiritual warfare is not fought only in extraordinary moments, but in everyday life. Every choice, every thought, every action can become an opportunity to draw closer to God or to distance ourselves from Him. Yet we often find ourselves disarmed in the face of inner difficulties: sudden temptations, weariness in prayer, and the tendency to give in to selfishness or laziness. This is where Father Scupoli's Spiritual Combat becomes a true ally.
This book, which has guided generations of Christians, is not an abstract text, but a practical manual that helps us recognize the traps of pride and vanity, practice patience in difficult moments, and keep our hearts steadfast in hope. It teaches us to master the passions that often drag us along without our realizing it, control the words we speak – because even the tongue can become a weapon – and defend ourselves against the subtle deceptions of the evil one, who wants to lead us away from the path of virtue.
Reading it during Lent means having a precious guide for this time of purification. It means training, day after day, in that invisible battle every Christian is called to fight.
An invitation to fight with prayer
Prayer is our most powerful weapon, but knowing how to use it is essential. How often, when faced with temptation or difficulty, do we feel lost and don't know how to pray? Spiritual Combat not only reminds us that prayer is indispensable, but also teaches us how to pray effectively, how to stand firm in times of trial, and how not to give up when fatigue or distraction take over. Father Scupoli writes: «Prayer is the instrument through which we can obtain all the graces that rain down upon us from the source of God's goodness and love». This book helps us transform prayer into a true weapon for battle, capable of guiding us through our daily spiritual struggles.
Every trial and every obstacle can become an opportunity for human and spiritual growth. May your Lent be a journey of grace, purification, and renewal.
Do you have any ideas on how to fruitfully approach the Lenten journey? Have you ever read ‘Spiritual Combat’? If so, share your experience in the comments!
