Enemies of Salvation Archives

Devotieprent van de heilige Gemma Galgani by Ursmary Joseph Coppin-Goisse. 1933, holy card, museumcollecties van MAS / Wikimedia Commons

The Devil’s Attacks on St. Gemma Galgani

Ven. Fr. Germanus, C.P.

Satan, finding all his machinations set at naught by this child, became furious. Throwing off the mask, he took to waging open war against her.

Saint Francis of Assisi at the Foot of the Cross by Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641). Oil on panel / Wikimedia Commons

3 Consolations for the Struggling Soul

Thomas à Kempis

When we struggle in the spiritual life, there are many consolations God has gifted us. Turn to these three constant consolations when you are suffering.

The Last Judgement by Pieter Huys (1519-1581). 1555, oil on panel, Walters Art Museum / Wikimedia Commons

What Is Hell Like?

Rev. Msgr. Charles Pope

Hell is often described with vivid imagery—fire that never dies, worms that do not die, and darkness without end. Msgr. Charles Pope explains that these

The Fall of the Rebel Angels by Sebastiano Ricci (1659-1734). 1720, oil on canvas, Dulwich Picture Gallery / Wikimedia Commons

Spiritual Warfare: Angels, Saints, and Sacramentals

Dan Schneider, PhD

Devotion to saints and use of sacramentals are powerful weapons in spiritual warfare. From prayers to your Guardian Angel to the Rosary and sacramentals like

Torment of St. Anthony by Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo (1480-1548). 1515, oil on panel, Timken Museum of Art / Wikimedia Commons

Three Saints Who Battled Satan

Dr. Paul Thigpen

These three saints battled some of the worst spiritual attacks and prevailed through God’s graces. Read this excerpt from Saints Who Battled Satan! St. Benedict

The Torment of Saint Anthony by Michelangelo (1475-1564). 1487, tempera and oil on panel, Kimbell Art Museum / Wikimedia Commons

Does Hell Exist Because God Is Angry?

Rev. Msgr. Charles Pope

Hell Is For Real The drama of judgment, the need for repentance, and the reality of hell is a constant theme of Jesus’s preaching. Many

The Pilgrims of Emmaus on the Road by James Tissot (1836-1902). 1886, watercolor, Brooklyn Museum / Wikimedia Commons

The Easier Road: Why Salvation Brings Joy and Sin Brings Sorrow

Cardinal Armand Jean du Plessis Duke of Richelieu

In this excerpt from A Treatise on Perfection, Cardinal Duke Richelieu refutes the notion that salvation is too difficult to attain and that sin offers

I'm bored with you by Aleksandr Makovsky (1869-1924). 1897, oil on canvas, Odesa Fine Arts Museum / Wikimedia Commons

Overcoming the Devil’s Weapons of Sadness and Boredom

Thomas à Kempis

In this excerpt from Solitude and Silence by Thomas à Kempis, the faithful are warned how the devil exploits sadness and boredom to weaken the

Inspiration by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905). 1898, oil on canvas / Wikimedia Commons

Interior Mortification: Restraining Self-Love

St. Alphonsus Liguori

In this excerpt from School of Christian Perfection, St. Alphonsus Liguori explains that the greatest obstacle to holiness is not the world or the devil

Saint Jerome by Caravaggio (1571-1610). 1606, oil on canvas, Galleria Borghese / Wikimedia Commons

Labor of the Mind, Not the Senses

St. Albert the Great

Saint Albert the Great teaches that we must free our soul from earthly distractions to draw near to God in selfless love. By casting aside

The Fall of the Rebel Angels by Luca Giordano (-1705). Oil on canvas, Kunsthistorisches Museum / Wikimedia Commons

Spiritual Warfare Q&A

Dan Schneider, PhD

What can demons do? How do they affect me? How can I defend myself from the weapons of the enemy? Read this excerpt from The

Judas by Edward Okun (1872-1945). 1901, oil on cardboard, National Museum in Warsaw / Wikimedia Commons

Self-Will: The Devil’s Most Powerful Weapon

St. Alphonsus Liguori

In this stirring reflection, St. Alphonsus Liguori reveals self-will as the devil’s most dangerous weapon, especially against souls striving for holiness. Drawing on the wisdom

Interior of a Catholic Church by Bartholomeus van Bassen (1590-1652). 1626, oil on canvas, Mauritshuis / Wikimedia Commons

Irreverence in Church

St. Claude La Colombière

Do you have the proper posture and reverence in Mass? Read this challenging reflection and self examination by St. Claude La Colombiere. The Reverence Due

Gluttony vs. Moderation

Pope Saint Leo IX

Gluttony is an oft-forgotten sin that many souls struggle with. Read this excerpt from Pope Saint Leo IX on the vice of gluttony and the

The Virgin Mary and Spiritual Combat

Dan Schneider, PhD

In spiritual combat, true devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary stands as a powerful means to neutralize the enemy force. Learn from spiritual warfare expert,

The False 10 Commandments of Communism

Fr. Lawrence Carney

Communism is not misunderstood or good in theory. In theory and practice, it is a campaign against God Himself. Discover Marx’s “10 Commandments of Communism”

Adam and Eve, The Fruit, and the Serpent. Stained glass, Basilique Notre-Dame des Enfants / Wikimedia Commons.

Why Are Many on the Road to Destruction?

Rev. Msgr. Charles Pope

Why are so many on the road to destruction and so few on the road to salvation? In this excerpt taken from The Hell There

Death of Saint Joseph by Luca Giordano. 1696, Kunsthistorisches Museum / Wikimedia Commons.

The Happy Death of the Just

Venerable Louis of Granada

For those who pass from this world after living a life of virtue, death is deliverance. God grants those blessed souls a happy death, free

A Church Interior With Women at the Confessional by Ludwig Passini (1832-1903). 1863, watercolor, private collection / Wikimedia Commons.

The Role of Confession in Spiritual Warfare

Fr. Ken Geraci

Frequent and fruitful confession is necessary for the soul’s sanctification and salvation. Discover the unbelievable graces and mercy open to you in the confessional. The

Inferno, Canto XVIII by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), 1480s, ink on parchment. Gemäldegalerie / Wikimedia Commons.

Why We Choose Sin and Damnation

Rev. Msgr. Charles Pope

Why would anyone choose hell over eternal bliss? For the same reasons we choose sin here on earth. Discover these faults and renew your pursuit

The Agony in the Garden, Frans Schwartz (1850–1917), 1898, Brigham Young University. Wikimedia Commons.

Jesus’s Three Sufferings in the Garden

St. Alphonsus Liguori

As Jesus prayed in the Garden, He experienced three great spiritual sufferings. Read this stirring excerpt from St. Alphonsus Liguori. Jesus’s Three Sufferings in the

Saint Benedict, Francisco de Zurburán (1598–1664), c. 1640–45, oil on canvas. Metropolitan Museum of Art. File donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Monks Try to Poison Saint Benedict

Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB

Saint Benedict was the object of great envy and hostility in his lifetime, but he responded each time with remarkable holiness. Read two incredible stories

The Mocking of Christ, Gerard Seghers (1591-1651), between 1610 and 1651, oil on canvas. Wikimedia Commons.

Jesus Is Mocked and Spat Upon

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Saint Augustine says that one tear shed at the remembrance of Christ’s Passion is worth more than a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and a year of

Christ in Gethsemane, Heinrich Hofmann (1824-1911), 1886, oil on canvas. Riverside Church, Self-scanned by James G. Howes from 1945 print published by the Board of Trustees, Riverside Church, New York, NY / Wikimedia Commons.

Christ’s Vision of the World’s Sins

Dr. Paul Thigpen

In the garden of Gethsemane what inflicted the most suffering on Our Lord was His vision of the world’s sins. Despite all He would suffer

The Taking of Christ, Caravaggio (1571-1610), 1602, oil on canvas. National Gallery of Ireland / Wikimedia Commons.

Jesus Is Arrested

Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

Witness the duplicity of Judas, the fervor of Peter, the conversion of the soldiers, and the suffering of Christ throughout the arrest in the Garden

The Fall of the Rebel Angels, SEbastiano Ricci (1659-1734), c. 1720, oil on canvas. Dulwich Picture Gallery, The Yorck Project / Wikimedia Commons.

Lucifer Revolts Against God

Ven. Mary of Agreda

What provoked Lucifer to despise his loving Lord? Witness Venerable Mary of Agreda’s vision of the angels’ creation and their ultimate choice between love or

The Fall of the Rebel Angels, Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1526/1530-1569), 1562, oil on wood. Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium. Google Cultural Institute / Wikimedia Commons.

Pride Transforms Angels Into Demons

Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo

There is no saint in Paradise who did not possess humility. Pride is so powerful a vice that it transformed the angels to demons—imagine what

Antichrist with the devil, Luca Signorelli (1450-1523), c. 1501. Wikimedia Commons.

How the Devil Flatters the Faithful

St. Teresa of Avila

In holy souls, Satan tries to instill complacency and pride. Learn how to discern your own deeds and reject the Devil’s temptations with the wisdom

Christ in the Wilderness (Ivan Kramskoi 1837-1887), 1872, oil on canvas. Tretyakov Gallery, Google Cultural Center / Wikimedia Commons.

Holy Habits to Thwart Demons

Dan Schneider, PhD

What habits do demons hate? Arm yourself with knowledge of the enemy from Dan Schneider, Fr. Ripperger, and the saints! Demons Hate Discipline This “legal

Christ in the Garden of Olives, Théodore Chassériau (1819-1856), 1840, oil on canvas. ©Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, photographed by Alain Basset / Wikimedia Commons.

The Interior Agony of Jesus

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Jesus took on greater suffering than all the martyrs combined, and His agony was not just physical. Meditate with St. Alphonsus Liguori on the interior

Celebrating Communion in a Swedish Parish Church, Bengt Nordenberg (1822-1902), 1856, oil on canvas. National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Norway / Wikimedia Commons.

The Responsibility of the Faithful Versus the Heathen

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Why do the faithful have a greater moral obligation than nonbelievers? With the incredible graces bestowed upon the Church, we must love the Lord completely

Job and His Friends, Ilya Repin (1844-1930), 1869, oil on canvas. Russian Museum, photographed by John Petrov/ Wikimedia Commons.

Opportunities to Practice Trustful Surrender

St. Claude La Colombière

Life gives us many opportunities to practice trustful surrender to God’s will. Sometimes they present themselves in public calamities or reverses of fortune. But most

The Temptation of St. Thomas Aquinas, Diego Velásquez (1599-1660), 1632, oil on canvas. Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro / Wikimedia Commons.

How to Flee from Impurity

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

In the spiritual life, the soul must fight or die. The Spiritual Combat is your saintly guide to conquering sin and temptation by relying completely

Still-Life with Flowers, Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750), by 1750, oil on canvas. Hallwyll Museum / Wikimedia Commons.

Of the Frailty of Our Life

Venerable Louis of Granada

The meditation upon our mortality can evoke sincere conversion within our hearts. Reflect upon the frailty of life with the following meditation taken from The

Landscape with Saint John on Patmos, Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665), 1640, oil on canvas. Art Institute of Chicago / Wikimedia Commons.

The Peace of a Good Conscience

Venerable Louis of Granada

The Sinner’s Guide has formed countless saints over the centuries. Credited with the conversion of millions of souls, this spiritual masterpiece is a must-read for

Intention, Antoni Piotrowski (1853-1924), 1912, oil on canvas. Wikimedia Commons

Remedies Against Pride

Venerable Louis of Granada

The Sinner’s Guide is TAN Books’ 2025 Book of the Year! In this excerpt, discover the most potent remedies against the sin of pride. Since

The Confession, Giuseppe Molteni (1800-1867), 1838, oil on canvas. Gallerie d'Italia Milano / Wikimedia Commons.

The Threefold Woe of Sin

St. Bonaventure

The Seraphic Doctor, Saint Bonaventure, offers a profound examination of Mary’s graces, sanctity, and heavenly role in Mirror of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read on

The Last Judgement, John Martin (1789-1854), 1853, oil on canvas. Tate Britain / Wikimedia Commons.

The Rewards of Heaven and Punishments of Hell

St. Anselm of Canterbury

St. Anselm, Doctor of the Church, offers profound insights on the reality of Heaven and Hell to assist us on the narrow way. Read on

Scenes from the Life of St. Francis, Benozzo Gozzoli (1420-1497), 1452, fresco. Museum Complex of San Francesto, Apsidal Chapel. Photo by Web Gallery of Art / Wikimedia Commons.

How to Be Poor in Spirit

St. Albert the Great

Brimming with heavenly insights, The Paradise of the Soul presents forty-two virtues to reach Heaven. Read on for St. Albert the Great’s counsel on cultivating

St. Benedict in Prayer, Master of Messkirch (fl. 1520–1540), c. 1540m mixed media on mood. Staatsgalerie Stuttgart / Wikimedia Commons.

Choosing God Over Comfort

Thomas à Kempis

It is not difficult to trust God when the waves of life are calm. But too often, we abandon ship when the waves threaten to

The Tears of Saint Peter, Jusepe de Ribera (1591–1652), 1613, oil on canvas. Metropolitan Museum of Art / Wikimedia Commons

Meditation on Sin and Self-Knowledge

St. Peter of Alcantara

In the spiritual life, we all must be faced with our sinfulness. Before we can turn toward the cultivation of virtue, we must first obtain

Mary and Joseph with Baby Jesus, Julius Frank (1826-1908). Wikimedia Commons

God Does All for a Soul of Goodwill

Fr. Jean Pierre de Caussade, SJ

The soul entirely abandoned to Divine Providence can be likened to an instrument in the hands of God. In one of the greatest spiritual classics,

The Sermon on the Mountain, Arsène Robert (1830-1895). Saint-Martin Church of Castelnau-d'Estrétefonds, photographed by Didier Descouens / Wikimedia Commons

Called to Humility

Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo

As the queen of virtues, the cultivation of humility should be the aim of all souls. Our Lord Himself beckons us to “Learn of Me,

Narcissuss, Caravaggio (1571–1610) 1600, oil on canvas. Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica / Wikimedia Commons

Defeating Vainglory and False Piety

Pope Saint Leo IX

In this spiritual masterpiece, Saint Pope Leo IX identifies our foes—vices and temptations—and teaches us how to combat them with virtue. Read on to learn

Christ on the Cross, Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863), 1846 oil on canvas. Walters Museum / Wikimedia Commons

Thirst of Jesus on the Cross

Fr. Ignatius of the Side of Jesus, Passionist

From the Cross, Our Lord endured three distinct thirsts—a suffering beyond measure. His thirst was physical and spiritual, and the thirst to suffer even more

Christmas Night Mass celebrated in a French Nunnery, Asta Nørregaard (1853-1933). 1889, oil on canvas. Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design, photographed by Jacques Lathion / Wikimedia Commons

A Deceased Sister Visits Saint Faustina

TAN Books Editors

Hungry Souls recounts these stories and many other trustworthy and Church-verified accounts of earthly visitations from the dead in Purgatory. Read on for an account

Crucifixion, Andrea Mantegna (1431–1506). 1460, oil on panel. Louvre, photographed by Wilfredo Hernandez / Wikimedia Commons

Redemptive Suffering

TAN Books Editors

The Manual for Suffering shows each reader the purpose of redemptive suffering and the graces in store for those who unite themselves to the Holy

The Vision of Saint Francis of Paola, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682). 1670, oil on canvas. J. Paul Getty Museum / Wikimedia Commons

How the Dark Night Enlightens the Soul

St. John of the Cross

In this excerpt from The Dark Night of the Soul, Saint John of the Cross discusses how the dark night transforms and enlightens a soul

Christ and the woman of Canaan, Pieter Lastman (1583–1633). 1617, oil on panel. Rijks Museum / Wikimedia Commons

Levels of Demonic Activity

Dan Schneider, PhD

Liber Christo is a tactical field manual for everyday spiritual warfare. A member of Fr. Chad Ripperger’s exorcism team, author Dan Schneider guides readers through

The Temptation of Christ by the Devil, Félix Joseph Barrias (1822–1907). 1860, oil on canvas. Philbrook Museum of Art, Google Cultural Institute/ Wikimedia Commons

Resisting Temptation

Thomas à Kempis

After the Bible, The Imitation of Christ is the all-time favorite book of Catholics throughout the world. Thomas à Kempis’s masterpiece speaks to the soul

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