If only one can always have the peace of Christ within, that would be like living a life in Heaven on earth. How is one able to live a life of interior peace when Satan and its demons put in one's mind its craftiest designs that take advantage of one's most vulnerable weakness, the weakness that Satan favors most that God wants one to overcome first? Such attacks tend to become more and more bold and difficult to resist, assuming that Satan even gives one an opportunity to resist, when one draws closer and closer to God.
Satan is truly a hateful creature, and infinitely abominable. Since Satan is a spirit, its energy never diminishes and it is relentless. No human is able to defend against its attacks without divine assistance. Satan wins when one is caught unprepared and unwittingly does its will. When one wakes up to such a reality, one's inner peace is replaced by a gnawing of the soul.
Prayer is the only cure. It is also a shield. There are many defenders in Heaven against Satan. Michael the Archangel comes to mind. The Latin version [2], [3] of the prayer is followed by the English [4]:
Perhaps the One most hated by Satan is the Woman Who gave birth to the Son of God, Who is the Mother of all, Who tirelessly and continuously intercedes on behalf of sinners for the salvation of souls. For each soul that is saved from the brink of eternal damnation, Satan's fury escalates exponentially, but Satan never gets angry; rather, its aim is to get even, by becoming craftier and craftier, doing everything in its power to tear down every soul that is headed toward God. One must therefore protect oneself with personal prayers and prayers of the rosary.
Of all the mysteries of the rosary that one can meditate upon, perhaps the one most hated by Satan is the Nativity [5], the third of the Joyful Mysteries, when the Blessed Virgin Mary gives birth to the Son of God Who Himself as man triumphed over Satan in the desert by rejecting its temptations [6] and over eternal death [7] and damnation (Satan's joy) by His crucifixion and resurrection.
Prayer is the only cure. It is also a shield. There are many defenders in Heaven against Satan. Michael the Archangel comes to mind. The Latin version [2], [3] of the prayer is followed by the English [4]:
Sáncte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio, cóntra nequítiam et insídias diáboli ésto præsídium. Ímperet ílli Déus, súpplices deprecámur: tuque, prínceps milítiæ cæléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos, qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in múndo, divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde. Ámen.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Perhaps the One most hated by Satan is the Woman Who gave birth to the Son of God, Who is the Mother of all, Who tirelessly and continuously intercedes on behalf of sinners for the salvation of souls. For each soul that is saved from the brink of eternal damnation, Satan's fury escalates exponentially, but Satan never gets angry; rather, its aim is to get even, by becoming craftier and craftier, doing everything in its power to tear down every soul that is headed toward God. One must therefore protect oneself with personal prayers and prayers of the rosary.
Of all the mysteries of the rosary that one can meditate upon, perhaps the one most hated by Satan is the Nativity [5], the third of the Joyful Mysteries, when the Blessed Virgin Mary gives birth to the Son of God Who Himself as man triumphed over Satan in the desert by rejecting its temptations [6] and over eternal death [7] and damnation (Satan's joy) by His crucifixion and resurrection.
[1] http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/14, 27, quoted without footnotes.
[2] https://www.beautysoancient.com/st-michael-archangel-prayer-english-latin-short-form/
[3] https://youtu.be/rhKXB_kO-To?list=PLlZR1Ck-Cr0yhHYlgJ78U2Rd2TohvWbo6&t=381, in this blogger's uneducated opinion, the pronunciation is awesome except for two words having too much of the "s" sound when they ought to have more of the "t" sound, namely "nequíTEEam" and "milíTEEæ" -- this is just a personal preference. Perhaps if these words were spelled with an "x" instead of a "t", then the "s" sound would be prominent -- an uneducated conclusion.
[4] https://www.catholiccompany.com/content/St.-Michael-the-Archangel-Prayer.cfm
[5] http://www.rosary-center.org/joyful.htm
[6] http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/4, 1-11
[7] http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Eschatology/Eschatology_001.htm
[2] https://www.beautysoancient.com/st-michael-archangel-prayer-english-latin-short-form/
[3] https://youtu.be/rhKXB_kO-To?list=PLlZR1Ck-Cr0yhHYlgJ78U2Rd2TohvWbo6&t=381, in this blogger's uneducated opinion, the pronunciation is awesome except for two words having too much of the "s" sound when they ought to have more of the "t" sound, namely "nequíTEEam" and "milíTEEæ" -- this is just a personal preference. Perhaps if these words were spelled with an "x" instead of a "t", then the "s" sound would be prominent -- an uneducated conclusion.
[4] https://www.catholiccompany.com/content/St.-Michael-the-Archangel-Prayer.cfm
[5] http://www.rosary-center.org/joyful.htm
[6] http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/4, 1-11
[7] http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Eschatology/Eschatology_001.htm
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