About this episode

The episode discusses sacramentals, focusing on blessings and their role in spiritual warfare.

Episode 9 – Know Your Weapons pt. 4 – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare with Dr. Paul Thigpen, Ph.D In this episode of Put on the Armor: A Manual for Spiritual Warfare , Kris McGregor and Dr. Paul Thigpen continue their discussion of sacramentals by focusing on blessings and the way ordinary material things can be set apart for God’s service and protection. Dr. Thigpen explains the difference between blessings any Christian may offer, such as blessing food or a parent blessing a child, and those blessings reserved to clergy. He then turns to holy water, showing how it recalls baptism and the Christian’s rescue from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Christ. Drawing on the testimony of St. Teresa of Avila, the conversation highlights the spiritual power associated with holy water while keeping the emphasis firmly on faith, God’s grace, and the prayer of the Church. The episode also explores blessed salt, medals, crucifixes, and the rosary, while carefully distinguishing sacramentals from superstition or magic. Dr. Thigpen explains that blessed objects do not possess independent power. Rather, they dispose the faithful to receive God’s grace and help create a…

People in this episode

Host: Kris McGregor

Guest: Dr. Paul Thigpen

Topics covered

• spiritual warfare
• sacramentals
• blessings
• holy water
• faith
• grace
• prayer

Keywords

• sacramentals
• blessings
• holy water
• spiritual power
• faith
• grace
• St. Benedict Medal
• rosary

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Put on the Armor: A Manual for Spiritual Warfare, St. Benedict Medal, rosary

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