Dr. Paul Thigpen PhD Archives - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Episode 7 – Know your Weapons pt. 2 – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare with Dr. Paul Thigpen, Ph.D In this episode of Put on the Armor: A Manual for Spiritual Warfare, Dr. Paul Thigpen and Kris McGregor reflect on the immense power of the sacraments in the Christian battle. Far from being optional devotions or familiar religious routines, the sacraments are concrete channels of divine grace given to strengthen, heal, and protect the faithful. Dr. Thigpen explains how baptism delivers a soul from the kingdom of darkness and brings it into the kingdom of Christ, while reconciliation loosens the enemy’s grip through forgiveness and healing. The Eucharist places the believer at the heart of Christ’s victorious sacrifice, and confirmation deepens the power of the Holy Spirit within the soul for spiritual combat. The conversation also highlights the grace of the anointing of the sick, matrimony, and holy orders, showing how each sacrament has a unique role in spiritual warfare. Whether strengthening the sick against fear and despair, fortifying marriage and family against division, or equipping priests and bishops to serve and protect the flock, the sacraments reveal that the Christian life is not lived alone or unarmed. Dr. Thigpen presents spiritual warfare not as a narrow subject limited to extraordinary experiences, but as a way of understanding the whole life of grace. This episode is a powerful reminder that the Church’s sacramental life is one of the greatest treasures given to believers in the struggle against evil. A SPECIAL NOTE: We mourn the death of Dr. Paul Thigpen on February 24, 2026. He was a good friend, supporter, and contributor to Discerning Hearts. We will miss him deeply and will continue to share his ministry with gratitude and prayer. Dr. Thigpen offers insights on the Manual for Spiritual Warfare, Chapter 4: The weapon of the sacraments Christ has given the seven sacraments to His Church as channels of grace into our lives. That grace is powerful to transform us into the image of Christ and to see us safely home to heaven. No wonder, then, that the Devil hates the sacraments and tries to keep us from receiving them. They, too, are weapons of our warfare, each one with a special power to protect us and to send the demons away from us. Discerning Hearts questions for reflection How does this episode deepen your understanding of the sacraments as weapons in spiritual warfare? What stood out to you most in Dr. Thigpen’s description of baptism as liberation from the kingdom of darkness? Why is the sacrament of reconciliation so powerful in loosening the enemy’s hold on the soul? How does the Eucharist strengthen a Christian for the spiritual battle? What does confirmation reveal about the role of the Holy Spirit in making us strong for combat? How can the anointing of the sick help a person facing fear, suffering, or discouragement? In what ways does matrimony become a place of spiritual protection and strength for the family? Why is it especially important to pray for priests, deacons, and bishops in the midst of spiritual warfare? What sacrament do you most need to draw from more intentionally right now? Visit here for other episodes in this series: Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen, Ph.D. The “Manual for Spiritual Warfare” can be found here Paul Thigpen, Ph.D., was the Editor of TAN Books in Charlotte, North Carolina. An internationally known speaker, best-selling author, and award-winning journalist, Paul published forty-three books in a wide variety of genres and subjects: history and biography, spirituality and apologetics, anthologies and devotionals, family life and children’s books, study guides and reference works, and fiction and collections of poetry and prayers.  Paul graduated from Yale University in 1977, summa cum laude, with Distinction in Religious Studies and membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He was later awarded the George W. Woodruff Fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, where he earned an M.A. (1993) and a Ph.D. (1995) in Historical Theology. In 1993, he was named a Jacob K. Javits Fellow by the U.S. Department of Education. He has served on the faculty of several universities and colleges. In 2008, Paul was appointed to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Advisory Council for a four-year term. He served the Church as a theologian, historian, apologist, evangelist, and catechist in a number of settings, speaking frequently in Catholic and secular media broadcasts and at conferences, seminars, parish missions, and scholarly gatherings.  

Dr. Paul Thigpen reflects on ordinary temptation, spiritual deception and the power of Scripture, humility and prayer in the daily Christian battle. The post POA3 – Temptation – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. – Discerning Hears Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Paul Thigpen reflects on the armor of God, the role of virtue, the mystery of temptation and the strength found in prayer, Scripture and Our Lady. The post POA2 – Why does God allow evil? – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. – Discerning Hears Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Paul Thigpen and Kris McGregor open this powerful series by exploring the reality of spiritual warfare, the danger of denying the devil and the hope Christians have in Christ’s victory. The post POA1 – Know Your Enemy – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. – Discerning Hears Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

“Help from the Saints” – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. Dr. Thigpen offers insights on the Manual for Spiritual Warfare Chapter 9: WORDS FROM THE SAINTS The saints are veterans of the spiritual war that continues to rage in this world. Their insights, born of long ... Read more The post POA13 – Help from the Saints – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. – Discerning Hears Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

“Aids in the Battle” – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D.  Dr. Thigpen offers insights on the Manual for Spiritual Warfare Chapter 7: For in spite of all the witness of creation and of the salvific economy inherent in it, the spirit of darkness is capable of ... Read more The post POA12 – Aids in the Battle – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. – Discerning Hears Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 11 – “Keep the Enemy Out of the Camp” – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. Dr. Thigpen offers insights on the Manual for Spiritual Warfare Chapter 6: Satan has his Trojan horses as well. He sometimes tempts us to embrace what looks like a desirable ... Read more The post POA11 – Keep the Enemy Out of the Camp – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. – Discerning Hears Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Episode 10 – “Know your Armor – The Virtues” – Put on The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare with Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D Dr. Thigpen offers insights on the Manual for Spiritual Warfare Chapter 5: Prayer and fasting, worship and adoration, Scripture and sacraments and sacramentals all provide the weapons of our spiritual ... Read more The post POA10 – Know your Armor – The Virtues” – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. – Discerning Hears Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Thigpen offers insights on the Manual for Spiritual Warfare Chapter 4: Blessings and blessed objects. Both the blessings that are properly given by clergy (such as those in the Liturgy) and the blessings spoken by lay people as part of their daily lives (such as a table grace) are important sacramentals. They can sanctify our thoughts, our actions, and our surroundings in a way that repels the Enemy. We see their power most clearly when used to remedy the demonic infestation of a building or object through a priestly blessing with holy water. Throughout the centuries, the testimony of many Christians, including a number of saints, confirms that objects blessed by a priest, through the power of the Church’s intercession, can repel demonic powers. Again and again, evil spirits have recoiled in dread, not just from the Sign of the Cross, but also from holy water and blessed oil, crosses, crucifixes, medals, candles, or salt. These can be used by priests in exorcisms as well as by lay Christians in everyday life. So the faithful sometimes keep such sacramentals in their homes. The home itself (as well as other buildings) can be blessed by a priest as well. The post POA9 – Know your Weapons pt. 4 – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. – Discerning Hears Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

"Know your Weapons" pt. 3 - Put on The Armor - A Manual for Spiritual Warfare with Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D Dr. Thigpen offers insights on the Manual for Spiritual Warfare Chapter 4: The weapon of sacramentals The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes sacramentals as sacred signs that bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, especially of a spiritual kind, that are obtained through the Church’s intercession. Through sacramentals, we are disposed to receive the primary effect of the sacraments, and they make holy various occasions in life (see CCC 1667). Exorcism. Since ancient times, Christians have recognized the power of the Church’s intercession as it’s displayed through the use of sacramentals. Most notably, the ministry of exorcism is itself a sacramental. In an exorcism, the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the Devil’s power and withdrawn from his dominion. Just as Jesus performed exorcisms, He has given the Church the power and office to perform them (see CCC 1673). According to Church law, only a priest with the bishop’s permission can perform a major (or solemn) exorcism— that is, the rite required to free a demon-possessed person. Any priest, however, can perform a minor exorcism in cases other than possession. These involve private prayers and blessings, either spontaneous or as provided by the ritual of the Church. They may be helpful in cases of oppression, obsession, and even infestation. In addition, the Rite of Infant Baptism and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) contain prayers of exorcism. The Sign of the Cross. St. Athanasius wrote that before the coming of Christ, demonic powers used to deceive the pagans into worshipping them and obeying their oracles. “But now,” he observed in the fourth century, “since the divine appearance of the Word [Christ], all this deception has come to an end. For by the Sign of the Cross, if a man will only use it, their deceptions are driven out.” The post POA8 – Know your Weapons pt. 3 – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. – Discerning Hears Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Join Dr. Paul Thigpen and host Kris McGregor discuss what resources are available to aid in spiritual warfare in this Discerning Hearts Podcast The post POA7 – Know your Weapons pt. 2 – Put On The Armor – A Manual for Spiritual Warfare w/Dr. Paul Thigpen Ph.D. – Discerning Hears Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.