Very Rev. Jamin S. David, J.C.L., V.G. | Diocese of Baton Rouge

Dan Burke, former president of EWTN News and founder and president of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, delivered a presentation on spiritual warfare at St. Agnes Church in Baton Rouge on April 20. In his talk titled “Setting the Captives Free: Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits,” Burke outlined a path to spiritual freedom based on his personal experiences.

Burke grew up in an environment of physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse. By his late teens, he was contemplating suicide. However, a desperate prayer led him to an encounter with Jesus Christ that gave him hope and a reason to endure his suffering.

During his presentation, Burke revealed that he had surveyed devout Catholics through a Facebook page dedicated to contemplative prayer life. He found that more than 80 percent struggled with undesired negative thoughts and emotions on an hourly, daily or weekly basis. This finding led him to question why such struggles were normal.

According to Burke, Jesus does not desire for people to be trapped in destructive thoughts. He highlighted the importance of understanding desolation and its connection to sin as described by St. Ignatius. Desolation is characterized as “a darkness of soul” leading to hopelessness and sadness as if separated from God.

Burke explained that desolation comes from “bad spirits” aiming to separate us from God by trapping us in habitual sin and keeping us ignorant of the path to freedom. He stressed that many Catholics are not spiritually free because they do not understand they are engaged in spiritual warfare.

Burke cited several Scripture verses as important weapons in spiritual warfare and advised attendees not to believe every spirit but test whether they are from God (1 Jn 4:1) and hold fast that which is good (1 Thes 5:21). He emphasized taking every thought captive to Christ.

The path to spiritual freedom involves understanding God's promise of peace, fighting for it, and utilizing the tools He provides, according to Burke. He cited saints such as St. Catherine of Siena, St. Ignatius and St. Teresa of Avila as examples of victory in spiritual warfare.

Burke concluded his presentation by reminding attendees of God's extraordinary love for them despite their sins, encouraging them to turn to Him in times of struggle.