Spiritual Warfare with Dr. Dan Schneider – Part 1

Sep 18, 2025

“And he said to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.”

– Mark 9:29

Woman with outstretched arms on a mountain peak facing snow covered mountaintops and clouds.

What does fasting have to do with spiritual warfare and freedom in Christ?

When the Spiritual and Physical Battles Collide
Today begins a special two-part interview with Dr. Dan Schneider, Army veteran, theologian, and exorcism team member, to talk about the realities of spiritual warfare, fasting, and the path to freedom in Christ. He is the author of The Liber Christo Method: A Field for Spiritual Combat and Spiritual Warfare Q and A: For Priests and Laity.

Dr. Dan brings a unique perspective shaped by military service, advanced theological study, and years assisting in exorcism ministry.

His message is clear: spiritual warfare is real, but it is nothing to fear when we engage the right weapons—prayer, fasting, virtue, and the sacramental life.

From Combat Zones to Spiritual Battlefields
Dr. Dan shares his remarkable journey from serving as an Army officer in Desert Storm to teaching theology at Franciscan University to assisting exorcists in the battle for souls. What struck him early on in this work was the parallel between physical warfare and spiritual warfare: both require training, discipline, and clear rules of engagement.

As he explains, the devil thrives in chaos, disorder, and sin—but he loses power when order, prayer, and fasting take center stage.

Fasting as a Weapon of Liberation
One of the key themes in this episode is the role of fasting in spiritual combat. Dr. Dan points out that Jesus Himself taught, “This kind can only be driven out by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). Fasting, he explains, isn’t only about food; it’s about bringing the body, mind, and soul into alignment with God’s will.

Practical takeaways include:

Bodily discipline matters. Gluttony, lust, and sloth open spiritual doors to the enemy. Fasting helps close them.
Order defeats chaos. A set prayer routine, sacramental life, and intentional fasting bring order the enemy can’t stand.
Freedom requires participation. Liberation isn’t passive; it involves cooperation with God through prayer, fasting, and virtue.

Spiritual Attacks or Spiritual Formation?
Dr. Dan emphasizes that not every challenge is an attack; sometimes God allows struggles to form and strengthen us. Saints like Padre Pio and Maximilian Kolbe, who battled spiritually and bodily, became powerful intercessors because they embraced suffering with faith and obedience.

This perspective shifts the focus from fear of the enemy to trust in God’s providence and a deeper pursuit of holiness.

The Call to Virtue and Sacramental Living
The episode also addresses a much-needed revival of virtue in our culture. Many Catholics, Dr. Dan notes, have lost the language of vice and virtue. Spiritual fasting becomes a practical path to recovering discipline, holiness, and sacramental life—where body and soul work together for God’s glory.

If you want to better understand spiritual warfare, grow in virtue, and discover the power of fasting in the battle for holiness, don’t miss this conversation with Dr. Dan Schneider. Tune in and take the next step in your spiritual formation.

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Resources from Today’s Show:

Get Dr. Dan’s books mentioned in this episode

Delay and Pray® Links:

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The Catholic Fasting Coach

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