+Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary+
I don’t think there is much doubt about the times we live in or how quickly the world is descending into that abyss that is the abode of the devil himself. There are signs everywhere we care to look. Families are in crisis and chaos, despair is rampant, children are bewildered at how their world has been turned upside down and parents are at a loss regarding how to explain what is happening. Suicide and marital strife have increased, substance abuse has skyrocketed, and mental illness is on the rise.
America stands poised on the verge of a civil war and George Soros has advised his media army and ANTIFA troops that if they do not win now, the opportunity to impose the New World Order many not come again any time soon. There is talk of the three percenters, those standing in the wings ready to respond to the call to fight for their country should there be an attempt to impose socialism by force. They claim to have an army at the ready as well. All are on high alert, and the tipping point can be anything or nothing at all.
Caught in the middle is the average Joe and Jane, and those without the tools provided by spiritual awareness may believe they are prepared for what lies ahead, but nothing could be further from the truth. This is spiritual warfare, and those not fighting it in the name of Christ the King have no idea what they are fighting for or how to win this war. Listen to what St. Paul tells us about the battle we are fighting and how we must be armed to fight it:
“Be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of his power… Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God).
“By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit; and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints: And for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the gospel. For which I am an ambassador in a chain, so that therein I may be bold to speak according as I ought” (Ephesians 6: 10-19).
These Scripture verses have never been so true for those of us in this country as they are today. It is this armor we so desperately need, not bullet-proof vests, assault weapons or other survival gear. All that will be of no use whatsoever unless their judicious employment is governed by the faith that is in us, the laws of God, and the words of the Gospel. Our faith alone will protect us from the devil, but faith in what and in whom? Only that faith in the Blessed Trinity and the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, as She always existed and will continue to exist in Heaven until the very end. We live in the evil day. And if we wish to stand in all things perfect, we must arm ourselves solely with the truth, as Christ preached it and the Church confirmed it, not someone’s idea of that truth. That truth, Rev. Leo Haydock tells us in his commentary, pertains to doctrine and leading a good life, and in keeping our baptismal promises.
What are our baptismal promises? That we love God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourself. That we keep the commandments, serve God in His Church, and advance in wisdom and perfection. But primarily and most importantly, our baptismal promises are all about renouncing Satan, all his works and all his pomps, We may think that the evils that haunt us now are caused by the principalities and powers, our rulers, and they are. But as Rev. Haydock explains, these people are themselves ruled by the fallen angels, apostates all, and they are now allowed to tempt men. These apostate angels also are the cause of natural disasters and wars. Because the Church no longer visibly exists, God has unleashed his fury on earth and has allowed these evil spirits to rule over the world, since they rejected the King He sent in His only begotten Son.
We must ever be ready to be at peace even with our neighbors who wish to go to war with us; force should be our last resort. This is the Gospel of peace, the combat boots with which we must march in order to fight. Christ did not come to triumph over His enemies by use of the sword, but by spiritual means. Only when these fail must we defend ourselves, for that lively faith which is our shield works only by charity. It is true we may be called to fight God’s war in order to prevent the establishment of that evil system of Socialism condemned by the Church, but in all this we must not forget charity, which banishes any motives of revenge or malice.
We must be praying and watching; praying always that we avoid the evils of sin and resist temptation. Watching over ourselves with great care throughout the day that we not offend God in any way, sanctify all that we do and grow to love Him more and more. Praying especially for the grace of final perseverance, we must be always watchful lest death take us by surprise and rob us of our crown. The following prayer is a great guard against sudden death and a comfort to those who fear they will be deprived of their senses before they leave this earth.
No one knows the day or the hour of our death. We may die in our sleep tonight or during the cataclysms that are approaching. Therefore watch, and replenish your lamps with the oil of prayer, for we know not at what hour the bridegroom cometh.
