Spiritual Battle
Fr. Jordi Rivero
In his encyclical on Reparation to the Sacred Heart, Miserentissimus Redemptor, n. 17; May, 1928, Pope Pius XI wrote:
"And thus, even against our will, the thought rises in the mind that now those days draw near of which Our Lord prophesied: 'And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold.
Matt 24:12."
Apostasy 2019
USA-One in five American adults (20%) are Catholic, down
from nearly one in four (24%) just twelve years ago..
Pew Forum
Brazil- In 1970 Catholics were 91.8
percent of the population, while in the 2010 census they were just 64.6
percent, and in next year’s census (2020) it is expected that they will be
less than half.
St. Pope John Paul II ‘This marvelous world—so loved by the Father that he sent his only Son for its salvation—is the theater of a never-ending battle being waged for our dignity and identity as free, spiritual beings. This struggle parallels the apocalyptic combat described in [Revelation 12]. Death battles against Life: a “culture of death” seeks to impose itself on our desire to live, and live to the full. There are those who reject the light of life, preferring “the fruitless works of darkness” (Eph 5:11). Their harvest is injustice, discrimination, exploitation, deceit, violence. In every age, a measure of their apparent success is the death of the Innocents. In our own century, as at no other time in history, the “culture of death” has assumed a social and institutional form of legality to justify the most horrible crimes against humanity: genocide, “final solutions”, “ethnic cleansings”, and the massive “taking of lives of human beings even before they are born, or before they reach the natural point of death”… Vast sectors of society are confused about what is right and what is wrong, and are at the mercy of those with the power to “create” opinion and impose it on others. —Homily, Cherry Creek State Park Homily, Denver, Colorado, August 15th, 1993; vatican.va
“‘Spiritual
combat’ is another element of life which needs to be taught anew
and proposed once more to all Christians today. It is a secret and interior
art, an invisible struggle in which we engage every day against the
temptations, the evil suggestions that the demon tries to plant in our
hearts.” Saint Pope John Paul II, May 25, 2002
"This generation, and many others, have been led to
believe that the devil is a myth, a figure, an idea, the idea of evil... But
the devil exists and we must fight against him." Pope Francis, Halloween
2014
"Your vocation is not a refuge; it is going onto the battlefield, like Moses with his hands raised in prayer as the people fought" Pope Francis>>>
Signs of the times
God gives us signs not to provoke fear or curiosity but so that we can cooperate in His work of redemption and not be fooled by the enemy. Lack of response to the Lord's signs led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world as the Jews knew it. Jesus lamented: (Luke 19:42) "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." Very few listened. The same is true throughout history. Now the Lord is warning us. He wants to prepare a faithful remnant, able to see the truth and fight the battle as Christ's courageous witnesses, without counting the cost.
"To understand the signs of the times means to accept the urgency of penance – of conversion – of faith. This is the correct response to this moment of history, characterized by the grave perils outlined in the images that follow." -Cardinal Ratzinger commenting the Third Part of the Fatima Secret.
Dove released by Pope Francis as sign of peace,
immediately attacked by black hooded crow. Vatican, Jan 26, 2014
"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill- treated, since you also are in the body" (Hebrews 13:3)
Pope Francis: 
"There are more martyrs today than during the early times of the Church... 3/4/2014 Examples
"the number of disciples who shed their blood for Christ in the tragic events of the last century is certainly higher than that of the martyrs of the first centuries... As in the ancient Church the blood of martyrs became the seed of new Christians, so in our day the blood of many Christians has become the seed of unity" 5/8/2014 Source>>>
Pope Francis: "The prohibition against Worshipping God is a sign of a "general apostasy". It tries to convince Christians to take "a more reasonable and peaceful road", by obeying "the tenets of worldly powers" who try to reduce religion to "a private matter". (Pope Francis is here reflecting on the temptations of Christ in the desert (Luke 21:20-28). Note that Peter also tries to convince Jesus to take a more "reasonable" path and Jesus rebukes him.)
Pope Francis continues: "When Jesus speaks of this calamity... he tells us that it will be a profanation of the temple, a profanation of the faith, of the people. It will be an abomination. It will be the abomination of desolation (Dan 9:27). What does this mean? It will appear to be the triumph of the prince of this world, the defeat of God. It will seem, in that final moment of calamity, as though he has taken over the world" and has become "master of the world".
Pope Francis then explained how "this battle between the living God and the prince of this world" can be traced out to the Book of Daniel (6:12-28). "Daniel is condemned only for worshipping, for worshipping God. And the abomination of desolation is called prohibition against worship".
The Pope then explained, "in that time one could not speak about religion: it was a private matter". Religious symbols were removed and taken down, and the people had to obey the orders that came from "worldly powers". The worship of God was forbidden. This was "the kairós of this pagan attitude". But "when this time is fulfilled, then He will come", as we read in the Gospel, "then they will see the Son of man coming in the cloud with power and great glory".
The word of God reminds us, he said, how "Christians that suffer through times of persecution, through times when worship if prohibited, are a prophetic sign of what will happen to everyone". However, precisely in moments such as these, when the times of the pagans are bring fulfilled "raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near".
Yet we should not be afraid, he said. "God asks us for faithfulness and patience. Faithfulness like that of Daniel, who was faithful to his God and who worshipped him to the end. And patience, for every hair on your head is counted, as the Lord has promised".
Pope Francis concluded by inviting those present to reflect on "this general apostasy called the prohibition of worship", and to ask themselves: "do I worship God? do I adore Jesus Christ the Lord? or do I do so by halves and play games with the prince of this world? Worshipping to the very end with trust and fidelity is the grace we should ask". -Homily Nov, 28, 2013 news.va
Martyrdom: the road of Christians
Pope Francis, 5/6/2014 news.va
"the devil cannot abide the Church’s holiness" or the holiness "of a person without reacting. He stirred up hatred in the hearts of those people against Stephen, to persecute him, to revile him, and to utter all kinds of evil against him. Thus they killed Stephen, who "died like Jesus, forgiving"...
"Martyrdom, in the tradition of the Greek word, means witness," the Pope explained. "Thus we can say that the road for a Christian follows in the footsteps of Jesus’ witness, in order to bear witness to him". Many times this witness ultimately leads to the sacrifice of one’s life. In fact, "one cannot understand a Christian without this witness and this testimony".
The central issue is that Christianity is not a religion "only of ideas, of pure theology, of aesthetics, of commandments. We are a people who follow Jesus Christ and bear witness, who want to bear witness to Jesus Christ. And this witness sometimes leads to the giving of one’s life".
...Indeed, the Church "is fruitful and a mother when she bears witness to Jesus Christ. However, when the Church withdraws into herself, when she thinks of herself as a university of religion with many beautiful ideas, with many beautiful places of worship, with many beautiful museums, with many beautiful things, but she does not give testimony, she becomes barren".
... the same reasoning is valid for individual Christians: if "one does not bear witness, one remains sterile, without bearing the life one has received from Jesus Christ".
The Acts of the Apostles emphasizes that "Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit". For indeed, "one cannot bear witness without the presence of the Holy Spirit. In difficult moments, when we must choose the right path, when we must say ‘no’ to many things that perhaps tempt and seduce us, there is the prayer to the Holy Spirit: it is he who strengthens us to follow along this path of witness".
God wants us prepared and responsive
Many ignore the signs arguing that, according to Jesus, we know not the day nor the hour. But not knowing such things calls for even greater watchfulness to the Lord as He unfolds His plans.
St Paul warns us: "When they say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!" (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
A pregnant woman (at least in Christ's time) does not know her hour. She must therefore be attentive to the signs of her pregnancy, even when she has no pain. Christians also must be attentive as the signs of the times unfold so that we can see the "pregnancy" of our times. We are responsible to protect and nourish what God has given us. Jesus is growing in us to continue through us the work of salvation! Perhaps the battle is more dangerous when we think all peaceful and safe. We easily become attached to the world. Beware!
We are good at reading the signs we care about. It can be business or vacation plans. We are attentive and creative to get what we want. Are we attentive to the Lord? Are His plans for us our priority? The Lord tells us: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? (Luke 12:55-56)
The Lord gives us signs through the prophets. Mary visited us in Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima and other places. The teaching of the recent popes is laden with prophetic signs. There are others too. Are we truly listening?
It is hard to respond to God because it requires a radical conversion. We must believe that the Lord will guide us if we persevere seeking discernment. "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22)
We need Community
We need to be part of a faithful Catholic community that exercises the prophetic gift so that we constantly hear the truth and encourage each other in our commitment to fight the spiritual battle. I experience constantly the need for support from my brothers and sisters, not to pamper me but to hold me in love to the truth. They help me with the witness of their lives.
Here is an example: Last night I went to sleep later than I should (I was inspired writing this article). So this morning I was tired. I shut off the alarm and thought about giving myself half an hour more sleep. That would mean being late for my prayer time before Holy Mass. I thought to myself, "I had a bad night and really need to rest". Just at that time I received a text from Maria, a sister of our community: "I will not be able to make it for Mass this morning. My son (5 years old) has been throwing up non-stop. There is vomit everywhere in the twin's room... on the three beds, walls, carpet and floor... I'm washing and cleaning, including both twins, since 5:30AM. So I'm late taking the girls to school. Im taking the boys with me (with a bucket and towel for emergencies). In spite of the mess and inconvenience we are fine!". Needless to say, I was convicted and went to my prayer time! Here I was, writing about the spiritual battle, and I was failing to apply it to my concrete circumstance of today!
This morning in the Gospel, the Lord makes clear how we are to face the battle: "...if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. "For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." (Mark 9:43-50)
Yes, we need to be salted by fire, we need to be shaken up. We need brothers and sisters in community to help us fix our eyes on the Lord and see the truth about ourselves.
Let us not kid ourselves, the battle is great and we are far from having the heart of Jesus. Look at how He faced the battle: "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! (Luke 12:49-50). Christ's baptism is the Cross. In community we must help each other to the Cross. It serves to purify us as we commit to live the narrow path, to be "salted with fire" by suffering the sins of others as Jesus did for us.
"Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."(Luke 12:51-53)
Prophecies received in our Community
The Lord has been giving us words in our Love Crucified Community about very difficult times ahead. I have not made them public until now because I felt they would cause controversy. But when Lourdes sent me the last message from the Lord yesterday, somehow another prophecy from 2012 jumped into the screen of my computer next to it. I felt that it was time to publish both.
The Time is at Hand
2-25-2014
The time is at hand when all will be called to suffer persecution for My sake. This time of persecution will divide My followers into two camps: those with Me and those against Me. Few will remain with Me in the time of the great tribulation. You, My little ones, are being prepared for this time. Your lives lived in humility and purity of heart united to Me will be the light in this darkness. Your lives hidden and transformed in My crucified love will usher in the New Pentecost for the world. My hidden force of spiritual mothers as one with My Mother of Sorrows will raise up God's army of holy priests for the decisive battle to be waged against the principalities of darkness. Your mission is to raise up and form many victim souls for these decisive times, for the battle will be won through the power of the Cross. My hidden martyrs of love is the power of God to wage this war against the principalities of death. Do not be afraid to speak from the house tops what I speak to you in the hiddenness of your heart. I am making all things new through My hidden victims of purified love. Be steadfast as the one chosen by God to hold the sword of His mission. Trust and suffer all with patient endurance.
10/20/2012
"I have formed you, trained you, dressed you to be My prophets of light to warn and awaken My people before the horrible day of judgment comes down upon you. There will be wailing, groaning and grinding of teeth in your streets. The darkness of evil will cover you. Be prepared when these things happen that I speak to you about. Do not let the thief catch you unprepared. Believe, you are My people, My little ones, held in the Father's palm. Believe that I am one with you, the Light in the world, My living hosts. Believe, so that My Light can shine through you to penetrate the darkness consuming the world. Believe in the Power of God working through His hidden force. Love and continue to suffer ALL, as one with Me in My sacrifice of love, to enter prepared with God's armor the fiercest battle that is at hand. Do not be ashamed of My words (Mark 8:38) and share the treasure of Heaven that has been entrusted to you (The Simple Path to Union) with many. Complete My Path and as My Heralds of Hope teach it from the housetops. This is your mission. Respond with great zeal and courage of heart, as My warriors of love, for these decisive times."
A faithful Remnant of victims of love will attain the victory
As He has been in the past, the Lord is raising up His faithful remnant who will give their lives to Him and thus continue His mission. These are His hidden force of victims of love. They live, not according to their own ways, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. They are a small but powerful army who will overcome the forces of the world with the power of love, which is the power of the cross. They will propitiate a new Pentecost and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
All Christians are called to be martyrs. This is what the Church teaches us! See:"Be Martyrs". Their testimony is not just a distant inspiration. It is for us to live it now:
The words of St Cyprian, martyred in the III century, are true today:
"We are now threatened by a fight, harder and more fierce, to which the soldiers of Christ must prepare with an incorrupt faith and robust virtue, considering that this is why they drink daily the chalice of the Blood of Christ, to be themselves able to pour the Blood of Christ". -Letter 58 n.1Words of wisdom about our times from popes and other reliable sources.
They help us interpret present events in light of the faith. Our world is turning rapidly against Christianity (see: How a_Subculture_Brainwashed_America). We must live our vocation with all our hearts!
Blessed Virgin MaryTo Mariana de Jesús, Quito, Mary spoke 400 years ago and described what is now taking place: abandonment of the sacraments, attack on marriage and priesthood... and the final triumph >>>Fatima message: …Russia will spread her errors throughout the world causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world. The Third Secret of Fatima is an illustration of the spiritual battle and the final triumph of Christ with the victims of love who are one with Him. More on
Akita message, October 13, 1973 (56th anniv. of Fatima's miracle of the Sun""As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests."
"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres…churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.
"The demon will be especially implacable against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them"
"With courage, speak to your superior. He will know how to encourage each one of you to pray and to accomplish works of reparation."
Cuapa, Nicaragua message 1980
Pray, pray, my son, the Rosary for all the world. Tell
believers and non-believers that the world is threatened by grave dangers. I
ask the Lord to appease His justice, but, it you don't change, you
will hasten the arrival of the Third World War.
MORE POPES
Leo XIII:
"To withdraw in face of the enemy or to be silent when everywhere an incessant clamor is raised to oppress the truth is an attitude of men who are cowards or insecure about the truth they profess. Cowardice and doubt are contrary to the salvation of the individual and the security of the common good and useful only to the enemies of Christianity, for the cowardice of the good encourages the audacity of the wicked. The Christian is born to fight"
Vision of Pope Leo XIII:
Source of the St. Michael prayer.According to the testimony of Fr. Domenico Pachenino: "I do not remember the exact year. One morning the great Pope Leo XIII had celebrated a Mass and, as usual, was attending a Mass of thanksgiving. Suddenly, we saw him raise his head and stare at something above the celebrant's head. He was staring motionlessly, without batting an eye. His expression was one of horror and awe; the color and look on his face changing rapidly. Something unusual and grave was happening in him.
"Finally, as though coming to his senses, he lightly but firmly tapped his hand and rose to his feet. He headed for his private office. His retinue followed anxiously and solicitously, whispering: 'Holy Father, are you not feeling well? Do you need anything?' He answered: 'Nothing, nothing.' About half an hour later, he called for the Secretary of the Congregation of Rites and, handing him a sheet of paper, requested that it be printed and sent to all the ordinaries around the world. What was that paper? It was the prayer that we recite with the people at the end of every Mass. It is the plea to Mary and the passionate request to the Prince of the heavenly host, (St. Michael: Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle) beseeching God to send Satan back to hell."
According to the same article, Cardinal Giovanni Nasalli Rocca di Corneliano wrote that Leo XIII truly saw, in a vision, demonic spirits who were congregating on the Eternal City (Rome). The prayer that he asked all the Church to recite was the fruit of that experience. He would recite that prayer with strong, powerful voice: we heard it many a time in the Vatican Basilica. Leo XIII also personally wrote an exorcism that is included in the Roman Ritual. He recommended that bishops and priests read these exorcisms often in their dioceses and parishes. He himself would recite them often throughout the day."[13] Source: Roman Journal Ephemerides Liturgicae, 1955 (V. LXIX, pages 54–60), quotes an article in another Italian journal called La Settimana del Clero in 1947 by Fr. Domenico Pechenino who worked at the Vatican during the time of Leo XIII.>>>
Prayer to Saint Michael: Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host--by the Divine Power of God--cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits, who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
St. John Paul II referred to the St Michael prayer in his Regina Coeli address of 24 April 1994 as follows: "May prayer strengthen us for the spiritual battle that the Letter to the Ephesians speaks of: 'Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might' (Ephesians 6:10). The Book of Revelation refers to this same battle, recalling before our eyes the image of St Michael the Archangel (cf. Revelation 12:7). Pope Leo XIII certainly had this picture in mind when, at the end of the last century, he brought in, throughout the Church, a special prayer to St Michael: 'Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil...' Although this prayer is no longer recited at the end of Mass, I ask everyone not to forget it and to recite it to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world."
Vatican II
Rebellion against Pope Paul VI's teaching about sexuality.
His encyclical Humanae Vitae, July 25, 1968, was a stand for the sacredness of sexuality. The pope warned about the consequences of contraception, such as the breakdown of marriage and family, but was met with a large rebellion within the Church. History proved him to be prophetic, even though few recognize it.
St. John Paul II: "This [culture of death] is actively fostered by powerful cultural, economic and political currents which encourage an idea of society excessively concerned with efficiency. Looking at the situation from this point of view, it is possible to speak in a certain sense of a war of the powerful against the weak: a life which would require greater acceptance, love and care is considered useless, or held to be an intolerable burden, and is therefore rejected in one way or another. A person who, because of illness, handicap or, more simply, just by existing, compromises the well-being or life-style of those who are more favored, tends to be looked upon as an enemy to be resisted or eliminated. In this way a kind of "conspiracy against life" is unleashed". -Evangelium Vitae, n. 12
Card. Karol Wojtyla, 1976
St. John Paul II, then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla:
"We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel versus the anti-Gospel.
"We must be prepared to undergo great trials in the not-too-distant future; trials that will require us to be ready to give up even our lives, and a total gift of self to Christ and for Christ. Through your prayers and mine, it is possible to alleviate this tribulation, but it is no longer possible to avert it. . . .How many times has the renewal of the Church been brought about in blood! It will not be different this time."
– To USA bishops, 1976. Reprinted Wall Street Journal Nov. 9, 1978
The papal nuncio quoted the above message in a meeting of bishops of the USA in 2014 thus reminding them of the gravity of our times.
St. John Paul II:
This struggle parallels the apocalyptic combat described in Rev 11:19 - 12:1-6. Death battles against Life: a "culture of death" seeks to impose itself on our desire to live, and live to the full… Vast sectors of society are confused about what is right and what is wrong, and are at the mercy of those with the power to "create" opinion and impose it on others… In our own century, as in no other time in history, the culture of death has assumed a social and institutional form of legality to justify the most horrible crimes against humanity: genocide. "final solutions", "ethnic cleansings" and the massive taking of lives of human beings even before they are born, or before they reach the natural point of death. The "dragon" (Rev 12:3), the "ruler of this world" (Jn 12:31) and the "father of lies" (Jn 8:44), relentlessly tries to eradicate from human hearts the sense of gratitude and respect for the original extraordinary and fundamental gift of God: human life itself. Today that struggle has become increasingly direct. —Denver, Colorado, 1993
Benedict XVI:
"Truly the world is dark wherever men and women no longer acknowledge their bond with the Creator and thereby endanger their relation to other creatures and to creation itself. The present moment is sadly marked by a profound disquiet and the various crises --economic, political and social-- are a dramatic expression of this". -Ben XVI, to the Vatican Diplomatic Corps, Jan 9, 2012
Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI), in a 1958 lecture titled “The New Pagans and the Church”, stated the Church “is no longer, as she once was, a Church composed of pagans who have become Christians, but a Church of pagans, who still call themselves Christians, but actually have become pagans.”
(3 practices of pagan life: elimination of children, sexuality promiscuity, and divorce.)
Benedict XVI on Catholic laity
"Here once more we see the need for an engaged, articulate, and well-formed Catholic laity . . . with the courage to counter a reductive secularism which would de-legitimize the Church’s participation in public debate about the issues which are determining the future of American society. The preparation of committed lay leaders and the presentation of a convincing articulation of the Christian vision of man and society remain a primary task of the Church in your country."The Church must be Militant to overcome evil
Pope Benedict XVI -May 22, 2012
Today the word ecclesia militans is somewhat out of fashion, but in reality we can understand ever better that it is true, that it bears truth in itself. We see how evil wishes to dominate the world and that it is necessary to enter into battle with evil. We see how it does so in so many ways, bloody, with the different forms of violence, but also masked with goodness and precisely this way destroying the moral foundations of society.
Evil will not prevail (Non praevalebunt)
- Benedict XVI, June, 29, 2012
In today’s Gospel there emerges powerfully the clear promise made by Jesus: "the gates of the underworld", that is, the forces of evil, will not prevail, "non praevalebunt". One is reminded of the account of the call of the prophet Jeremiah, to whom the Lord said, when entrusting him with his mission: "Behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you - non praevalebunt -, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you!" (Jer 1:18-19). In truth, the promise that Jesus makes to Peter is even greater than those made to the prophets of old: they, indeed, were threatened only by human enemies, whereas Peter will have to be defended from the "gates of the underworld", from the destructive power of evil. Jeremiah receives a promise that affects him as a person and his prophetic ministry; Peter receives assurances concerning the future of the Church, the new community founded by Jesus Christ, which extends to all of history, far beyond the personal existence of Peter himself. The Church is not a community of the perfect, but a community of sinners, obliged to recognize their need for God’s love, their need to be purified through the Cross of Jesus Christ. God’s power is love, the love that shines forth from Calvary. Hence we can also understand why, in the Gospel account, Peter’s confession of faith is immediately followed by the first prediction of the Passion: through his death, Jesus conquered the powers of the underworld, with his blood he poured out over the world an immense flood of mercy, which cleanses the whole of humanity in its healing waters.
Benedict XVI
"God, who became a lamb, tells us that the world is saved by the Crucified One, not by those who crucified him… Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves." - Inaugural homily, April 24, 2005.
Cardinal Piacenza
The Church is able to resist every attack, all the assaults that political, economic and cultural powers can unleash against her, but she cannot resist the danger that comes from forgetting this word of Jesus: "You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world." Jesus himself indicates the consequence of this forgetfulness: "But if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?" (cf. Matthew 5:13-14)
-Oct 4, 2011, source
We are in a battle
Archbishop Chaput, of Philadelphia:
"I think it's important to understand the we are in a battle, we really do live in a time of spiritual combat and I think we've lost that sense of the Church,"
He continued with a comparison of the temptation we face to be like "everyone else" like the Israelites from the Old Testament wishing for a king like the other nations. They wanted a king ... they got Saul and he was a good man, and then he became a politician and he lost his faith. We're just like that."
"In America, we don't want to be different than our Protestant brothers and sisters, or the secular forces around us. And, I think that's the great danger of our time, we don't love God enough and we don't enter into combat with the enemy enough and we need to recommit ourselves to doing that," the Archbishop of Denver urged.
"So, those kind of basic human values, the value of chastity and the value of family life are popularly seen as 'old fashioned' because of the lies, because of the deceptions of the Evil One. Even Catholics are afraid of standing up for the truth because we're afraid of being branded 'old-fashioned.'"
Prepare for persecution
Cardinal George of Chicago
Bishop Jenky speaks of the present persecution against the Church
Peter Kreeft
"The road from Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained is soaked in blood. At the very center of the story is a cross, a symbol of conflict if there ever was one. The theme of spiritual warfare is never absent in scripture, and never absent in the life and writings of a single saint." - full article
Truth
There is a crisis of truth. The rebellion against God is presented as a declaration of "rights". The Church is accused of imposing her morality upon others. The Church cannot impose but must speak the truth and teach about its consequences. Those who accuse her are themselves imposing lies.
St. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, n. 58
Truth does not depend on consensus -Benedict XVI
The Church… intends to continue to raise her voice in defense of mankind, even when policies of States and the majority of public opinion moves in the opposite direction. Truth, indeed, draws strength from itself and not from the amount of consent it arouses. -March 20, 2006
Only if there is such a consensus on the essentials can constitutions and law function. -Benedict XVI
This fundamental consensus derived from the Christian heritage is at risk… In reality, this makes reason blind to what is essential. To resist this eclipse of reason and to preserve its capacity for seeing the essential, for seeing God and man, for seeing what is good and what is true, is the common interest that must unite all people of good will. The very future of the world is at stake. -Address to the Roman Curia, December 20, 2010
The eclipse of reason which Pope Benedict saw is rapidly overshadowing the world. Once truth is discarded society disintegrates. Marriage and the family are in crisis everywhere.
Living within the Truth -Archbishop Chaput
-Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, message from April 12, 1820. "I had another vision of the great tribulation… It seems to me that a concession was demanded from the clergy that could not be granted. I saw many older priests, especially one, who wept bitterly. A few younger ones were also weeping… It was as if people were splitting into two camps."
Jesus to St. Faustina
My daughter, I want to teach you about spiritual warfare. Never trust in yourself, but abandon yourself totally to My will. In desolation, darkness and various doubts, have recourse to Me and to your spiritual director. He will always answer you in My name.
Do not bargain with any temptation; lock yourself immediately in My Heart and, at the first opportunity, reveal the temptation to the confessor.
Put your self-love in the last place, so that it does not taint your deeds. Bear with yourself with great patience.
Do not neglect interior mortifications. Always justify to yourself the opinions of your superiors and of your confessor. Shun murmurers like a plague. Let all act as they like; you are to act as I want you to....If someone causes you trouble, think what good you can do for the person who caused you to suffer. Do not pour out your feelings. Be silent when you are rebuked.
Do not ask everyone's opinion, but only the opinion of your confessor; be as frank and simple as a child with him.
Do not become discouraged by ingratitude.
Do not examine with curiosity the roads down which I lead you. When boredom and discouragement beat against your heart, run away from yourself and hide in My heart.
Do not fear struggle; courage itself often intimidates temptations, and they dare not attack us. Always fight with the deep conviction that I am with you.
Do not be guided by feeling, because it is not always under your control; but all merit lies in the will. Always depend upon your superiors, even in the smallest things. I will not delude you with prospects of peace and consolations; on the contrary prepare for great battles.
Know that you are now on a great stage where all heaven and earth are watching you. Fight like a knight, so that I can reward you. Do not be unduly fearful, because you are not alone.
(Diary #1760)
Religious liberty. The U.S. bishops have issued a call to action to defend religious liberty and urged laity to work to protect the First Freedom of the Bill of Rights. They outlined their position in "Our First, Most Cherished Liberty." The document can be found at usccb.org.
Freedom of Worship is not the same as freedom of religion. The first recognizes the right to worship God, the second recognizes the right to speak and act according to the principles of religion.
Treatise on the Seven Spiritual WeaponsSt. Catherine of Bologna teaches that to combat evil it is necessary:
-Recommended by Benedict XVI at audiences Dec 29, 2010
(1) to be careful always to do good;
(2) to believe that we can never achieve anything truly good by ourselves;
(3) to trust in God and, for His love, never to fear the battle against evil, either in the world or in ourselves;
(4) to meditate frequently on the events and words of Jesus' life, especially His passion and death;
(5) to remember that we must die;
(6) to keep the benefits of heaven firmly in our minds,
(7) to be familiar with Holy Scripture, keeping it in our hearts to guide all our thoughts and actions".
Revelations (13:3-4) tells us that, fascinated, the whole world followed after the beast. They worshiped the dragon because it gave its authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast and said, “Who can compare with the beast or who can fight against it.”
The Son through the Mother, the Mediatrix of All Graces, will give strength to the warrior’s right arm. But the man will wield the sword, not some angel. When there are enough right arms, strong in grace, the Mystical Body will be an irresistible fighting unit, spiritually armed and operating as one, able to overcome all those forces in the world that the devil can muster against it. >>>
Jesus to St Faustina on Spiritual-Warfare
Demons attack saints but are vanquished by the power of love.
The Future of the Church -Cardinal Ratzinger
Our Quest for God is Opposed by World -Pope Gregory the Great
Weak Faith Cannot Compete with Modern Idolatry -Archbishop Chaput
Catholics reject morality -Cardinal Dolan, 2012
The winning strategy -Peter Kreeft
The End of the Present World -Book loved by St Therese of Lesieux
The Church in Crisis -Ralph Marti