Reemergence of the Church Militant: HHS Mandate Calls us to Spiritual Battle

By Deacon Keith Fournier
7/23/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.(Eph. 6:11,12)

"We see evil wants to rule the world and it is necessary to go into battle against evil. We like it does in so many ways, bloody, with various forms of violence, but also disguised with good and thus destroying the moral foundations of society" (Pope Benedict XVI) Most of us could not have foreseen this turn of events just a few years ago. Oh, we knew the culture was decaying and we were doing all we could to not only stem the tide but effect its renewal. However, now we find Catholic Colleges and other institutions, which so clearly serve the common good, having to find "safe harbors" to win more time to fight the unjust actions of an American Administration.

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VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - As the August 1, 2012 date for the initial implementation requirements of the HHS mandate draws closer, an opinion from the Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly the Alliance Defense Fund) is advising Catholic Colleges of a "temporary one year safe harbor" which might enable some non-profits to delay the consequences of non-compliance for one year.

The details were contained in an opinion from legal counsel which can be read in its entirety here. This opinion was sent to that outstanding guardian of Catholic identity at Catholic Colleges, the Cardinal Newman Society, one of many great resources marshaled together for the struggle ahead.

The lawsuits filed by numerous Catholic Colleges and institutions have revealed a silver lining in the cloud of this repression - the emergence of an unparalleled cooperation among Christians, Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic, in defending religious freedom.

On Wednesday, July 18, 2012, the evangelical Protestant College filed a lawsuit adding their resistance to the growing resistance forged by this unjust mandate which violates the Free Exercise of religion. The suit was filed by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and can be read in its entirety here.

However, what is becoming increasingly clear is that we are living under an ominous cloud of oppression. At its center are the unconstitutional actions of a Federal Administration which is growing increasingly hostile to the Catholic Church - as she seeks to be faithful to her mandate to proclaim and live the fullness of the Gospel in a Nation which she has served so well since its founding.

Most of us could not have foreseen this turn of events just a few years ago. Oh, we knew the culture was decaying and we were doing all we could to not only stem the tide but help to effect its renewal. However, now we find Catholic Colleges and other institutions, which so clearly serve the common good, having to find "safe harbors" to win more time to fight the unjust actions of an American Administration.

I contend that no matter what happens as this all unfolds, it is challenging us to deeper prayer, reflection, preparation and reasoned action. We need to relearn how to live in spiritual battle mode. This is a part of a larger intense spiritual warfare which we must understand properly if we hope to properly participate in.

On Monday, May 21, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI held a luncheon with members of the College of Cardinals. His purpose was to thank them for their kindness in wishing him a Happy 85th Birthday on April 16, 2012. In addition, he wanted to thank his friends for wishing him a happy seventh anniversary of his election to the Chair of Peter on April 19, 2012.

Vatican News reported that the Holy Father reminded his brothers upon whom he relies upon for advice and counsel that "The Church, the Mystical Body, exists on this earth, and is called the Church militant, because its members struggle against the world, the flesh and the devil."

In what was reported to have been a warm yet quite candid luncheon, Pope Benedict XVI shared many of his moments of joy during his apostolic ministry as the successor of Peter, as well as insights into the struggles. European sources indicate that the Pope told the Cardinals,

"(I) especially thank the Lord for many years has given me, years with many days of joy, wonderful times, but also dark nights. But in retrospect it is understood that the nights were necessary and good."

"We see evil wants to rule the world and it is necessary to go into battle against evil. We (see) it does in so many ways, bloody, with various forms of violence, but also disguised with good and thus destroying the moral foundations of society."

"We're in this fight and (in) this fight it is very important to have friends. I am surrounded by friends of the College of Cardinals: they are my friends and I feel at home, I feel safe in the company of great friends who are with me, together."

The use of the phrase "Church Militant" for the Church on the earth used to be very common in the Catholic Church. However, for lots of reasons, including a possible misunderstanding of the term, the term has fallen out of use since the Second Vatican Council.

In 1953, the Pope who had led the Church through two decades of darkness in a world besieged by war, Pope Pius XII stated, "We belong to the Church militant; and She is militant because on ...

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1 - 10 of 20 Comments

JoAnn
9 months ago
Judy: The method I am using does not require me to contact each person. There is a link on line that one can utilize. If you go to Wallbuilders.org., it will give you the information on how to do it. After you get into the link, find Wallbuilders - Register to vote and click on it and follow the instructions. God bless.
Rob
9 months ago
Well said Bill. Great post.
Judy Claar
9 months ago
Jo Ann, I think that that is a brilliant idea! providing you've checked with your parish priest and have permission. I think I personally might be wary w/o permission. I am glad you are active and have so much determination. After all, to get votes for Romney is, doing a service for the Church as well, to my knowledge. Godspeed!
Bill Sr.
9 months ago
Rob is right. There needs to be
An Invitation

It is sad to know that many Christians either dismiss entirely the notion of "sainthood" or find it difficult to incorporate into their spiritual life the communion of saints and their value to the universal Christian church. I don't know that you can be Christian and not believe that the human soul is eternal. If it is eternal then its status in life and after death, especially to those who knew and loved the person, becomes an important concern.
We know that this life of ours is but for a season and how we live and share it with others is of "eternal consequence" for the body and soul which envelops it. This is why it is so important that as parents we honor our obligation to instill deeply within the hearts and minds of our children those very first two rules of the catechism to know and to love God. Children without a true understanding of their heavenly father and why they were created have little hope to perform the third rule of Christian life, to serve Him. Hopefully our little children might develop the perspective that life was a playground where we sinners could train ourselves to become saints. The games or activities didn’t matter that much, only active loving participation and service at all times and a willingness to assist anyone needing help achieving the goals designed for us by our heavenly Father.
As grown ups we become so entrenched in our often drab day to day existence by the requirements of producing and providing that we forget that we too are children, God's children. We look at our children playing and think of how "worry free" they are since we have taken on all their cares for them. We forget that Our Father through the Holy Spirit has lovingly provided our Lord Jesus who invites us to place our cares and worries upon him so that we too enjoy freedom to become children of God, His saints. It has been said that a saint is someone who deep within his heart believes God loves him and offers him eternal life through Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection and desires to use their life to witness, inform and assure others of the same truth about themselves. It's that simple.
So, who are the saints? They are people like you and me who believe and hope in their Creator and begin their heaven here on earth living Christ's prayerful request by helping build thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven. We all have an invitation to sainthood and can respond according to our own abilities, gifts, and station in life willingly in the name of Jesus who relieves our burdens and has freed our spirits to be among the saints.
Hopefully many of us will be among that "great number which no man could count" spoken of in Revelations which will eternally be the "communion of saints:.

Father God, we pray that we can rejoice fully in the world as children of light and holiness so men can witness and know the truth of your merciful love and accept Jesus as their personal savior through and within the eternal "one body of Christ".
Yes, all are personally welcomed to the community of saints, here, now, and forever!
Rob
9 months ago
Theresa, you are exactly right. We must live our faith and evangelize, evangelize and evengelize. The church is a place for the spirtually sick. Our problem is that we've left the sick where they are. I'm sorry folks, but a lawsuit or even a change in President isn't going to cause conversion (well maybe it will). It's going to take one soul at a time. It's going to take us getting off our rear and leading people to Christ. Inviting, not showing the door. God will never force us and thank God he always invites. We are way too quick to want to show people the door. I sometimes wonder, as St. Paul says, if they are the thorn in our side that isn't going anywhere....my grace is sufficient for you.
Theresa H
9 months ago
Yes, we are in a terrible "battle" today because we have become "wimpy" Catholics. We started denying there was anything to "fight" for in the 1960's and the "evil one" detected our weakness.... Many of us began embracing the "culture of death" and "hedonism" right alongside "the world" when over-the-counter contraceptives came on the scene and we fought Pope Paul VI! Now we have two generations of largely un-catechized Catholics. I read (and have re-read to friends) those paragraphs from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's Book that Deacon Keith quotes (which Cardinal R. actually gave as radio addresses in 1969-1970--over 40 years ago!). It is a small book of just 115 pgs.--but a HUGE eye-opener! Well worth the read.... I started saying the Prayer to St.Michael every day after I read this book.... Remember how we used to say this prayer a long time ago after Mass every Sunday? It reminded us of what it says in the Bible: "The life of man upon earth is a warfare."
JoAnn
9 months ago
Dear Friends: There is something more active that we all can do. Did you know that 33% of conservatives are not even registered to vote. What I am doing, (I'm not boasting) just want to tell you about something I decided to do. I'm sure all of you have parrish directories. I'm checking to see if there is anyone in may parrish that is not registered to vote. If I find some, I contact them and see if I can't pursuade them to register so that they can vote in November. If anyone has any other ideas, I would like to hear them. I know we are all praying but I remember something my mother used to tell me long ago. "God helps those that help themselves." What do you think? God bless.
Judy Claar
9 months ago
Tom Lynn: I am sure it would! Blessings...
Tom Lynn
9 months ago
1. Purify the Church by excommunicating all 'Catholic' legislators who voted for this law;
2. Excommunicate Katherine Sebelius;
3. Begin shutting down first:
a. Catholic colleges and Universities; then
b. Catholic High Schools;
c. Catholic adoption agencies(just like Catholic Charities in Boston, when forced to either
close their doors or place children with homosexual couples);
d. Catholic hospitals;
e. Catholic nursing homes.

The pressure which these actions would bring on society would force an immediate legislative reversal of this God-forsaken law.
gfgrosek
9 months ago
Get angry and fight----that is the American way. We all want our neighbors to act like followers of Christ. The best use of our resourses and time and prayers is to spread the Good News of God's Kingdom and get our neighbors sitting next to us in church.

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