BE PREPARED FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
BE PREPARED FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
"Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
"Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.”
"Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
"But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.
"And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out?
"Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
"When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11: 14 - 23).
Today's Scripture points us to reflect on the reality of Spiritual Warfare.
Are you one of those sophisticated "scientific" Christians who despise the reality of demons and spiritual combat?
If you are, think again because you may be in the minority. This is because the Church defines a Catholic as: He who believes in all that is contained in Sacred Scripture and believes everything taught by the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. This includes: The Sacraments, Sacramentals, the Hierarchy, etc.
The Church tesches:
“The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day.” (Cf CCC 409).
From the Christian Tradition, we sample two great spiritual warriors:
St. Padre Pio: "The devil fears hearts on fire with love of God."
St. Teresa of Ávila:
"Great courage is required in spiritual warfare."
The Season of Lent has been known as a Season of Desert Experience by Christians. This is the period when most Christians are severely tested in their walk with Jesus.
From the RCIA, we learn that Catechumens and Candidates are most tempted to leave the Process at this time.
The Church applies the Rite of Exorcism to help all those preparing to enter the Church at Easter Vigil.
How do we protect ourselves from demonic assaults?
The Church emphasizes sacraments, prayer, and virtue to guard against demonic influence.
The Church has also the battle tested weaponry of the Sacramentals.
CCC 1667: "Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy."
CCC 1670 adds that sacramentals prepare us for grace (unlike sacraments, which confer it ex opere operato) through Church prayer, sanctifying nearly every life event via Christ's Paschal Mystery.
Examples of Sacramentals:
Holy water, crucifix, Bible, Holy Rosary, Chaplet, Sign of the Cross, holy Medals and holy pictures.
All the above are sacramentals.
They all belong to the treasury of graces that Jesus bequeathed His Church.
Use them. Put on the full armor of God always.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
Joseph is a man of high purity and chastity. God chose him to be the husband of Mary because God had fitted him with the appropriate graces to protect the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Church considers St Joseph the greatest Saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph is so fittingly named the Patron of the Universal Church. Remember that he was the Guardian of Jesus and in his intercessory role, you can believe that Jesus will deny nothing to Joseph.
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23-Psalm1to2