by Brother Augustine,
Knights of the Holy Eucharist
We are at war. This war, which has been going on for millennia, is a war between two great cities, the City of God and the City of the World, between those who follow the spirit of the world and the Spirit of God.
It seems that one side has the upper hand in this age, that we are in an age dominated by the City of the World and that it stands on the verge of triumph. Many Christians feel alone and disempowered. However, we are not alone, nor are we powerless! We have Christ. We need not be afraid in the face of challenges, for He has already overcome the world (cf. Jn. 16:33).
We as soldiers in the Church Militant have no reason to be overwhelmed by the enemy. We are not sent to battle unarmed and unsupplied. We already have in our hands the means to attain victory. And, with the coming of “covidtide,” we have more time to assess our weapons and their condition.
The first of these weapons is the sacraments. They are absolutely essential to enter into and to maintain the spiritual life. We should partake of them as frequently as we can. The Eucharist is the “bread” we need for the long, hard march to victory, and Reconciliation is the field hospital for our spiritual wounds. These sacraments enable us to go into battle well fed and healthy rather than hungry and wounded.
Our second weapon is the Holy Bible. The Bible is the history and the plan of victory given to us by our Holy King through the inspired authors. It reminds us that Christ is already victorious and has conquered death. Additionally, we can see those who have gone before and use their examples to inspire and warn us.
A third tool is the Magisterium. It is composed of the college of bishops of the Church acting in union with the pope, who act as the field officers to the army of God. By our obedience we are furthering the cause of victory.
Last but not least is prayer. Prayer is the raising of the mind and heart to God, and it is essential for the life of any Christian. Prayer, while difficult, is both a pleasure and a privilege. What people have a god as close to them as we do (cf. Deut. 4:7-8)? We are given the gift of conversing with the living God. In what other army can any soldier converse with the head of state?
Prayer is our first line of defense in the spiritual battle. Yet it seems to be most often neglected. Prayer is where souls are won and lost. That is why St. Francis, among others, used military imagery to describe the life of his Order. It is why we Knights wear a rosary on our hip. It is our sword in the spiritual combat. We are behind enemy lines and must be ready to do battle constantly or be carried away as prisoners.
That is why this time of lockdown is not only a time of hardship, but also an opportunity. It is a great time to enter into true silence—to put away our phones, put the tablet down, turn off the computer, and pray. This time of silence and solitude is a perfect time to build up our spiritual muscles for the spiritual battle.
Some may find it difficult to pray for a variety of reasons. Not to worry... everyone starts somewhere. As mentioned earlier, prayer is not the mere recitation of words but the raising of the mind and heart to God. It is conversing with the Almighty in our hearts. The idea of having a conversation with God may sound daunting. But He makes it simple for us, and if we persevere, He will do all the heavy lifting.
It is best to start small. Don’t expect to become a master of prayer and contemplation overnight. You can start by telling God about your day, good and bad, and thanking Him for the good He has done for you. An easy acronym to use in prayer is A.C.T.S. It stands for the four kinds of prayer: adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication.
First, praise God for who He is and all His wonderful attributes. Then express sorrow for your sins and ask for His forgiveness; next, give God thanks for all He has done. Lastly, ask Him for your needs and requests. This is the order of priority, but it is not required to pray in this order—it is meant to be a helpful guideline.
Additionally, there are more meditative prayers such as the rosary, chaplets, and the use of Scripture in meditation (Lectio Divina). This is a deepening of the conversation with God. These are more about the meditative style of prayer, concentrating the intellect on a particular mystery of God. A good place to start is to focus on the mysteries of the Incarnation. Lastly, there is contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer is the deepest form of prayer and is a direct heart-to-heart with God. (This would require an article all its own.)
Each of these forms of prayer helps us to become stronger in spirit and, by the grace of God, more capable of resisting our enemy. The arena of prayer is where our victory is won, not just in the case of individuals but in the world. It isn’t just in the voting booth or on the battlefield that the fate of nations is decided. It is decided in prayer rooms and kitchens, at bedsides and in pews. Remember, the fight we have is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers (Eph. 6:11-13). Our victory over the City of the World will not ultimately be a triumph of a national movement or military conquest. It is in the salvation of souls, in our neighbors becoming co-heirs of eternal life. Let us be like St. Francis, joyfully taking up spiritual arms and doing battle for our Heavenly King, so that we might share in His Eternal Life.
