A Sunday Thought About Waging War During Lent
Lent may be thought of as a time to wage war. Not the sort of war where people get killed or maimed, of course, but war against our faults.
In the Middle Ages, knights fought many private wars. Contrast these with today's wars between nations, and they do seem slight. But people were killed and maimed, and war was in fact a means of settling disputes under the feudal system that organized society at the time. The Church, in her wisdom and compassion, created the Peace of God and the Truce of God to try to limit these wars. The Peace of God forbade violence against those noncombatants who could not defend themselves, for example, the peasants. The Truce of God, developed over centuries, basically said that war was forbidden on certain days (e.g., Sundays, Fridays), and seasons of the year, like Lent.
We're not knights and we don't live in the Middle Ages, and we're not about to march out into the field of battle with our weapons and armor. We are, however, the Church Militant - those who live here and now on earth - and the concept of "militant" ought to be very real and present to us. We fight the battle against sin each day of our lives, and Lent is our time to shine in battle. Given that fact, think again about the fault or faults that you will attack during this holy season to move closer to God and farther away from the devil and his minions.
But having been been roused to our initial enthusiasm as we begin Lent, we veterans of war know that even if we achieve victory in battle, so often we fail to defeat the enemy as we'd wish. We fall. Ultimate victory always seems to escape our grasp. Frustration, even discouragement can settle in. And if it does, our efforts may seem to be in vain. Worse, we may be tempted to just give up, to retreat, even to lay down our arms. Heaven forbid!
So to help us in our struggle, let's turn to Fr. Martial Lekeux, O.F.M., whose wide words will comfort and inspire us to rise up each day and engage the enemy with renewed vigor, most especially during this special time of warfare that is Lent. Father tells us in no uncertain terms:
“No, don’t be dejected over your faults, or your vices. They don’t stand in the way of your sanctification. Look here, if you should die with all your vices intact, and be able to say to Almighty God: ‘I fought. On such and such a day I made this effort, on another day, that effort. I gave my very best,’ you have a right to a crown, and your place in heaven will be higher than that of another who had far fewer difficulties. Our faults shall vanish by themselves at our death. They will not close heaven to us. Only our bad will can do that. ‘If God wishes to subject you to the rudest combats, before subjugating your passions and vices,’ says the venerable Blosius, ‘if He permits you to struggle with these deadly domestic enemies until the very end of your life, then joyfully submit yourself to His holy will. Often He takes more pleasure from the effort you use in acquiring virtue than from the sweetness you experience from having acquired it.”
Father Lekeux has much more to say about this, and we'll bring you more of his wisdom over the next couple of Sundays.
In the Middle Ages, knights fought many private wars. Contrast these with today's wars between nations, and they do seem slight. But people were killed and maimed, and war was in fact a means of settling disputes under the feudal system that organized society at the time. The Church, in her wisdom and compassion, created the Peace of God and the Truce of God to try to limit these wars. The Peace of God forbade violence against those noncombatants who could not defend themselves, for example, the peasants. The Truce of God, developed over centuries, basically said that war was forbidden on certain days (e.g., Sundays, Fridays), and seasons of the year, like Lent.
We're not knights and we don't live in the Middle Ages, and we're not about to march out into the field of battle with our weapons and armor. We are, however, the Church Militant - those who live here and now on earth - and the concept of "militant" ought to be very real and present to us. We fight the battle against sin each day of our lives, and Lent is our time to shine in battle. Given that fact, think again about the fault or faults that you will attack during this holy season to move closer to God and farther away from the devil and his minions.
But having been been roused to our initial enthusiasm as we begin Lent, we veterans of war know that even if we achieve victory in battle, so often we fail to defeat the enemy as we'd wish. We fall. Ultimate victory always seems to escape our grasp. Frustration, even discouragement can settle in. And if it does, our efforts may seem to be in vain. Worse, we may be tempted to just give up, to retreat, even to lay down our arms. Heaven forbid!
So to help us in our struggle, let's turn to Fr. Martial Lekeux, O.F.M., whose wide words will comfort and inspire us to rise up each day and engage the enemy with renewed vigor, most especially during this special time of warfare that is Lent. Father tells us in no uncertain terms:
Comforting indeed! He then goes on to explain:‘GOD DOES NOT ASK YOU TO CONQUER, BUT TO FIGHT.’
“No, don’t be dejected over your faults, or your vices. They don’t stand in the way of your sanctification. Look here, if you should die with all your vices intact, and be able to say to Almighty God: ‘I fought. On such and such a day I made this effort, on another day, that effort. I gave my very best,’ you have a right to a crown, and your place in heaven will be higher than that of another who had far fewer difficulties. Our faults shall vanish by themselves at our death. They will not close heaven to us. Only our bad will can do that. ‘If God wishes to subject you to the rudest combats, before subjugating your passions and vices,’ says the venerable Blosius, ‘if He permits you to struggle with these deadly domestic enemies until the very end of your life, then joyfully submit yourself to His holy will. Often He takes more pleasure from the effort you use in acquiring virtue than from the sweetness you experience from having acquired it.”
Father Lekeux has much more to say about this, and we'll bring you more of his wisdom over the next couple of Sundays.
A Blessed Lent to you all!
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