We need to pray … YES!!  But, even more than that, we need SAINTS!!

Our world needs saints right now. Evil people are being aggressively evil, while far too many are not “aggressively saintly.” As a result, evil is moving unabated in our times. We are down to less than 25% of Catholics practicing their faith in America. In France and many parts of Europe, it is less than 10%. What “force” will keep evil at bay? What force will convert evil to good?

In all of human history we have never witnessed evil promoted so effectively, while virtue, character, and morals are roundly mocked and rejected. Meanwhile, it could be said that we have never been so unprepared for and unengaged in the challenging mission of spiritual warfare. It is obvious that Satan’s forces are well-trained, well-organized and highly motivated, while ours clearly are not. At the very beginnings of our great nation, Sir Edmund Burke warned, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

The unfortunate reality is that the modern campaign of militant secular indoctrination has been so severe that only a dwindling number remains who believes or trusts in God’s supernatural power. As a result, the spiritual hearts of many are reduced to the size of a thimble, only capable of receiving a few meager drops, if any, from the wellspring of God’s graces (Rev 22:1-2). In spiritual terms, this makes us puny and scrawny rather than strong and powerful mighty warriors ready to confront the powers of darkness in the heavenly realm. With so many modernized Christians ignoring the reality of God’s grace, it is no wonder that evil is thriving in our day.

 

Deus Vult! Deus Vult!

Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade in 1095 with the primary goal of the Christian re-conquest of the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. So great was the pope’s speech in Clermont, France, on that day that the crowd was inspired to cry out: “Deus Vult! Deus Vult!” (“It is the will of God! It is the will of God!”). This became the battle cry of brave and noble knights who sought to recover that holy ground.

In our vastly secularized modern world, the need has never been greater to reclaim the surrendered ground of the sacred. While it was nearly a millennium ago that Pope Urban II challenged would-be warriors to “reclaim the sacred,” in our day it was St. Pope John Paul II, in his January 6, 2000, Apostolic Letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte, who made his clarion call for us to put aside all fear and pursue daring apostolic goals, which are rooted deeply in prayer.

The spiritual devastation of the last half of the twentieth century compelled Pope John Paul II to draw up his master plan for the new millennium. Thus, he called for pastoral initiatives that would focus on “Training in Holiness” and “Schools of Prayer.” St. Francis of Assisi affirms this training in holiness as the fundamental starting point: “Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.”

 

Chase Perfection, Catch Excellence!

The rallying cry as we enter into this training in holiness — “Chase Perfection, Catch Excellence!” — comes from legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s quote: “Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” Of course Lombardi, a daily Mass goer, was himself inspired by the very words of Christ: “Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).

As saints in training, we not only tap into the heart of living, but we are given the capacity to inspire other souls to engage this raison d’être … the very reason for existence! There is no other real answer to the horror of emboldened evil in our times … we simply must grow an army of saints!!

 

54 Day Basic Training in Holiness

The newly published handbook for this training is called the 54 Day Basic Training in Holiness. The daily reflections in this handbook are this basic training. Drawing from the truths found in the Holy Scriptures, the saints, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the first 27 days focus upon the qualities of excellence toward which we are all called to strive. The second 27 days contain excerpts from the Church Militant Field Manual: Special Forces Training for the Life in Christ.

St. Paul reminds us that we are not entering this battle unaided, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Cor 10:4). This is why we are employing the very powerful 54 Day Rosary Novena as we embrace this imperative challenge. “With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). We simply must call upon the power of God if we ever hope to conquer sin and evil, and this rosary novena has revealed itself many times over as a formidable weapon for defeating these strongholds. Trainees are asked to pray one rosary a day during this Training in Holiness.

Participants may begin their training at any time, but know that we are calling upon everyone to join together in a nation-wide basic training in holiness during Lent in the grace-filled Year of Mercy. Coincidentally (God-incidence?), the span of time from Ash Wednesday (Feb. 10) to Divine Mercy Sunday (April 3) is 54 Days!!

 

THE TIME IS NOW TO RAISE AN ARMY OF SAINTS!