If we are of the Church Militant then we should cherish our fight

February 14, 2013

(based on a talk by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira)

Dr. Plinio

 

Every man is born a soldier, although not every soldier will use his arms. Yes, all men are born soldiers because, as the Scripture states, Militia est vita hominis super terram [The life of man upon earth is a warfare] (Job 7:1). Our life is a fight, and this is how we must consider it first and foremost.

The Baptism Painted by Pietro Longhi

The Baptism Painted by Pietro Longhi

A man is born a soldier at the first moment he sees the natural light. Then when he is baptized, he receives the light of grace and is born a second time, now to the supernatural life, becoming a soldier in its defense. Further, the Church has a special Sacrament that confirms a man as a soldier in the full sense of the word. It is the sacrament of Confirmation.  By arming us as knights, it confers on us the military vocation, the vocation to fight for the Church.

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Not every soldier uses his weapons on the battlefield, but whoever does so is privileged. Since the duty of the soldier is to fight, when he takes up arms to enter battle he becomes privileged. Imagine a painter who does not paint, a musician who cannot make music, a singer who cannot sing, a professor who is unable to give classes, a diplomat prevented from engaging in politics.

By arming us as knights, it confers on us the military vocation, the vocation to fight for the Church. Not every soldier uses his weapons on the battlefield, but whoever does so is privileged.
TFP Student Action Traditional Marriage Caravan in Maryland, one of many Traditional Marriage Campaigns they did throughout 2012

Certainly they are unhappy men.  They have all the skills to exercise this or that activity, but their talents are unused and inoperative.  The same applies to the soldier. He has a military capacity that cannot be fulfilled unless he enters into battle.  Then, he becomes privileged; he fulfills his vocation.

 

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