The Atlantic contributor Daniel Panneton wrote that the Catholic rosary has become a “symbol” of religious radicalism.
“…the rosary has acquired a militaristic meaning for radical-traditional (or ‘rad trad’) Catholics,” “These armed radical traditionalists have taken up a spiritual notion that the rosary can be a weapon in the fight against evil and turned it into something dangerously literal.”
(No, it hasn’t “ACQUIRED a militaristic meaning”, it’s been that way from the beginning. Our Lady to St. Dominic, “Dear Dominic, do you know which weapon the Blessed Trinity wants to use to reform the world? I want you to know that, in this kind of warfare, the battering ram has always been the Angelic Psalter which is the foundation stone of the New Testament. Therefore if you want to reach these hardened souls and win them over to God, preach my Psalter.”)
Penneton continues, “And many take genuine sustenance from Catholic theology’s concept of the Church Militant and the tradition of regarding the rosary as a weapon against Satan.”
(We ARE the Church Militant and the rosary IS a weapon against Satan.)
“One online Catholic store…sells replicas of the rosaries issued to American soldiers during the First World War as ‘combat rosaries.'”
(okay, so…..?)
“In 2016, the pontifical Swiss Guard accepted a donation of combat rosaries; during a ceremony at the Vatican, their commander described the gift as ‘the most powerful weapon that exists on the market.’”
(oh my, someone made a gift of rosaries to the Swiss Guard. And let’s not forget that military terms are used even in Scripture. Does any of this sound familiar?
”Put on the full armor of God…” Eph 6:11
”for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses” 2 Cor 10:4
”Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.” Rev 12 7-9
”Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 )
The article also states, “Catholics are taught to love and forgive their enemies, that to do otherwise is a sin. But the extremist understanding of spiritual warfare overrides that command. To do battle with Satan—whose influence in the world is, according to Catholic demonology, real and menacing—is to deploy violence for deliverance and redemption. The “battle beads” culture of spiritual warfare permits radical-traditional Catholics literally to demonize their political opponents and regard the use of armed force against them as sanctified.”
(This paragraph contains some truth. Love and forgive enemies, yes. Satan’s influence is in the world, of course. There is however, a group of people that actually call for violence against political opponents. Consider the following quotes –
“Get up in the face of some congresspeople” – Cory Booker, Democrat
”We can’t be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for.” – Hillary Clinton, Democrat
”When they go low, we kick them.” – Eric Holder, Democrat
”You get out and create a crowd. You push back on them.” – Maxine Waters, Democrat
”You have to be ready to throw a punch…” – Nancy Pelosi, Democrat
”I think you need to go back and punch him (Trump) in the face.” – Sen Jon Tester, Democrat
”I just don’t even know why there aren’t uprisings all over the country” – Nancy Pelosi, Democrat
”You know, there needs to be unrest in the streets… “ – Rep Ayanna Pressley, Democrat
”If we were in high school, I’d take him behind the gym and beat the hell out of him.” – Joe Biden, Democrat
But the battle for Catholics goes deeper than politics. It’s a battle for souls. So, yes, faithful Catholics, the Church Militant, pick up your spiritual weapons daily. At any moment of the day or night be ready to grab the battle beads. Wear the Miraculous Medal, the bullet, according to St. Maximilian Kolbe, used to hit the enemy that is evil and rescue souls. Call on St. Michael to defend us in battle. Use the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”. Put on the full armor of God and stand firm.