Who’s first?
I received the following is a message from a reader of my blog, who is commenting on my last post and graciously consented to have his words published here:
Great Blog, Father. Dicey subject. I agree that if a healthy amount of men could don chivalry– chivalry that tips its cap at all times to the Immaculate–we’d be able to cure a lot of what ails us. A cultural mine field has been planted between us and the armory, unfortunately. Only a mass charge with plenty of men will get enough of us over to the other side to do any good. A certain number of us are going to get blown up. The first wave, mainly. No one wants that honor, just yet. I wonder when critical mass will actually be arrived at, forcing the issue.
Mary Victrix 
Interseting point, especially on the feast of St. Thomas Moore. I wonder how many of usd are really willing to take on the charge. More importantly how many will be in the front. I believe that the Church teaches that the grace of martydom is not only extra-ordinary but is also rarely given before it is needed. That being said the soul aught to prepare for the grace prior to its neccessity.
On the other hand the poster uses tactical logic and common sense in his assertions. Both are important, however if God and Mary want us to get safely to the other side we will! We only need to cooperate with our full trust that “Mama knows best”. Not to mention, she also knows the location mines in the field.
Since I have taken this stance, I quess I should ask myself if i am will to cross the field? Do I trust? Am I childlike in my faith? Am I willing to give up all that I love and charish in this life for the belief that something alledgedly better lies ahead?
Didn’t expect to find myself here Monday morning…Thanks Father for posting something that would convict me and make me want to run and hide, or better yet become protestant and pretend all is as it should be.
Where did I put that whiskey bottle?
Critical mass will be arrived at when someone leads men to the battleline.
In physical battle, only the rare hero jumps out of the trench and rushes alone into the hail of bullets or the mine field or the falling rockets and artillery shells. However, when a leader, acting with legitimate authority and leading from the front, take action, those of lesser courage will follow out of duty, brotherhood, loyalty, and all the other things that make up the soldierly ethos.
Matthew,
True enough, for the average soldier fighting for their country. However, we are, or should be, fighting for the Immaculate and ultimately for the conquering of the entire world for Christ and the salvation of souls.
What is evident in the history of the Church is that the Saints often crossed the mine field apparently alone, some didn’t make it to the other side and they are called martyrs, some illustrated or documented how to get through and they are called the Doctors of the Church, and others simply put their heads down and hands together and trusted that every step was guided by God. And thus their leader is exposed, by following the example of Christs journey to calvary, the Saints had their leader.
The point is that our leaders (Christ, and countless Saints) have already crossed the field. Why aren’t we following them? Is it fear, comfort, lack of faith, or some of each of these and more? The threshold has been met but we’re apparently busy.
Back to the cupboard.
I think you are correct in stating that the leaders are issuing orders and have been plunging ahead. However, to continue my original analogy, soldiers in physical battle follow their leaders or their comrades out of loyalty and brotherhood.
I suppose the answer, then, is that in our era too few people have the loyalty to the leaders; if we were conscious of and truly wanted to follow Our Lady, and the other Saints, we would follow them into battle regardless of the cost.
The Saints are those who had exercised heroic virtue. They are comporable to the hero who jumps out into the fray when others have hesitated. But in physical war, when the hero jumps out, their buddies follow them. Likewise in spiritual combat, we ought to follow the Saints.
So maybe part of the solution is encouraging greater knowledge of and devotion to the Saints, so we can see their example and follow them across the minefield if need be.