Last week, I wrote a little piece about the Church’s (and the Pope’s) charism of infallibility and, in the course of it, mentioned that the task of the Magisterium is to both conserve and develop the Tradition (since the Church not only holds fast to the Tradition handed down to it by the apostles but, under the guidance of the Spirit, is tasked with going into mortal combat with the Prince of this world, defeating him and liberating occupied territory under the dominion of the devil). A reader writes me excitedly:
I had heard this argument by Scott Hahn before. Eliakim, King David’s chancellor (bearer of the keys of the kingdom), in the OT is the pre-figuration or a type of Peter, Jesus’—Son of David and King of Kings—chancellor of His new kingdom here on earth, the Church. But this time something struck me in Shea’s exposition! I relate this Eliakim-Peter reflection to other articles of his on the Church’s *offensive* against the Gates of Hell and his comments on Tradition in one of the links above in which he rightly mentions that bishops—the Pope included in the first place—not only conserve but *develop* sacred Tradition. And wow! Jesus’ promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church and its Petrine office is to be taken in the active-offensive and not just the passive-defensive way. The Pope, as supreme vicar of Christ, bishop and pontiff, chancellor, priest, pastor, prophet and king in and for the Church, has the keys to not just to defend faith and morals, but to advance and uphold them by teaching, sanctifying and governing! And we can think of many examples of Popes ramming against the “gates of hell,” like Paul VI with his Humanae Vitae, to think of a recent one. Blessed Pope John Paul 2 surely put the Church on the offensive for winning the world for Christ. I was honored to participate in his 1997-2000 Missione Cittadina, a door-to-door Urban Mission to every home in Rome! (I wonder why so few bishops have followed his brave example.) Pope Benedict is surely ramming away in crescendo: in his teachings on hope and charity (faith next?); in his sanctifying through the push for liturgical obedience and faithfulness; in his governing around the priest abuse scandals (ie., the disciplinary action against Fr. Marcial Maciel, and hopefully some upcoming canonic sanctions against dissenting or failing bishops?). Thank God for the Petrine office! Blessed JP2, Pray for us and your successors!
I’m always delighted to see it when people get excited about the word of God and see in the revelation of Christ the power of liberation. My reader gets it: The mission of the Church is not to crouch in a defensive posture behind the walls of Fortress Catholicism, but to take the fight to the enemy. “The gates of hell” is imagery from siege warfare. You do not attack with a gate. You hide behind it while the attacking army deploys battering rams to smash it to pieces. We, the Church, are the attacking army against the gates of hell, with Jesus as our captain. The weapons of our warfare are not violence but the testimony of Christ, charity, and our own blood and suffering, offered in union with His sacrifice. We do not fight because we are sinless and perfect, but because grace enables us. We defeat our enemies by making them our brothers and sisters and no longer enemies. We can’t be defeated, because even death is on our side now, having been taken prisoner and made the conquered slave of the Risen One. The only thing hell can do is lie and plant thoughts of despair or presumption in our minds to turn us from Hope. If we accept these thoughts, either by bitterly embracing the lie that there is no hope for the Church or by drunkenly concluding that we need not fight since the battle will be won someday, then we turn from Hope. But if we remain in Christ and keep putting one foot in front of the other in obedience, we have every reason to rejoice as we keep battering at the gates of hell in his Name and Power.
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It’s also true that God’s power and might is most clearly seen when it is the “underdog” doing the fighting. It is when He takes the small and weak and against ALL ODDS, they are the victors. The Church today, as always, is perceived by the world as irrelevant, silly, meaningless…yet it is in this very weakness where Gods Glory shines through. If we were powerful and strong in the worlds eyes then there would be no awe at our winning, but it is precisely because we are dismissed and marginalized that we are all the more amazing…for forging ahead, for still being here, for still being effective…for still battering the gates. We won’t give up, and we WILL win.
Divine Science revealed m Word of God - any expression of God’s mind or will and the functions of word of God
Gives life ( John 6:63, ) sanctifies ( John 17:17), gives hope ( psalm 119:74,81,114,116; 130:5) comforts ( psalm 119:82,105)
Foreknowledge of God: Creator of Heaven and Earth ( Genesis1:1) , prophecies concerning Jesus ( Genesis 3:15) ,prophecies and their fulfillment ( 2 Kings 17:13) Election and God’s plans Man’s Salvation ( Acts2:40) foreordination (Ephesians1:11)
This article was probably one of the best things I have read in a long time. It is not only enlightening, but it is edifying and inspirational in these times. thanks!
We are all called to be evangelists. What have you done today to spread the word of Christ to someone? Do you know a fallen away Catholic? Invite them to go to mass with you or to confession or to a church gathering. Do you know someone without faith? Show them Christ’s love in your actions and let them know there’s a Heavenly Father that loves them and wants them to know Him better. By evangelizing we can be warriors of faith.
It’s a great reflexion! Our mission is not just stand by in an offensive way, our mission has to fight against the evil and his actions in the world.
While I was reading this, it came to my mind those ones that are giving their lives for this: The martyrs of 21st century. In many countries, many brothers and sisters are facing death every single day just for spreed the Word and for announce that Jesus is the Lord. That’s fighting against evil!
And… What are we doing today to show to the world that Jesus is Love?
From Argentina.
Juan.
This article is a wonderful piece of truth—- At Confirmation we become soldiers of Christ and we reaffirm our Baptismal vows.As soldiers of Christ we are expected to take the fight to the enemy -satan and his demons. Don’t mess about by quivering in fright, be brave—for as we all know .. If God is with us then who can be against us? ..certainly not Satan. Next to God Satan is nothing.
Thank you, Mark - this was wonderful! I’m up for the battle and I know that you are too!
The gates of hell” is imagery from siege warfare,,,”
Dom Gueranger, “The Liturgical Year,” comments that phrase refer to the fact that in Scriptural language “gates” signifies “powers.” (From “Second Sunday after Easter.”)
Dear Mr. Shea. Last week I got into a disagreement with you and I became belligerent and way too personal and nasty.
I apologise.
Thank you, VC. I forgive you. Please forgive my testiness too.
RE: gates. I think your interpretation is six of one and mine half dozen of the other. “Gates” were the image of the power of a fortress because all cities were walled in antiquity. My basic point is that gates are, by their nature, defensive, not offensive.
Dear Mark. Thank-you.
I identify your love of an argument as being part of the Genetic Code of your race and my love of an argument is, similarly, due to the genetics of my progenitors - Irish-Injun - and we know from modern biology that we are mere products of our genetics, so, , neither of us are ever at blame :)
I think in this instance the gates are offensive in that the gates/powers of hell are ceaselessly trying to destroy the Church; they are not trying to defend Hell.
Wonderful! I love the comment about going door-to-door in Rome to evangelize! I’ve heard of this being done somewhere in the southwestern U.S. where many Hispanics had been drawn away from their Catholic faith by the missionary zeal of evangelical Protestants who were unafraid to go door-to-doo, and now many of those “former” Catholics are returning to holy mother Church thanks to that door-to-door evangelization campaign in that diocese (somewhere in New Mexico, perhaps?). I really think this idea should catch on everywhere! I’d love to be part of it! (I’ve gone door-to-door during our 40 Days for Life campaign asking for prayer support from the people in the neighborhood of the abortion clinic, and I was pleasantly surprised at how effective it can be. Even pro-“choice” people were at least polite, and many of them were open to praying for a decrease in abortion, recognizing that it is far from an ideal solution even if they believe it is a woman’s right.)
God bless you, Mark, for passing along this reader’s enthusiastic comments and for “being on the front lines,” journalistically speaking.
Great article!! I am in the Knights of Columbus and one of my brother knights in GA, a retired Marine and Army grunt, always said that we are “Soldiers for Christ”...and I take that to heart!!
Wow! I now come across this article on my previous comment. I’m honored and happy to share what resonated in my heart and mind.
In Christ,
Rey
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