by Rev. Joseph Husslein, SJ and strength, girding Herself for the Future historians will look back over the course of the past centuries of Christianity and discern 3 great second spiritual conquest and the epochs: Pagan Rome, the Barbarian social reconstruction of the world Hordes and Modern Materialism. in Christ. Wild and willful children In the first era of the Caesars came of nature, untamed, filled with greed the early triumph of the Church. In and with the lust of battle in their the second era of barbarian invasions blood were subdued, their minds of civilized Europe, there came the cultivated with learning and their re-conquest of the world for Christ. hearts formed in the meekness We are, today, living in the third era for and humility of Christ. It was a which there remains vast possibilities. long and weary task, but the Church Little did the haughty Caesars deem did not fail or falter. Can this wonder as they looked upon the Christian be thrice repeated? victims staining the sands of the arena It is a far greater world war being with their blood that, from those waged today for no less a purpose precious drops, would spring the than the domination of all the conquering army of the Cross of instruments of human power for use Christ. against Christ and His Church in the The deluge of barbarism swept like a service of the world. Christ is not tidal wave over Europe. New “lords always directly under attack, for this of the earth” had taken their place dark empire it is sufficient to over- at the banquet table of the world. look Christ. The rest would follow. Amid the wreck of civilization, the Materialism is the new idol and Church survived, sublime in beauty Paganism has won its third great victory, not over the Church, but 1 over schools, governments and the us. He asks only that we “follow hearts of millions of souls. Although Him” into battle. He has paid our some of the children of the Church ransom with the last drop of His may falter and fail, the Church will Blood. He now asks of us no sacrifice forever be without spot or wrinkle. which He has not offered up Himself. She alone needs no reformation and Was there ever such a king and is promised by Christ that the powers leader! Who is so great, so strong, of Hell will not prevail against Her. It so beautiful, so regal, so humble, is the Will of Christ that She depends so heroic and so unselfish as the upon us to aid in advancing Her King we follow! Not on the wide banners for the spiritual conquest of field of battle, loud with musketry the world. We must live in the world and cannon, does He rally His soldiers, yet belong wholly to Christ, filled but it is from the silent tabernacle with the grace and light and strength He awaits our coming. Daily, He keeps of the Holy Ghost. watch for us. We are not neglected units in His service, but upon each We are sworn soldiers of Jesus Christ one of us His divine eye rests with for we have been received through eager love and longing. We are Baptism into His great army. We have brothers of the King; let us be heroic been strengthened by the Sacrament in our generosity! of Confirmation and are nourished by His own most precious Body and The only service worthy of man is Blood in the Holy Eucharist to fight God’s glory and the salvation of the brave fight. It is a war against sin souls. By word and deed, by prayer and wickedness in every form, a royal and example, by alms and service, battle to extend God’s Kingdom in we will extend Christ’s Kingdom the souls of men. The standard of the upon earth. God’s service does not Cross is lifted high and the bugle interfere with the fulfillment of a sounds it rally tones. Earnest Christians man’s duties to his own family, but gather on the battle front. All for perfects his performance of them the greater glory of God! all. It alone can make life truly worth living and the world truly better for our having lived in it for however brief a space. Service means Sacrifice! To each of us, the sublime invitation is extended. There is no conscription, for all of Christ’s soldiers are volunteers, who serve out of love for Him. The perfection of every object is measured by the manner in which it answers the purpose for which it was made. We have been created by God to save our souls and countless other souls whom, through God’s infinite goodness, we can aid by our prayers, our intentions, our words and works and alms. This is the true object of Christ is our Leader. He has endured life. Are we doubling in God’s service every hardship and danger before the talents which He gave us, or are 2 we hiding them away? Are we trading not wait for others to do the work. with them to His advantage or are God is calling us and we must put we saving them up for our petty forth our best strength. selves? There is no possible way to Apathy towards the cause of Christ, measure our success in full on this cowardice or compromise, and every side of the grave. But one thing we form of indifference must be looked can measure is the effort we have upon as treasonable. Life is a warfare made to bring souls to Christ. It is and EVERY CHRISTIAN must be a our humility on the one hand and Crusader. There are enemies within our intensity of love on the other, and without. It is not sufficient to which are the two mighty factors defend ourselves against them. We in laboring for souls. Little Saint must wage an offensive warfare. To Therese said, “Pick up a pin from stand upon the defense only is to the motive of love, and you may give the enemy every advantage. thereby convert a soul.” Our standard is the Cross, our Leader is Christ. He came to found His The Catholic press alone is most Church which was to be a spiritual, effective in reaching souls. Support conquering power to break through it! A monthly magazine, inflamed the entrenchments of the foe, to with eagerness for the cause of Christ, storm the citadels of error is our task, may prepare the way for conversion not merely to dig ourselves into the or raise a soul up from despair. The earth, hiding in trenches, trembling apostolate of the Catholic missions in as we await their skillfully planned foreign lands does mighty works by attack. We have Christ with us. We our alms and accompanying prayers. have His very Self for our daily Food. Our hands must not be empty when His arms support us and we need not fear. All that we do on the battlefield must be supported and surrounded by prayer. There is great necessity for a life of prayer. We must rely upon divine strength far more than our own. Every day should begin with a fervent Morning Offering and, in the spirit of that offering, we should live our lives. A mission awaits us, more grand and mighty than we can ever imagine! the Master calls us Home. Why have hrough Mary, Christ first came into we not done more? T this world. Through her, He must be “We must do B attle before God given to the world again in our time. gives the V ictory!” St. Joan of He that is mighty has done great Arc things to her. Mary is the Mother of God. To deny her this title is to deny Our first duty is to build up God’s all Christianity. Christ is the true Son Kingdom within our own soul. With of Mary and, if Mary be not the the conquest of ourselves begun, Mother of God, then Christ is not we can more confidently hope to God and the religion He founded is conquer other souls for God and the basest of all deceptions. Mary is daily extend His Kingdom. We must the Queen Mother at the right Hand 3 of the King for all Eternity. The Heart of faith in souls. Making missions of Mary is an apostolic Heart, as she and retreats are ways in which to is the Queen of Apostles. It is from carry the torch of faith. There are this stainless Heart that the Blood of countless ways of laboring for the Christ was drawn. It was to the mother Kingdom of Christ within our home, love of the Heart of Mary that we cities, nation, and all over the world. ourselves were entrusted beneath Prepare ye the way of the Lord! the Cross of Christ and to her we Everyone can do something. A vague were directed to go in all our needs: invitation to help is not enough. BEHOLD THY MOTHER! The first Each one has a special task, some- hope of fallen man was the Woman thing definite he can do which is with her Child, and the last hope of vital to the battle at hand. By taking the world shall still be the same: an active part, we will be roused from indifferentism into action and, in turn, our fire will one day inflame others. Meekness, but not weakness and consideration, but not compromise, are the conditions of the true Catholic apostolate.