“Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17).
Once again, our Father provides us with everything we need for the hard battle. As a helmet, He offers us the salvation in Christ.
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Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesu
Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8-9
When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I myself took them by the arm, but they did not know that I was the one caring for them, that I was leading them with human ties, with leading-strings of love, that, with them, I was like someone lifting an infant to his cheek, and that I bent down to feed him. Ephraim, how could I part with you? Israel, how could I give you up? How could I make you like Admah or treat you like Zeboiim? My heart within me is overwhelmed, fever grips my inmost being. I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I shall not come to you in anger. Read More
The Maid of Orléans – Part 6: The Army of the Lamb
We ended yesterday’s meditation with the firm conviction that St Joan of Arc, together with the whole Church of Heaven, will hasten to assemble a spiritual army to fight consciously against the immanent and already existing anti-Christian threats. I like to call it ‘the army of the Lamb’.
The term alone makes it clear that this is the ‘Bride of Christ’. It is the army of the King of heaven and earth, and its warriors are those who “follow the Lamb wherever he goes” (Rev 14:4).
THE SHIELD OF FAITH
“Take the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Eph 6:16).
FIGHT FOR THE GOSPEL
“Shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15).
The Maid of Orléans – Part 5: Joan of Arc and the anti-Christian threat
One of our great intentions is that the figure and mission of St Joan of Arc be properly understood, so that God, who called her, may receive the praise, and she, who cooperated in His plan of salvation, may be honoured as she deserves. Joan of Arc is a great gift from the Lord and certainly one of the most beautiful creatures to come from the hand of God.
The Maid of Orléans – Part 4: Epilogue
The last three meditations were dedicated to Saint Joan of Arc. We pray daily in the community that her mission may be better understood and that her honour may be fully restored.
Why do we do this? St Joan was often misunderstood. It was inconceivable that God would intervene in the course of history in such a way as to bring about such a turnaround in the war situation through a young girl. This misunderstanding persists to this day…
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
“Put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Eph 6:14b).
GIRDED WITH TRUTH
“Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth” (Eph 6:14).
If we do not live in the truth, how can we resist in such an unequal battle against “the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12)? Read More
The Maid of Orleans – Part 3: Passion and martyrdom
For Joan, the hardest part of her mission now came. Now she was to bear the whole burden of the cross, to taste the suffering that no one who is fully at the service of his Lord is spared.