Spiritual Battles Beg For Spiritual Responses, by Kathleen Beckman

By Kathleen Beckman, Catholic Exchange, Jan. 17, 2022

Kathleen Beckman, L.H.S. is the President and Co-founder of the Foundation of Prayer for Priests (www.foundationforpriests.org), an international apostolate of prayer and catechesis for the holiness of priests. …

Scripture reminds us, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Christ chose the Twelve (Apostles) to do the same.

From start to finish, the life of Christ on earth reveals how the devil pursued Him — from Herod to Judas. The ancient serpent is unrelenting in his temptation of priests to mock Christ, to cease the perpetual sacrifice, and to render the Church impotent. Indeed the Church would be impotent without her ministers of the Sacraments: no priests, no Eucharist; no forgiveness of sins.

Satan is a dealer of doubt, a sower of dissent, a divider, and a deceiver. Sexual sin and moral disorder are definitely the devil’s playground — and yes, even priests go there. That’s why priests have dire need of strong spiritual armor reinforced by the prayers and fasting of God’s people. It’s why informed Catholics are not surprised to be told, “You must always carry a special place in your prayers and in your heart for the sanctification of the priesthood and the sacredness of the Mass” (Fr. Gerald M.C. Fitzgerald, quoted by Fr. John Hardon, S.J.). …