On the Battlefield

Whether we like it or not we are on the battlefield of a spiritual war. A war between good and evil. Those of us in the United States are wondering whether we are in a battle between two evils. My title does not refer to the upcoming Presidential election. The war that I am referring to is the one between the forces of light and darkness...God and Satan.

This war has been on my heart a lot since I just renewed my consecration to Jesus through Mary on the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. That feast day is also known as Our Lady of Victories and refers to the Battle of Lepanto. The Battle of Lepanto was the battle between the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League. Due to the victory of the Holy League that day, Europe would remain Christian. The Holy League credited the victory to the Virgin Mary's intercession through the prayer of the rosary. Pope Pius V instituted a feast day on October 7 to commemorate this victory and the feast was named Our Lady of Victories.

I have lost count of all the times I have had to face a spiritual battle or a conflict in this very earthly world and I have turned to the rosary for peace and consolation; and Our Lady has blessed me with grace and resolution. The rosary prayer is so simple and yet so effective.

I find it interesting that as I was researching Our Lady of Fatima that her main request was that people should pray the rosary. Yes, she also wanted the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Yes, she also asked for First Saturdays to be dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. But Our Lady's main request was for people to pray the rosary.

We are on a battlefield and the best way to arm ourselves in this battle is to wield a powerful, simple prayer of the rosary. This should not come as a surprise that this prayer will defeat evil, for it is the prayer that Our Blessed Mother will hear and intercede for us. She is the one that Satan fears, because it has been foretold that she will end Satan's story. She already has ended Satan's story...she said “Yes!” to God and gave birth to Jesus Christ.