Warrior Monks?

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Swamp_Yankee said:
Is there any place in the Church for the millitarilly minded catholic?
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Certainly. Tthere are faithful Catholic Chaplains and Catholic Military members.

It’s possible at some future time a third order or lay apostolate could be formed? Yet, one would think it would be comprised of Catholic Military members?

If the cause for canonization of **Father Vincent Capodanno ** is fruitful he’d make a mighty fine military model for a Catholic organization.
 
Perhaps a new military order should be formed to protect the Catholics in the middle east from the persecutions of the Muslims and the Jew.
 
I really don’t think that the Church is really a “military” type of organization, especially the monastic orders. I personally would rather pray a rosary until it turns to dust before a would touch a gun or sword. We have Christ, what else do we need?
 
"But how will a Christian man war, nay, how will he serve even in peace, without a sword, which the Lord has taken away? For albeit soldiers had come unto John, and had received the formula of their rule; albeit, likewise, a centurion had believed; still the Lord afterward, in disarming Peter, disarmed every soldier. No dress is lawful among us, if assigned to any unlawful action."

-Tertullian

This “lovey-duvy stuff” is the heart of Christianity. In my mind, it takes a far more courageous man to refuse to fight, and face scorn of countryman and enemy, than in cowardice and attachment to this life and temporal power to violate God’s proscription on murder.
 
Swamp_Yankee said:
What happened to the concept of the Warrior Monk? The Templars were disbanded, the Malta’s are a charitable org. now, the Hospitalars, who knows. Is the concept no longer valid, needed or wanted? Is the " warrior monk" an oxymoron? Is there any place in the Church for the millitarilly minded catholic?
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Um… the military? 🤷

The Catholic Church no longer has armies and goes to war.
 
As a man in the military, I have asked the same question many times: where are the warrior monks?

I am not talking about Chaplains, may God bless them and their important work. I am talking about ordinary men and women who are in the business of pulling triggers or leading service men and women in battle, and who also have deep devotion to Christ and the interior life.

I realized that there are already thousands of warrior monks in the US military. They are not part of some organized order such as the Knights of Malta. They don’t have time for that.

I wrote a little on this topic here:
soldierofmary.com/2011/06/warrior-monk-of-today.html
 
To be honest, the moniker itself is not realistic. A monk, since roughly 1400, is a religious person who takes a vow to be stable in one house with a cloister. He will practice a strict enclosure, not venturing outside for an extra-communal apostolate. The Knights Templar, Knights Hospitaller, Knights of Lazarus, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and all the other groups were more like early friars or canons regular, but militarised. They would say their liturgical prayers in the Divine Office, and lived in community, but actively went out to destroy infidels and defend innocent pilgrims.

Warrior Friars! Warrior Canons! How awesome! 😃
 
Caesar said:
We need to bring back the Papal Zouaves! 😃
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That would certainly be interesting! However, since the Papal States no longer exist, how would the Pope be able to pay a standing army of half-decent size (and I do not know how many Roman aristocrats today would want to pay for their own weapons and uniforms and be “real” soldiers.)? I do not know; maybe we could have an international Papal Legion that is financed by dioceses throughout the world. Or perhaps organizations like the Knights of Columbus could adopt a truly military dimension and become, in effect, papal militias (I wonder how the C.I.A. would react to that!).
 
Caesar said:
I read an interesting article today. It seems that Cardinal Bertone is looking to phase out the Swiss Guard. I will post it later.
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What! How dare His Eminence even think about doing such a heinous act?
 
Chowdah said:
As a man in the military, I have asked the same question many times: where are the warrior monks?
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There’s a prophecy attributed to St. Francis of Paola, dealing with the popular figure in prophecy of a last Catholic monarch who will arise at the end of time, where he states this monarch will found a new religious order:

“He will divide it into three strata, namely military knights, solitary priests, and most pious hospitalliers. This shall be the last religious order in the Church, and it will do more good for our holy religion than all other religious institutions.”

The order will bear a cross on their breasts, and this great monarch will destroy all tyrants and heresies, “By the grace of the Almighty, the Great Monarch will annihilate heretics and unbelievers. He will have a great army, and angels will fight at his side. He will be like the sun among the stars. His influence will spread over the whole earth.”

“…He shall be a great captain and prince of holy men, who shall be called ‘the holy Cross-bearers of Jesus Christ,’ with whom he will destroy the Mahometan sect and the rest of the infidels. He shall annihilate all the heresies and tyrannies of the world. He shall reform the Church of God by means of his followers, who shall be the best men upon the earth in holiness, in arms, in science, and in every virtue…They shall obtain dominion over the whole world, both temporal and spiritual…”

“This religious order shall be the last and best in the Church: it shall proceed with arms…Woe to tyrants, to heretics, and to infidels to whom no pity will be shown…An infinite number of wicked men shall perish through the hands of the Cross-bearers…most holy Crossbearers elected by the Most High, who, not succeeding in converting heretics with science, shall make vigorous use of their arms…These holy Cross-bearers shall reign and dominate holily over the whole world until the end of time…”

“But when shall this take place? When crosses with the stigmas shall be seen, and the crucifix shall be carried as the standard. The time is coming when the Divine Majesty will visit the world with a new religious order of holy Cross-bearers, who will carry a crucifix, or the image of our crucified Lord, lifted up upon the principal standard in view of all. This standard will be admired by all good Catholics; but at the beginning it will be derided by bad Christians and by infidels… You shall destroy the sect of the Mahomet, and all infidels of every sect. You shall put an end to all the heresies of the world…”
 
I think St. Francis of Paola can’t be referencing anything antes the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Peter in union with all bishops in their respective cathedrals at one, solemn, public time for the conversion of Russia and given as the “only” and I repeat ONLY means to a “period of peace” by Our Lady of the Rosary in her Fatima, Portugal appearances.

Warrior-monk is a term of art used by a condemned Gnostic “Catholic” group, Tradition, Family & Property, who say their Fatima-flogging, money/land grabbing Moonie type members are warrior-monks, a “higher” calling than the priesthood per TFP. TFP is awaiting the resurrection of their Brazilian founder as he promised. As Our Lady of the Rosary said at Fatima, “Pray the daily Rosary for peace.” We have been given the option to stop war and predation and opted not to do so.
 
I think that when the call is made, many will answer. The Knights of Columbus, Knight of Malta, Order of the Holy Seplechur, will just be a few. I believe their are a great multitude waiting for something to happen. I am not sure what or when. But, until then we pray for unity and peace.

Vivat Jesus
 
Have we considered the possibility that there are already thousands of warrior monks in our midst actively engaged in warfare?

Is it not possible that the call has already been made, many years ago? The real question is: What are we doing to answer the call?

To be sure, people will wrestle with secondary concepts such as what does a warrior monk wear; does he have to be consecrated; does he do vows, a promise, or a contract; does he need to pray the breviary? These questions can be figured out at a later date. Doctrine will always catch up.

What are we doing to answer the real call?
 
St. Bridget of Sweden’s revelations have some descriptions of how a true knight should live.
 
Chowdah said:
As a man in the military, I have asked the same question many times: where are the warrior monks?

I am not talking about Chaplains, may God bless them and their important work. I am talking about ordinary men and women who are in the business of pulling triggers or leading service men and women in battle, and who also have deep devotion to Christ and the interior life.

I realized that there are already thousands of warrior monks in the US military. They are not part of some organized order such as the Knights of Malta. They don’t have time for that.

I wrote a little on this topic here:
soldierofmary.com/2011/06/warrior-monk-of-today.html
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I just read your piece and I am wishing I would have been able to read it 20 years ago.

Thank you.
 
I just read that article as well. VERY well written. While never in the military, I do serve my country, state, county and my God as a cop. The Knights Templar were what God used to keep some hooks in me while I ‘ran astray’ for a number of year of my teenaged / young adult life.

I now see my roll in Law Enforcement as a true Vocation from God… Gun and all.

I would JUMP at the chance to join a re-organized, faithful to God and the Church, Military Orders 3rd order. Personally, I’d love to see it take the best of the Templars and add in Erasmus’ Militis Christiani rules. In case you haven’t run across those rules, here they are:

ERASMUS’ TWENTY-TWO PRINCIPLES ON HOW TO BE STRONG WHILE REMAINING VIRTUOUS IN A DANGEROUS WORLD

First Rule

INCREASE YOUR FAITH.
Even if the entire world appears mad.

Second Rule
ACT UPON YOUR FAITH.
Even if you must undergo the loss of everything.

Third Rule

ANALYZE YOUR FEARS.
You will find that things are not as bad as they appear.

Fourth Rule

MAKE VIRTUE THE ONLY GOAL OF YOUR LIFE.
Dedicate all of your enthusiasm, all your effort, your leisure as well as your business.

Fifth Rule

TURN AWAY FROM MATERIAL THINGS.
If you are greatly concerned with money you will be weak of spirit.

Sixth Rule

TRAIN YOUR MIND TO DISTINGUISH GOOD AND EVIL.
Let your rule of government be determined by the common good.

Seventh Rule

NEVER LET ANY SETBACK STOP YOU IN YOUR QUEST.
We are not perfect - This only means we should try harder.

Eighth Rule

IF YOU HAVE FREQUENT TEMPTATIONS, DO NOT WORRY.
Begin to worry when you do not have temptation, because that is a sure sign that you cannot distinguish good from evil.

Ninth Rule

ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR AN ATTACK.
Careful generals set guards even in times of peace.

Tenth Rule

SPIT, AS IT WERE, IN THE FACE OF DANGER.
Keep a stirring quotation with you for encouragement.

Twelfth Rule

TURN YOUR WEAKNESS INTO VIRTUE.
If you are inclined to be selfish, make a deliberate effort to be giving.

Thirteenth Rule

TREAT EACH BATTLE AS THOUGH IT WERE YOUR LAST.
And you will finish, in the end, victorious!

Fourteenth Rule

DON’T ASSUME THAT DOING GOOD ALLOWS YOU TO KEEP A FEW VICES.
The enemy you ignore the most is the one who conquers you.

Fifteenth Rule

WEIGH YOUR ALTERNATIVES CAREFULLY.
The wrong way will often seem easier than the right way.

Sixteenth Rule
NEVER ADMIT DEFEAT EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN WOUNDED.
The good soldier’s painful wounds spur him to gather his strength.

Seventeenth Rule

ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION.
So when the time comes for battle, you will know what to do.

Eighteenth Rule

CALM YOUR PASSIONS BY SEEING HOW LITTLE THERE IS TO GAIN.
We often worry and scheme about trifling matters of no importance.

Nineteenth Rule

SPEAK WITH YOURSELF THIS WAY:
If I do what I am considering, would I want my family to know about it?

Twentieth Rule

VIRTUE HAS ITS OWN REWARD.
Once a person has it, they would not exchange it for anything.

Twenty-first Rule

LIFE CAN BE SAD, DIFFICULT AND QUICK: MAKE IT COUNT FOR SOMETHING!
Since we do not know when death will come, act honorably everyday.

Twenty-second Rule

REPENT YOUR WRONGS.
Those who do not admit their faults have the most to fear.

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum. I desire Christ’s Peace…
 
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