To the Band of Brothers: October 14, 2025

I recently came across an image that impressed me. It depicts the Virgin Mary punching the devil in the nose. The image is taken from a medieval manuscript titled "The De Brailes Hours," created by William de Brailes in 13th-century England. I was captivated by what the scene was trying to communicate.

Then I remembered. Years ago, I was hearing confessions at a convent for the Carmelite Sisters. Dressed in their beautiful habits, I noticed each of them had a rosary tied to the left side of their belt. I asked one of the sisters why it was there. She reminded me that the rosary was a powerful weapon of peace and grace. They wear it on their left side just as a soldier would wear his sword, so they could easily grab it when needed.

The great Christian author, C.S. Lewis, always reminded us that we are in a great spiritual battle. The forces of evil are at large and constantly on the prowl. They look to destroy the beauty of God's creation and are always at the ready to lure souls away from Christ and claim them for their side. In the first letter of St. Peter, the apostle warns, "Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (5:8). Our modern day thought often classifies this as outdated mumbo jumbo, but remember the greatest trick the devil ever played was to make the world believe he doesn't exist.

But he does.

While we are focused on the battles raging around the world, from Israel and Gaza to Russia and Ukraine, we cannot be distracted from the most ancient of battles that continuously rage within our very souls. This battle is just as real and can claim just as many lives. While the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ have won the war for us, the battles continue. This is why the weapons needed to protect ourselves have been provided for us by Jesus through the Church. The Eucharist, confession, and the rosary are just some of those weapons.

But just as water cannot quench your thirst unless you drink it, or food cannot feed your body unless you eat it, the Mass, confession, or the rosary cannot bestow on you their graces unless you use them. The body of Christ cannot nourish you unless you receive it. The words of absolution cannot heal you unless you hear them. Those beads strung together in a row and anchored by a crucifix are useless, no matter how beautiful they are, no matter who blessed them, no matter where you bought them, unless each bead passes through your fingers and is accompanied by a Hail Mary.

There is great power in prayer and we have been equipped with great tools to help us live a life of it. It is the only way to win the many battles that rage in our lives and to avoid being distracted, which attempts to distract us from living a life of true discipleship. Be strong and confident in knowing you have access to those weapons that will help you fight the good fight and punch the devil square in the nose.

Aupsice Maria