Military Zeal in the Priesthood

The United States military is not tactically nor morally perfect. Yet it is rightly known to be one of the strongest forces in the world. Its ability to respond to global threats within hours and display impressive power makes it ready to protect allies and threaten adversaries. Americans take comfort in this level of protection, knowing many service men and women undertake sacrifices to keep us safe at home, while also seeking to preserve the common good abroad.

One can wonder how many young American Catholic men hold the priesthood in a similar esteem. How many of them realize that priests are officers within the Church militant, capable of responding to crises with spiritual tactics and resources? Do they believe, as Ad Gentes taught within the Second Vatican Council, that Christ has given the Church all the means necessary for salvation to those who follow Him? And by sharing in this mission of salvation, do they realize that priests have gifts at their disposal that accomplish great good by virtue of their ordination and the sacramental power entrusted to them? This priestly ministry extends the presence of Jesus Christ throughout the world in the preaching of the Gospel and in the administration of the sacraments. And the heavenly power active in them provides an exercise of force that even the powers of hell obey.

Even if young Catholic men do not recognize the spiritual forces at work within the clergy, it is hoped that our seminarians do. Yet even then, seminarians might still question how effective they will be as future ministers of the Church. For their superior powers of grace should seem to offer quick striking power that resets the needed spiritual balance within the world. Since this does not readily happen, does the next generation of the Church’s ministers understand how to exercise the gifts of Christ in a world that does not recognize what they have to offer? Are they prepared to sustain the grace given to them when the path that lies ahead seems long and arduous? Seminarians know that the gift of the priesthood will last until the return of Christ, yet its duration and sacramental efficacy do not guarantee that it will enjoy prestige nor find worldly success in measurable ways. And though the Church’s gifts enjoy supernatural protection, there is no assurance that the exercise of these gifts will enjoy cultural support or acceptance. Perhaps in a time like this, the true power and efficacy of the priesthood will shine forth again more radiantly, even if it is only appreciated by a minority.

Within our Western decline of vocations to the priesthood, dioceses and religious orders do not have the institutional fame they once enjoyed. They also do not have the influential reach that marked their ministry in previous generations. Now, they seem to be in organizational retreat — closing churches and rectories, merging parishes, and seeming incapable of responding to global needs of missionary outreach. The priesthood still retains its sacramental power, religious life still points to the heavenly kingdom to come, and those who proclaim the Word offer the world a message that is forever true. Yet these days, entering a religious vocation in the Western world hardly seems like joining the U.S. military.

In truth, it is much more akin to joining the Ukrainian military.

Since late February of 2022, a global audience has watched coverage of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians courageously defending their homeland against invading Russian military units. Their call to arms in the face of such unjust aggression has inspired many nations to assist this underdog with military and humanitarian aid. The grit and resourcefulness that the Ukrainians have displayed in the face of their aggressors have inspired countless others around the world.

Similar determination will hopefully ignite the hearts and minds of the next generation of shepherds in the Church. To be sure, clerics are not ordered to defend earthly territories from unjust aggressors. They are not called to bear arms in physical acts of war, and thus any comparison to the Ukrainian military necessarily falls short. Yet it is valuable to admire the creative resilience that the Ukrainians have displayed as they have seen familiar territory slip through their grasp and have worked to reestablish right order. Throughout the many scandals of the Church and the encroachment of secularism, we have witnessed the spiritual equivalent of these problems, as territory has been lost in the evangelization of souls. Now is the time to embrace a spiritual equivalent of solutions, to display creative zeal so that more men and women are restored to a right and proper relationship with their Lord and Redeemer.

Young Americans who are in formation for religious vocations need to have a clear understanding of the challenges that lay ahead of them. They may not see many visible advances within their pastoral ministry. They will not serve the Church in a time of cultural prestige. In fact, they may be attacked physically or psychologically in broad daylight. They will serve at a time in which organizational retreats are being called by senior officials to regroup and reassess. These retreats can be painful and confusing, and in the midst of them, questions will abound as to what tomorrow will bring. Yet in these trying times, those who remain should find hope in the Lord’s promises and in the sanctity of those who serve alongside them. For those who dedicate themselves to the Gospel in this current culture express grit, determination, and creativity. Their lives also reveal a reliance on the aid of heaven, more than on their own efforts. As such, the grace that allows for a credible witness of holiness ought to be their signature characteristic in this spiritual battle, propelling them forward with new and steadfast zeal in the vineyard of the Lord.

As the Church continues her mission under the guiding service of her shepherds, many lessons can be learned from the Ukrainian military. The life of a cleric, like that of a soldier, is not intended to be glamorous. Hard work and dedication are necessary, and the road ahead will require endurance. One cannot take for granted the territory that has been previously enjoyed, and malicious acts that seek to undermine one’s footing need to be quickly spotted and neutralized. And most importantly, clerics should serve with the assurance that they are not alone. For as the Ukrainians receive military surveillance and aid from beyond their borders, the shepherds of the Church dwell within the unceasing and intimate protection of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in their watchful care of the Church.

If any young American enters the seminary or novitiate thinking he will enjoy the spiritual equivalent of the mobility and impressive striking power of the U.S. military, he should reconsider his motives. Yes, the U.S. Church enjoys many impressive benefits. Our nationally organized missionary efforts of evangelization, online catechetical content, financial resources, facilities for retreats and youth conferences, and ever-deepening human and spiritual formation all indicate that the U.S. Church is poised for a renewal of authentic faith. Yet this renewal also involves an intense struggle that will not be realized by quick strikes. Evangelizing in a post-Christian culture requires a joyful determination that remains steadfast in the face of hostility or indifference. It also requires a vibrant love of Christ’s Bride, the Church, which extends far beyond one’s love of self. Fortunately, many past martyrs and confessors have set a firm example to follow, whose memory continues to inspire us today. Yet these witnesses enjoyed cultures that maintained religious sensibilities. In our era, a new determination will be needed that is unflinching in our proclamation of Christ, remains joyful even when challenged, shows compassion to those who have been wounded by the world, and is unceasingly creative in outreach to those who do not recognize the supernatural realm.

I propose that those entering the seminary or novitiate would do well to think they are entering the spiritual equivalent of the Ukrainian military. For those brave men and women fighting in Eastern Europe know who they are. They know their national heritage and their Christian history. They struggle while remaining firm in their convictions and identity. They stay humble in receiving support from beyond their borders, both in military and humanitarian aid from various nations, but also in heavenly aid through their many prayers and supplications. Our seminarians and novices would do well to learn from their example, and ask what are the spiritual equivalents of solutions to the challenges that lie ahead as we seek to evangelize a post-Christian culture. The task at hand for the Church is not simply to recover what has been lost and reclaim our borders, as is the case for the Ukrainians. Our task is to bring Christ to all levels of society in fresh ways, showing similar Ukrainian resilience and creativity. We did not choose these current circumstances, but they are the arena in which we are invited to remain faithful and advance the Gospel.

Young American men feeling called to preach the Gospel should put their hand to the plow with confidence and receive the call as a gift. For they are not alone in this missionary work and the weapons with which they will be deployed will be blessed by the truth of the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. Let it be known to all who seek application to a religious vocation, the world sees you as the underdog. Yet fortunately for us, the victory has already been won. To anyone who desires to enjoy the glory of Easter by first entering into the grit of Good Friday — welcome aboard.