Two Kinds of Combat

In a small but prosperous town lived two young friends, Rodger and Simon. They always attended Mass and Sunday School at Mother of Mercy Parish with Fr. Albert.

This old priest edified all the town’s inhabitants and won their affection by word and example. He was a true father to his people, offering to each of them the guidance they needed, with wisdom and kindness.

At each week’s class, Fr. Albert would tell a new episode from Sacred Scripture, describing how God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac the battles of Judas Maccabeus, David slaying Goliath, Gideon defeating the Midianites… The youngsters were fascinated to hear how these heroes won such great victories, with trust in God as their only weapon.

One Sunday, after another captivating story, Simon asked:

“Father, what can we do to have brave hearts like those men of the Bible?”

“Man’s life on earth is a constant struggle, Simon. Those heroes had to fight on the battlefield, but we all have to conquer ourselves… Since we are conceived in original sin, we are each accompanied by an invisible enemy who constantly invites us to take the wrong path. Combating him requires more faith, strength and confidence than wielding a sword against a powerful foe.”

The children were silent for a few moments. The old priest’s words had made a deep impression, especially on Rodger and Simon.

After class, everyone headed home, but the two friends were lost in thought and in no hurry to leave the church. Simon finally whispered:

“Rodger, wasn’t that an exciting story Father told us? I can’t stop thinking about those battles! Don’t you wish we could fight like those men?”

“Yes, I do! While he spoke, I tell you, Simon, I could almost hear God calling me to do great deeds like Judas Maccabeus and his warriors!”

Then and there, the boys decided to make a solemn request to the Blessed Virgin. They went and knelt together at the side-altar where her statue stood, and begged for the grace to fight with the courage of those heroes, declaring their willingness to fight on any battlefield She might assign them.

Over the years, they never stopped praying for that intention together. The more they implored Our Lady, the more the desire for heroism burned in their hearts.

One day, messengers from the capital appeared in that town, calling all able-bodied men to defend the kingdom, including any lad above the age of fifteen! Invaders were closing in on a major frontier site, and reinforcements were urgently needed to protect its fortifications! The two youths jumped for joy at the news, but… Simon was only thirteen, and the edict had clearly set the minimum enlistment age.

The whole town instantly mobilized! There was little time to train the newly recruited troops, and outfit them with arms, mounts, supplies and equipment. They would march in twenty days!

Early on the morning of departure, the soldiers gathered at Mother of Mercy Parish to confess their sins and attended Mass. Simon was bitterly disappointed at being left behind, but tears of emotion sprang to his eyes at the stirring sight of his great friend and the other brave men now truly headed for battle.

Moments before the order was given to march, Simon broke out of the crowd and ran toward his comrade:

“Rodger, take this cross with you, so you will never forget that I am praying for you!”

He managed to thrust the precious object into the young soldier’s hand, and feel one last hearty squeeze on his shoulder before Rodger fell into step with his contingent.

After weeks of arduous trekking, Rodger and the other warriors could finally set eyes on the battlefield. Indescribable joy gripped their noble hearts! But they could scarcely pause to relish the sight, as the enemy ranks were set for attack. The clash was imminent, and it would be an unequal battle, since the invaders clearly exceeded their own number, even counting the new reinforcements from all over the kingdom.

The battle raged fierce and relentless. At the day’s end, as the sun began to set on the horizon, the enemy was forced to retreat! But the combat was not over. The enemy troops withdrew a short distance awaiting the next chance for attack. It would be necessary to remain there as long as necessary to defend the territory they had retaken.

Meanwhile, Rodger’s hometown lived in a climate of expectation. The people were naturally anxious to know how their countrymen fared, but no news arrived…

“Did they drive the enemy away? Have they been killed?” the people wondered. And they continued, with steadfast trust, to commended those men to Mary’s protection.

The years passed. Simon grew up and decided to embark on the path of the priesthood. He became such a zealous priest that the Bishop sent him on evangelizing missions to diverse regions throughout the kingdom.

On one occasion, he had to make a longer trip than usual. Exhausted by his trek of many days, he decided to ask for lodgings at a fortress along the way. As soon as the door-keeper saw that a minister of the Lord had knocked, he ushered him inside with extreme haste. A soldier lay in agony within the fortress and was in urgent need of the last Sacraments.

Heedless of his own exhaustion, Fr. Simon reached the poor soldier’s bedside in no time. His eyes were immediately drawn to an unmistakable object the fellow grasped in his hand – the cross he had given his best friend years ago! His next glance revealed the truth: the dying man was Rodger!

He had been badly wounded in combat and did not have much longer to live. As he turned a grateful look to the priest who had come to comfort him with the Sacraments, his eyes flashed with recognition, and then welled up with tears of deep emotion!

As Fr. Simon knelt at his friend’s side, the two recalled old Fr. Albert’s teaching: “man’s life on earth is a constant struggle.” But how true it was that God assigns each person to a different battlefield: some are called to shed their blood in defence of all that is good and true. Others are chosen to work and give generously of themselves so that the Redeemer’s Blood may give life to a greater number of souls. They are two kinds of combat, and both give glory to Our Lord. ◊