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July 30, 2020In recent weeks, we have seen a shocking increase in acts of vandalism against Catholic images, sanctuaries and holy places. Statues of saints such as Saint Junipero Serra, the Blessed Mother and even her divine Son, Jesus, have been tagged by graffiti, toppled from their settings and even beheaded. The burning of an historic mission church in California, like the destructive fire at the Nantes cathedral in France, raises the question whether this too, was a deliberate act of arson.
We are living through a time of cultural upheaval and crisis. Institutions, structures of authority and cultural memories are not only being questioned but denied and cast aside.
Fueled by frustrations over historic and systemic racism, the violent death of George Floyd at the hands of white police officers and the deaths of other black men before him has given birth to the Black Lives Matter movement. The slogan, “Black Lives Matter” has resonated with a broad discontent within many sectors of our society. Racial injustice must be acknowledged before it can be addressed. The slogan, however, has come to mean much more than what it so obviously states: that black lives do indeed matter. But, some of the “fellow travelers” associated with the movement and organization advocate for positions that are sharply opposed to our Catholic faith.
Unfortunately, peaceful protests following the death of George Floyd turned violent in some cases and the smoldering anger erupted in sustained outbursts in places like Portland and Seattle.
These disturbing events are taking place during a global pandemic, the likes of which the world has not seen for 100 years. The level of fear and mistrust associated with the spread and containment of COVID-19 is rising as rapidly as the numbers of those who have been infected in our country. All of this has been sharply politicized through social media due in part to the fact that this is an election year whose outcome likely will have far-reaching consequences for the country and world we live in.
Unquestionably, there are social, economic, scientific, ethical and political factors that must be weighed and accounted for as we address these challenges. But, for people of faith, there is more.
Our faith enables us to see beyond appearances to deeper realities. There are spiritual influences that must be acknowledged. There are spiritual resources that must be employed. Many people today view reality through the lens of the “culture wars,” focusing on the hot-button issues and where we stand on those. But, our Catholic faith recognizes that there is a much more ancient and consequential war that is raging. It is the ancient rebellion of the creature against the Creator.
“I will not serve” is the arrogant claim of Satan who chooses to rebel against God, even though he will forfeit his place in heaven. “Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven,” Satan asserts in John Milton’s epic poem, “Paradise Lost.”
Saint Ignatius Loyola calls Satan the “enemy of our human nature.” Our Catholic faith doesn’t shrink from acknowledging that there is this cosmic supernatural struggle between good and evil that still is playing out in our world. The outcome is a forgone conclusion: Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death by his own death and resurrection. But, there are still unseen forces influencing world events, because these forces are influencing human hearts.
We can play our part in Christ’s ultimate victory by acknowledging our own sins, repenting and humbling ourselves before God. Prayer, penance, adoration, the sacraments and almsgiving are the powerful tools that we must each employ. We can look to the saints who already have been victorious in overcoming sin, especially Mary whose humility is the perfect antidote to Satan’s pride.