1 Peter 5:8
Sobrii estote, vigilate. Adversarius vester
Diabolus tamquam leo rugiens circuit quaerens quem devoret. Cui resistite
fortes fide…
Be sober and watch: because your adversary
the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. Whom
resist ye, strong in faith…
So, perhaps you have seen the
news item from a wild animal park in China, about a woman who, having had an
argument with her husband, exited their car and was promptly attacked and
dragged away by a Siberian tiger. Her husband, we can see in a video of the
tragedy, leaps out in pursuit, but stops a few steps from the car. Then the
woman’s mother charges out of the back seat of the car, without hesitation and
without return. We are told that she was mauled to death by another tiger. Her
daughter has apparently survived.
To me, this is an earthly
demonstration of that scripture I cited at the top of the page. Our enemy, the
devil, is out there, ready to snatch away our loved ones, and ourselves. But a
mother’s love for her daughter will take precedence even over her fears for her
own life, and she must pursue her daughter and the evil attacker, even if death
comes to her in a horrible fashion.
At least, that’s how I feel
about my own daughter. I suppose it might be suggested that physical death at
the fangs and claws of a Siberian tiger is more terrifying than spiritual
warfare waged in one’s own private chapel; and surely that is true on the
purely physical level. But there are other aspects to the spiritual battle, of
course. And while the physical mauling and death are horrendous, the thought of
a daughter’s eternal damnation is almost unbearable…and that torment doesn’t end
in an instant, as a physical death does.
And so…I pray, as I'm sure you pray for your own children. This prayer was
recommended to me by my spiritual director:
Parents' Prayer
O LORD GOD, Who hast called us to holy matrimony
O LORD GOD, Who hast called us to holy matrimony
and hast been pleased to render our union fruitful,
thus making glad the sublime state of life
wherein Thou hast placed us,
by a certain likeness to Thine Own infinite fruitfulness;
we heartily recommend to Thee our dear children;
we heartily recommend to Thee our dear children;
we entrust them to Thy
fatherly care and all powerful protection,
that they may grow daily in Thy holy fear,
may lead a perfect Catholic
life
and a be source of consolation,
not only to us, who have given them life,
but chiefly to Thee, Who art their Creator.
Behold, O Lord, in what a world they must pass their lives;
consider the cunning flatteries whereby the sons of men everywhere
endeavor to deprave their minds and hearts
but chiefly to Thee, Who art their Creator.
Behold, O Lord, in what a world they must pass their lives;
consider the cunning flatteries whereby the sons of men everywhere
endeavor to deprave their minds and hearts
with false doctrine and wicked
example.
Be watchful, O Lord, to help and defend them;
Be watchful, O Lord, to help and defend them;
grant us the grace to be able to guide them aright
in the paths of virtue and in the way of Thy Commandments,
by the righteous pattern of our own life and practice,
and our perfect observance of Thy holy law
and our perfect observance of Thy holy law
and that of our Holy Mother the
Church;
and in order that we may do so faithfully,
and in order that we may do so faithfully,
make us certain of the grave
danger
that awaits us at the hands of Thy Divine justice.
Nevertheless all our efforts will be unavailing, unless Thou,
O almighty and merciful God,
that awaits us at the hands of Thy Divine justice.
Nevertheless all our efforts will be unavailing, unless Thou,
O almighty and merciful God,
shalt make them fruitful by Thy heavenly blessing.
This Thy blessing, therefore, we humbly ask of Thee,
This Thy blessing, therefore, we humbly ask of Thee,
from the bottom of our
hearts,
trusting in Thy great goodness and mercy hitherto shown unto us;
trusting in Thy great goodness and mercy hitherto shown unto us;
we ask it for ourselves
and for the children whom Thou
hast been graciously pleased to give unto us.
We dedicate them to Thee, O Lord,
We dedicate them to Thee, O Lord,
do Thou keep them as the apple of Thine eye,
and protect them under the shadow of Thy wings;
and protect them under the shadow of Thy wings;
do Thou make us worthy to come at last to Heaven,
together with them,
giving thanks unto Thee, our Father,
for the loving care Thou hast had of our entire family
and praising Thee through endless ages. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.