At the moment of , the most marvelous and terrifying event occurs, we are drafted into military service. Just as a civilian’s status changes to “Active Military” as soon as he or she begins Basic Training, so too do we become soldiers of Christ and full-fledged members of the Church Militant as soon as the Holy Spirit’s anointing comes upon us at Confirmation.

Have you ever noticed how often the Scriptures and the Church use military language in describing the life of Christian discipleship? From the first book of the Bible to the last, the course of salvation history is seen through the lens of spiritual warfare.

“Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled against the dragon … [T]he ancient serpent, known as the devil or Satan, the seducer of the whole world, was driven out; he was hurled down to earth and his minions with him … he pursued the woman who gave birth to the boy … [and] went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep God’s commandments and give witness to Jesus” (Rev 12:7, 9, 13, 17).

“Then the Lord God said to the serpent: ‘Because you have done this…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel’” (Gn 3:14-15).

At a certain point in our lives, we all decide whose offspring we are, the woman’s or the dragon’s (Jn 8:44). Even a non-decision by a fence-sitter is a decision. There can be no draft-dodgers in this war (Rev 3:15-16). We must honestly ask ourselves, “Whose Kingdom am I fighting for? Does my life (thoughts, words, actions) defend and spread the Kingdom of God or that of His enemy?”

Sacrifice looms large. Service is not enough. It is the difference between rendering help to someone and giving up something precious as an offering to God. Christ told us that he came to serve AND to give up his life as a ransom for many (Mt 20:28). He invites us to do the same (Jn 12:24, 15:13; Mt 16:24-26).

As with all soldiers, we must know our enemy and prepare adequately for battle. St. Paul exhorts:

“ … [D]raw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So, stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph 6:10-17)

The question then becomes: Who will get us battle-ready? God himself? Assuredly. Our parents? Hopefully. But there is another force, God’s Tier 1 Special Operations Unit, who the King has tasked with administering a weapon so powerful that no one else on earth is able to bestow—the fortifying nourishment of the sacraments. Pope Benedict XVI reminded us, “[Y]ou were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness.” Next time we will explore the life, courage, and sacrifice of the magnanimous men who followed this counsel; the men we call “priests.” ✣

Dr. Nicole Best is a Clinical Psychologist and member of the Archdiocese’s Priest-Care Initiative, which provides ongoing education and support to our local priests.

This article appeared in the November 2025 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.