Father Rutler: "A Crown That Will Never Perish"

A weekly column by Father George W. Rutler.

Given the strengths and weaknesses of human nature, every day is a spiritual combat between our good intentions and our evil temptations. One of the most subtle of those temptations is to underestimate this struggle, supposing that a spiritual battle is less real than a physical battle. The fact is, while earthly warfare requires a full exercise of the natural virtues, the spiritual battle is even more intense, with consequences that extend beyond the limits of time and space. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).