Defend Us in Battle

Recently at a family barbecue, Hubby and I got to talking with an in-law of sorts. He is my sister’s husband’s nephew. While not a Catholic, my sister married into a very Catholic family.

Hum, that sounds like it needs a bit more explaining. My youngest sister is the daughter of my father’s second wife. They were married a year after my mother died. Dad’s wife is Baptist, her daughter is a Christian in that she believes in Jesus, and has sent her children to a non-denominational Christian school. However; my sister’s family does not belong to or attend any church services. That’s a subject for another day. Even my brother-in-law, who was once very active in his Catholic faith, no longer is practicing. However, his entire family is very Catholic. The men are all Knights, the women active in various groups.

As it usually does when Catholics get together and start talking, sooner or later the conversation revolves around faith. I think in part it’s because it takes a Catholic to truly understand a Catholic and to appreciate Catholic humor. Hubby and I are fortunate in that our parish has a Pastor, and Assistant Pastor, two deacons, a Latin Priest and a resident Exorcist. Father Manny is retired from the priesthood as far as a parish is concerned, although he does assist in the Celebration of the Mass when not traveling throughout the northern half of the state as the Vatican’s sanctioned Exorcist. Over the years Hollywood has sensationalized the whole idea of an exorcism. I guess the repulsive appearances, heads spinning around, crawling on the ceiling and spewing pea soup seems far more frightening. Rarely are possessions to such an extreme degree. Instead it is far more subtle. And it begins with a whisper of evil.

With the recent events (the shootings during Mass at a Catholic School and the assassination of Charlie Kirk in particular) more people are becoming aware of something that has been going on for a long time now – that there is a spiritual battle for the souls of man. The fact that a ritual of exorcism for possessed persons has been a constant within the Catholic Church is a testimony as to the reality of demonic possession. While the Church does not require any Catholic to accept that any particular person as possessed or any past case of possession as being judged correctly, the Church does teach the faithful that demonic possession is a real possibility. I think it was with this in mind that I recently received a phone call from my brother-in-law’s nephew asking how to combat the evil in this world through faith and prayer.

My answer was from a lay perspective, having no formal training in the arena of the possessed. First, pray the Rosary. Most people who do not pray the Rosary regularly feel it does little for them. The Church, along with many a saint, have called the Rosary a weapon against evil. Each of the four Rosaries contain five “mysteries” of faith. In addition to these, we can choose to offer up requests, pray for particular graces or to overcome particular difficulties. The repetition of prayer occupies the mind so that it does not go wandering off, planning the next day’s tasks but rather to stay focused on prayer while the soul is in communion with Christ. That is very powerful. My second piece of advice was to encourage the Knights of Columbus and his parish to pray to Saint Michael. There is power in prayer, and an even greater power in numbers. Saint Michael is our best defense against evil. Today is both the Feast of the Archangels and the feast of Saint Michael.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God, cast into hell Satan
and all the evil spirits who wander through the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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Tuscan Skillet Chicken
1 lb boneless Chicken Breasts
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 teaspoon Black Pepper
12 oz sliced Mushrooms
1/2 Yellow Onion
2 Garlic Cloves
2/3 cup Sun-dried Tomatoes
1 teaspoon Oregano
1 (14 oz) can Cannellini Beans
2 tablespoons Olive Oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried Thyme
2 (14 oz) cans Fire Roasted Diced Italian Tomatoes
1 tablespoon Sugar
Additional Salt to taste
Additional Black Pepper to taste
Fresh Parsley garnish

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Clean and slice mushrooms. Cut an onion in half from root to tip. Reserve half for another purpose, peel and dice remaining half. Peel and mince garlic; dice sun-dried tomatoes and snip fresh oregano leaves. Drain beans, set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large sauté pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, brown for 3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from skillet, set aside on a plate.

Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Scatter sliced mushrooms in a single layer into the skillet, brown, working in batches if necessary. Remove mushrooms from the skillet, set aside until the end.

Add onions, sauté for about 3 minutes. Scatter garlic and sun-dried tomatoes over the onions. Continue to sauté for another 2 minutes. Stir in snipped oregano, dried thyme, beans, diced tomatoes and sugar. Stir to blend well.

Return chicken breasts to the pan, spoon some of the sauce with vegetables over the top of the chicken. Cook, covered, over medium heat until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbling nicely, about 10 minutes. Return browned mushrooms to the pan over and around the chicken. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired. Garnish with parsley just before serving.

Serve chicken straight from the skillet with warm bread and a simple salad.

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 Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do His will.
Alleluia, alleluia.