Sword or Crown?

Dear Crusaders,

King Charles V of France was proud to see his son growing up with strength of body and soul.  Yet the king worried about the future of his son, will this son keep a correct idea of his royal condition?  How will his son be faithful to the legacy of his glorious ancestors? 

The father was looking for a way to be sure of his son.  He had two tables set up in a room of the castle.  He placed a sceptre and a crown on one table and a helmet and a sword on the other.  Then he called the young prince to him and said, “My son, now you must choose for yourself what is on only one of the tables.”  The prince did not hesitate.  Right away, he chose table with the helmet and the sword.  The king was very pleased of the choice of his son, but he wanted to make sure of the right intentions of his son, and asked him the reasons of his choice.  The prince’s surprising answer was that, “by the sword, I will conquer the crown.”

Dear children, would you have made the same choice?  Or rather, would you have grabbed the crown and sceptre, saying: “to be a king, yes, of course!   But a sword is only for fighting.  Oh no!  A reign without the sword is much easier.” 

Is it a dream? Not really, for you are children of royal ascent, and you have a Father who is King and reigns over heaven and all of creation.  This King wants His you, His children, to be with Him.  This is what we ask for when we pray the Our Father: “Thy kingdom come!”

Like the prince, you have to make choices in life, like the two tables. Your choices are between a life of sacrifices, fighting against temptation and the devil; or a life of laziness, and enjoyment of the pleasures of the flesh.   As St. James, the apostle, said, “Blessed is the man that endureth (conquers) temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life.”(James, I, 12)

Yes, dear children, you are the children of God, who is the King of heaven and earth.  Take the sword and the helmet with courage!  Fight in the name of God. God will give you victory.  The crown of justice that is reserved for you is well worth of the pains of the fight.  From heaven, your Father, the King is looking at you.  Being delighted to see your heroism, He will hold to His promise: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

                       Father Dominique Boulet
                                                                

E-mail address: EucharisticCrusade@sspx.ca

Home | Contact | Mass Centres | Schools | Pilgrimages | Retreats | Precious Blood Residence
District Superior's Ltrs | Superor General's Ltrs | Various
Newsletter | Eucharistic Crusade | Rosary Clarion | For the Clergy | Coast to Coast | Saints | Links