Gideon’s Army
June 17, 2022
Gideon’s Call, 1860; Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld
“THE universe is the work of God. He reigns over it and every happening is according to the plans of His Providence. When we believe that desertion is going to be general, we forget that a little Faith is enough to give Faith to the family of Jesus–like a little leaven makes all the dough rise. These extraordinary events where the mob wields the axe to undermine the work of God, serve marvelously to show His Omnipotence. In every country will be seen what the people of God saw. When the Lord was wanted by Gideon to show His power against the Midianites, He had him send back most of his army. Only three hundred men remained, and those without arms, in order that it could be seen that the victory was God’s. This small number of Gideon’s soldiers is the number of the Faithful elect of that century. You have seen with the saddest astonishment, my children, that out of all those called, since all of France was Christian, the greater part, like in Gideon’s army, remained weak, timid and fearing to lose their temporal interests. God sends them back, for use in His justice. God only wants those who give themselves to Him entirely. Do not be surprised at the great number who quit. Truth wins, no matter how small the number of those who love and remain attached to Him. For my part I have only one wish, the desire of St. Paul. As a child of the Church, as a soldier of Christ, I wish to die under His standard.”
—– Father Demaris, Professor of Theology, Missionary of St. Joseph (Translated from French by A. Drover) writing to Catholic without many of the sacraments due to the French Revolution.
