Castle – defenses

All the ‘good’ castles have moats and even the strong walls of faith of our castle require extra defenses. The purpose of the moat around the castle is to keep the enemy at a distance so they can’t bring their men and siege towers and rams against the walls.

This castle’s walls of faith stand protected by defenses of love and humility. Two things our enemy despise most, maybe the reason he so despises our Blessed Mother, Mary. The castle’s queen exhibits these attributes more than any human beside its King.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux was asked what the three most important virtues are. He famously replied, “Humility, humility and humility.” 

When the castle is surrounded by humility and love, the enemy is repulsed and can’t close on the walls. These are virtues the enemy can never grasp. He only knows pride, anger and hate. He can’t even conceive a humble heart that is full of love for its neighbor – not self-serving but self-sacrificing. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.“ John 15:13

Because these virtues are so foreign to the enemy and so treasured by God, they protect the walls against the enemy drawing to near.
Watch the Queen and she will guide your soul, showing you a perfectly humble heart full of love without bound. Draw strength from the King in His humility and total life-giving love. In humility and true love of these examples, no enemy stands against nor can approach the castle.

”And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.  Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.” John 13:2-5

“a humble and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17