Church Militant Field Manual: Special Forces Training for the Life in Christ

Pope John Paul II taught us that the parish is not principally a structure, a territory, or a building, but rather, "The family of God, a fellowship afire with a unifying spirit," "a familial and welcoming home," the "community of the faithful." (Christifideles, 26, pg. 63). Many others and much more has been said on the subject. However, Pope Francis has taken things to a whole new level for most people. He says, "This is the mission of the Church: the Church heals, it cures. Sometimes, I speak of the Church as if it were a field hospital. It's true: there are many, many wounded! So many people need their wounds healed! This is the mission of the Church: to heal the wounds of the heart, to open doors, to free people, to say that God is good, God forgives all, God is the Father, God is affectionate, God always waits for us." He says also that we must take part in this. We must also build the structures or organization to do this work. As experience has shown over two millennia, and with any apostolic work, most of the groundwork must be in the Spiritual Life. If the Church is a "Field Hospital" and we are going to work in it, we need the training that will support us in this work. It was kind of prophetic that Father Heilman named this a "Field Manual" for Special Forces Training. As one other reviewer notes, the author does not reinvent the practices of the Spiritual Life, but rather draws on the tradition of the Church. Just a look at the table of contents will show you that. Very much like  The Spiritual Combat , called the "favorite book" by Saint Francis de Sales, this is preparation that requires readiness, weapons training, and practices that must be learned and must become second nature. He had to learn it. Sometimes we do not know where to begin the work of the Church, or how to begin. You can find this described as things like "inertia" and "beginning" and "momentum" in an easy but good read like  A Travel Guide to Life: Transforming Yourself from Head to Soul . You won't be disappointed. Anyway you look at it, the "Field Hospital" requires that you go back to the wisdom of others like Saint Francis de Sales, Saint Ignatius, and Saint Vincent de Paul, and others as Father Heilman does here. This is nothing new. For 400 years, the Church has been eager to promote things like the Discernment of Spirits, penned in  The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius , pg. 313, ff., or the application of which can be found in  The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living ). The concept of Father Heilman is surprisingly right on target. If you have read  The Soul of The Apostolate , you know that much ink is devoted to speaking about "shock troops." Yes, Dom Chautard claims, "Next to the official clergy, have risen, beginnings of Christianity, companies of volunteers, shock-troops, whose continued and abundant growth will always be one of the clearest signs of the vitality of the Church (pg 6)." He explains that Pope Pius X judged the effectiveness of his priests by their ability to develop and use these "shock troops" (see pp.165-172 for an in-depth look at this). As important as this sounds, Chautard stressed that priority always must be given to the Interior Life over the Active Life. So, this is solid stuff. There is a convergence of many great ideas from many great people and of holiness, which is the Church! Join in with Father Heilman. Join with him and the other great teachers of the Church. This is a good place to start and to prepare to become part of the History of the Church and one of its Saints!

This Manual is outstanding and badly needed !We, here, are Church Militant – fighting for our salvation while we can, before death overtakes us. But, after Vatican II, the Church stripped itself (and us, it’s members) of some of its most powerful weapons against sin and the devil. This Manual restores to us the weapons the Church has always offered, but cast aside in Vatican II: the Communion of Saints, the majesty of the traditional prayers, courageous Popes who championed the Faith, and fearless priests and bishops who proclaimed and defended it, along with the supernatural help of the Holy Trinity and the Blessed Virgin Mary.Today, with the Church in confusion and disarray, and it is up to us -- the laity -- acting as the men of courage in the footsteps of Christ and the Apostles, the Crusaders and Holy people to inspire, encourage and promulgate the Faith – in ourselves, each other, in the Church hierarchy and to bring this to others outside the Faith. This Manual gives the reader guidelines, spiritual strength, knowledge and a plan of action. It also is a compendium of Church prayers, Sacraments and Dogma.In these days of feminization of everything, including religion, this Manual helps restore to us what we are no longer taught: the Supernatural power of Heaven in being the defenders of the Faith that Men are called to be. It starts with the reminder of our baptismal birthright as Children of God, calling us to expand our Faith through knowledge, prayer and the Sacraments of Reconciliation, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and through proclaiming the One True Faith to others through our conduct and outreach. It is written by and for Men, not wimps. It requires knowledge, commitment and prayer if you are to be successful. But the rewards are heavenly. It quotes the Doctors of the Church, the writings of the Saints, and a few inspiring laymen such as Vince Lombardi. It is a call to battle – a personal battle against Evil, and it gives us the tools, techniques and the knowledge to successfully wage war against sin and the devil.

I highly recommend this book to all! I love it so much that I just bought another one for my wife!I love this book so much. It has everything that I have been looking for. I can now keep track of people who ask me to pray for them as well as the souls in purgatory that I'm praying for by name (although I routinely pray for them all). I truly believe that all Christians will benefit from this book, not just us Catholics, everyone should have a copy!This book has everything one needs to grow in the spiritual life, deepen the relationship with Our Lord and Our Lady, and grow in holiness! It has a great examination of conscience based on the Ten Commandments and daily prayers as well as tons of other prayers. This is indeed a field manual for those who wish to live a holy life!I love the way that it is set up. The world today needs this so we can better follow and serve Our Lord. This is an awesome book for all Christians, not just us Catholics!

This book has changed my Catholic life -- deepened my prayer life, given me what I needed to develop new disciplines and habits that are bearing incredible fruit. I highly recommend it -- so much so that I have purchased copies to give to friends and family. I purchased this book around the time I also happened to see Hacksaw Ridge. Father Heilman gives us a way to be like the real life hero in that film -- who kept praying "just one more, Lord" as he dragged fallen comrades back from enemy lines and lowered them down to safety. With this book I have been encouraged to pray for my friends, family, and really anyone I hear of or meet who needs prayer to receive deeper faith, love and hope. As well, I have begun to pray every day for those souls who have died that they may be completely part of the Church Triumphant. I carry my copy with me to church every day, have increased the times that I spend in the adoration chapel, and have learned prayers by heart just because I have been saying them since getting this book 7 months ago or so. I have been a Catholic since 1994, but this book has done wonders for my prayer life, and for my understanding of my role in the Church Militant on earth to be a real prayer warrior to push forward the Kingdom, one day at a time. The "Boot Camp" checklist charts have, for me, given a visible reminder and habit forming set of practices and prayers that probably are the catalyst to where I am at now.The back half of the book contains prayers and devotions that I have moved into over time. It has become an invaluable resource that I continue to use, even after completing my 12 week boot camp. I wish I had received this book at confirmation back in 1994 when I became a Catholic through RCIA.

What every spiritual combatant needs!!!!

Absolutely love this book! It is truly inspiring and wonderful.

There are a lot of godly, righteous, and sober things in this book, it could be excellent. However because the book is by an American it suffers in places from that insular view of the world with the U.S. at the centre that so often looks to the British like hubris. Introductory pages are also full of neo-conservative polemic. Given that all the (Hate)Mail on Sunday favourite topics are given a brief airing at the beginning of this book, it does rather set the tone for what follows. There is some degree of chauvinism evident throughout.We don't need research to tell us things are wrong in the world, you don't need a think tank to tell you that prayer and spiritual warfare are necessary parts of life. Jesus and the Apostles tell us that.If you can separate political opinion from spiritual truth in this book you'll be fine, but who has time for that?If you want some uncompromisingly Catholic spirituality that has not lost its humanity perhaps something by St Josemaria Escriva, or the 'In Conversation with God' series by Francis Fernandez will serve better, certainly from the point of understanding Scripture and living the Gospel authentically and heroically.

I have been a Catholic Christian all my life and this book is the best book I have ever read with the reality of the fullness of the truth and power of the Christian faith. I am now ordering a copy as a gift for a friend. Thank you