Warriors of the Word Household Covenant

As God called Noah,

As God called Abraham and the nation of Israel through Moses,

As God called David, As God called the judges and prophets of the Old Testament,

As God called John the Baptist,

As God called Mary, the Blessed Mother of the Word Incarnate,

As God has called the disciples and the saints, so He calls to us now as the Warriors of the Word to enter into a household covenant with Himself and with each other through the new and everlasting covenant of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and King of Kings, the Word made flesh, who has conquered sin and death and given us victory in the amazing, life giving love of the Holy Trinity.

Praise to our Lord now and forever! He is our Warrior! (Ex. 15:3; Ps. 24)

“Indeed, the Word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

As Warriors of the Word, we enter into the battle of the Christian life with the Sword of the Spirit to take our place as intercessors, prophets, and servants of the King of Kings. A Warrior of the Word is a warrior of prayer, an intercessor. In the Agony of the Garden, Jesus commands his disciples, “Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Warriors of prayer must be vigilant and stand firm in Jesus Christ for “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Prayer is a battle which takes place within ourselves, between the flesh and the spirit, and against the snares of the devil who does everything he can to turn us away from our relationship with God through prayer. Victory in this battle and the battle itself are possible only through prayer. As Warriors of the Word, we cling to prayer for the strength to fight and win through Jesus Christ.

A great warrior of prayer, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, once said, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your heart. In fact on certain occasions you should speak to Him only with your heart.” The battle of prayer can only come from humble, trusting, persevering love. A Warrior of the Word is a warrior of prayer who intercedes for the salvation of souls and the greater glory of God in the everlasting Word. St. Paul exhorts us in his letter to the Ephesians (6:18), “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance making supplications for all the Saints.”

A Warrior of the Word is a warrior of the Lord in word and deed, a prophet of the King of Kings. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:16-17). As Warriors of the Word, we must seek continuing conversion in our own lives by dwelling in the Word as we proclaim that Word to others. In all the battles we fight as His Warriors, we must point to the Word Incarnate as the source of our life, our hope, and our strength in battle.

As a warrior of the Lord in word and deed, we are open to the Holy Spirit speaking His Word through us as prophets. “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the Word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

As Warriors of the Word, we are prophets of the King and we have no choice but to actively proclaim His Word in our words and deeds. An integral part of our battle as Warriors of the Word is the battle for purity (CCC 2520) in living chaste, modest, and pure lives in the Word. We pray to the Holy Spirit to purify our thoughts, our minds, and our hearts in Christ Jesus so that we may be effective warriors of the Lord in word and deed. “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves” (James 1:22).

Warrior of the Word is a warrior of humility and obedience, a servant, who seeks to follow closely after the life of the Word Incarnate. We seek to follow the instruction contained in God’s Word, so that we might be His faithful servants.

“Do nothing out of selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself unto death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:3-8).

In all humility and obedience, we must live the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that He may live in us. The only Word of God some people may ever read is our lives. As Warriors of the Word, we must desire to witness to the Word Incarnate in every aspect of our lives. We must seek to imitate the humility and obedience of Christ shown to us in the Word, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39,42). To be clothed with the Word, it is necessary to die to oneself in all things so that we might live in Christ. A Warrior of the Word must recognize, as St. John the Baptist said, that “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” (John 3:27). Therefore, it is necessary for the Warriors of the Word to be warriors of humility and obedience, servants of the Word, to every person God brings into our lives. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

As Warriors of the Word, we look to Mary as the Mother of the Word Incarnate and the ultimate Warrior of the Word. She never lost a battle because she humbly submitted to God’s Word, let us follow her example by echoing the response of Our Lady in the Gospel of Luke, “May it be done unto me according to Thy Word.” We ask for Mary’s intercession as we seek to be impregnated with the Word, Jesus Christ, in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. We find encouragement to be Warriors of the Word in the words of Mary at the wedding at Cana to “Do whatever He tells you.” As Warriors of the Word, we seek to follow God by living a life devoted to the Word Incarnate through Mary.

The Warriors of the Word ask for the intercession of all the angels and saints as we fight in the battle against darkness, but we especially pray to Mary Mother of the Word Incarnate, St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross, St. John the Baptist, and St. Michael the Archangel as the patrons of the Warriors of the Word Household to strengthen us in battle. Let us pray that he enkindles within us “holy joy, courage, and strength” to serve Him like our patron St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross. The Warriors of the Word also claim the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel in the battles we must fight. May he aid us in battle and strengthen us against evil when we are weak. May our patrons protect and guide us into battle!

“Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So, stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:10-17).

Jesus, make us your Warriors. Word Incarnate, dwell richly in us so that we might fight faithfully in the battle to which you have called us. Holy Mary, ultimate Warrior and Mother of the Word Incarnate, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Sts. John the Baptist and Theresa Benedicta of the Cross enliven within us humility, strength, and wisdom. St. 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 other evil spirits who prowl about this world seeking the ruin of souls. The Lord is Our Warrior! Amen.