Sheen’s core thesis is dead on: diabolic strategy always hinges on offering shortcuts from the Cross. The adversary doesn't begin with overt, grotesque evil. Instead, he proposes goods, humanitarian relief, or superficial mercy completely detached from sacrifice, repentance, and interior conversion. It is an attempt to circumvent the objective reality of the Fall by prioritizing the material over the spiritual.
Where Nash’s piece goes off the rails is in its reductionist framing. He falls into a lazy false dilemma by asserting that any hesitation toward specific devotions or liturgical additions stems purely from modern Catholics being soft on sin or in denial of the demonic. That is an emotional diagnosis that collapses under actual moral theology.
In classical Thomistic thought, worship falls under the virtue of religion (virtus religionis), which is anchored strictly in Justice. This means rendering to God what is due in the precise manner, dignity, and order established by legitimate authority. Liturgy is not an open canvas for devotional preference, nor is spiritual warfare a matter of posturing.
Spiritual combat is governed by hierarchy, jurisdiction, and the virtue of prudence. When clergy guard liturgical boundaries or exercise caution regarding how private devotions are injected into public worship, that is not a squeamish retreat from the demonic. It is an exercise of duty and fidelity to structural order. Treating private devotions as ideological litmus tests for orthodoxy actually skirts the vice of presumption.
Sheen knew that the adversary is never neutralized by loud sentiment or devotional shortcuts. Diabolic influence is broken only by strict, disciplined alignment with the objective sacrifice of Calvary and the sacramental economy Christ instituted. Order and duty come first. Anything less is just noise.
Great article!
Thank you so much for the support!
I love the "fell asleep during adoration" story!
Same! So relatable and wholesome
Sheen’s core thesis is dead on: diabolic strategy always hinges on offering shortcuts from the Cross. The adversary doesn't begin with overt, grotesque evil. Instead, he proposes goods, humanitarian relief, or superficial mercy completely detached from sacrifice, repentance, and interior conversion. It is an attempt to circumvent the objective reality of the Fall by prioritizing the material over the spiritual.
Where Nash’s piece goes off the rails is in its reductionist framing. He falls into a lazy false dilemma by asserting that any hesitation toward specific devotions or liturgical additions stems purely from modern Catholics being soft on sin or in denial of the demonic. That is an emotional diagnosis that collapses under actual moral theology.
In classical Thomistic thought, worship falls under the virtue of religion (virtus religionis), which is anchored strictly in Justice. This means rendering to God what is due in the precise manner, dignity, and order established by legitimate authority. Liturgy is not an open canvas for devotional preference, nor is spiritual warfare a matter of posturing.
Spiritual combat is governed by hierarchy, jurisdiction, and the virtue of prudence. When clergy guard liturgical boundaries or exercise caution regarding how private devotions are injected into public worship, that is not a squeamish retreat from the demonic. It is an exercise of duty and fidelity to structural order. Treating private devotions as ideological litmus tests for orthodoxy actually skirts the vice of presumption.
Sheen knew that the adversary is never neutralized by loud sentiment or devotional shortcuts. Diabolic influence is broken only by strict, disciplined alignment with the objective sacrifice of Calvary and the sacramental economy Christ instituted. Order and duty come first. Anything less is just noise.
I’ll be taking several of my students to the beatification!
An easy way to make your Holy Hour is to get to into the holy habit of getting to every Mass early, an hour before. So simple.