The Wonders of Divine Faith

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I dedicate this to you. Day and night you stand in the line of battle, because the life of a Christian man upon earth is a continuous warfare original: "militia est Chriſtiani hominis vita ſuper terram"; a reference to Job 7:1. Throughout every age, you have struggled against the enemies of the faith, and you have laid low innumerable throngs of heretics even unto their destruction. In these present times, you move your victorious camps against the Libertines Libertines: A term used here for freethinkers or Enlightenment-era skeptics who challenged traditional religious dogma, who call themselves Philosophers, insolently denying Divine faith and the truth of all supernatural mysteries, as well as miracles. Behold, most august Heroine, the universal holy Church of GOD! This modest armory holds within it the shield of your faith and the token of my loyalty to you, which I—the least of your fellow soldiers—under your banners of the life-giving Cross, shall strive to fight against your adversaries even to the last drop of my blood and the final hour of my death, in order to acquire the Communion of Saints Communio Sanctorum: the spiritual union of all Christian members, whether living on earth, in purgatory, or in heaven, which I firmly believe in and eagerly await as a most precious prize. Indeed, I already consider myself to possess, as if in safety, a great part of the unspeakable goods of that most rich communion. As a witness to this scarcely believable matter, I bring forward Saint Augustine. This magnificent Doctor and Father of yours testifies in his 32nd Tractate on John, number 8:

We too receive, most dear Brothers, the Holy Spirit, if we love the Church, if we are joined together by charity, if we rejoice in the Catholic name and Faith. For if you love the unity of the Church, there is nothing you do not have; for whatever anyone has in her, they also have for you. Take away envy, and what I have is yours; let me take away envy, and what you have is mine. Malice separates, charity joins; so says Saint Augustine.