There are tons of TV shows, movies, and other graphic depictions of knights that emphasize the armored, horse-backed knight’s valor, their bravery, their chivalry, but … no mention of their Christianity. It’s as if they gained all these virtues on their own, with no motivation or incentive behind it.
Some of us know that many knights obviously came from religious orders and fought to defend Christendom from invaders, especially from the East, or the Moors from the South, or to protect the pilgrimage routes to and from the Holy Land.
Knights are disciples of Jesus, and therefore they have received Christian training and discipline and continue to practice Christ-like discipline, if they want to be good knights.
St Joan of Arc gained fame for some amazing feats of courage, faithfulness, leadership and achieving her goal (through Divine Providence) of returning the crown to the rightful heir, but imagine how many other men did the same, without historical recognition because that’s simply what male knights did.
Monks became knights, and knights became monks. Understanding that, let’s look at what disciplines we can use to improve our spirituality. Let’s start with Rules for Discernment from St. Ignatius, Rule 5:
In time of desolation never make a change, but be firm and constant in the proposals and determination in which one was the day preceding such desolation, or in the determination in which one was in the preceding consolation. Because as in consolation the Good Spirit guides and counsels us more, so in desolation the bad spirit, with whose counsels we cannot find the way to a right decision.
In other words, the Devil, or some other devil, wants to disrupt our prayer routine by causing desolation in us. Don’t let that happen.
Understand there are ups and downs in life but we are still called to praise the Lord our God for it all. Re-read the Book of Job, or Ecclesiastes, or Sirach, or Proverbs, for good reminders of all these wisdoms that come from putting things in the eternal perspective.
And, as mentioned in the linked document, let the saints guide you and inspire you. They have been through it all, even things you think are unique to you. “There is nothing new under the sun,” as the line from Ecclesiastes 1:9 goes.
this helped me today. especially the reminder form st ignatius. thanks.