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Question

Good morning father,

peace be with you, my name is Salvatore … I hope not to disturb you with my email.

I would like to express my appreciation for the wonderful work you do with this website.

In truth  father, I am not only writing to offer my congratulations but also to humbly ask to be part of the Angelic Militia.

Unfortunately I’m no longer chaste, you know these times…

However, I have not engaged in any sexual intercourse for a year already by my choice, and I feel with all my heart that by being part of the Militia I can eliminate this temptation and this instinct.

Also I can be part of a big family …

Father, I come from a very stormy past of faith. I was a spiritual Satanist, then for various circumstances my faith turned to  pagan idols, in particular I used to believe in the gods of the North, Odin, Thor etc …And I remained pagan for 2- 3 years…

Then one day I was watching a video on YouTube. Suddenly I got a soundtrack from (…).  I have always been fascinated by their music (…), but for my pagan faith and for consistency I have never deepened their knowledge.

Anyway from that song a journey of faith towards Jesus has slowly evolved. At first I was fearful because I was afraid that the gods would punish me (what a medieval mentality) but finally I’ve been a convinced Catholic for 2-3 months and it is as if the Lord has called me.

Father, I am baptized, and even if I wish with all of myself to be part of the Militia, I have to be honest and say that I did not receive my Confirmation.

Father, I look forward to your response with longing and fervor .

Salvatore

Answer from the priest

Dear Salvatore,

1. your email is one that brings great joy.

There is nothing like the conversion of a person that makes heaven happier.

Jesus said at the end of the parable about the lost sheep: “So, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven for a converted sinner than for ninety-nine just who do not need conversion” (Lk 15.7).

At the same time, every conversion is a gift from the Lord to the Church.

2. Reading your email it was spontaneous for me to think about Blessed Bartolo Longo, founder of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pompeii and of the works of charity annexed with it.

Bartolo Longo  also lost faith and entered into occultism. Indeed he became a satanist priest.

 At a certain moment, due to the practices he had to undergo to get in touch with the devil, he came out so disfigured in all senses to the point of being more dead than alive.

He asked for help from an old Catholic friend of his, Dr. Pepe, who put him in contact with a great Dominican from Naples, father Alberto Radente.

In contact with  father Radente he also conceived the desire to become a Dominican. But that was not what the Lord wanted from him.

However, he managed to become a Dominican tertiary and to be enrolled in the Angelic Militia. Not only did he receive the cord of St. Thomas, but he also exhorted with his writings to put his purity under the patronage of this great Dominican saint.

3. In order to join the Angelic Militia it is required to be confirmed. And you are not yet. This decision was made in times when the sacrament was normally received in a very early age. That is why a minimum of maturity was required.

However you sound mature enough to me, also considering all your past  experiences.

Furthermore, I am sure that you might  also be planning to receive Confirmation as soon as possible.

So please send me your address and while I send you the blessed cord, I enroll you in the Angelic Militia.

Thus you can benefit in your fight from the prayers, merits and victories of so many other brothers and sisters in the faith.

It is a great force you can count on.

4. You tell me you want to be part of the Angelic Militia to “eliminate temptation and instinct”.

The Angelic Militia does not grant you this, but rather the strength to overcome temptations and to put the instinct ,that in itself is a good thing, at the service of the person so that he can express authentic love and have the strength to remain in the logic of self-giving , which is like to say  to remain in the logic of purity and chastity.

5. You also added: “I can be part of a large family”.

Yes, it really is a big family because the members of the Angelic Militia of St. Thomas ipso facto become part of the Dominican family.

They do not become Dominicans, but are part of the Dominican family and therefore participate in life, in death and after death in the prayers, merits, apostolic labors and penances of the great family of St. Dominic, that is, of the friars, nuns, tertiaries,

and of the Sisters of the Dominican Order. Not only of those who live on this earth, but also of those (and they are the majority and the best portion) who live in Heaven.

From time to time I advise you to appeal to God through the merits, prayers, apostolic labors and penances of the living and deceased Dominicans because you belong to their family.

You will soon realize the priceless treasure that you take home with this enrollment and the extraordinary grace that the Lord grants you by calling you to be part of the Angelic Militia.

I assure you of my prayers, I wish you well and I bless you.

Father Angelo