Our Spiritual Weapons, the Rosary and the Scapular - Fr. Stephen McKenna 07-13-14

A summary, key quotes, insights, and sedevacantist commentary for the sermon delivered by Father Stephen McKenna on July 13, the anniversary of the third apparition at Fatima:SummaryIn this engaging and heartfelt sermon, Fr. Stephen McKenna uses a dramatic anecdote to launch into a reflection on spiritual warfare, emphasizing the need for every Catholic to be properly armed—not with weapons of this world, but with the Holy Rosary and the Brown Scapular. He illustrates these devotions as the twofold defense of the soul: the Rosary as our weapon and the Scapular as our shield. Through historical stories and real miracles, including the conversion of a Protestant minister and the vision of King Alphonsus, Fr. McKenna highlights Our Lady’s role in protecting, converting, and saving souls. He calls on all Catholics not only to practice these devotions but to be visible witnesses in a hostile world and to help usher in Our Lady’s promised triumph through personal sanctity and public devotion.Key Quotes“No matter how far we flee, we have to wage that battle for our souls. There's no escape whatsoever.”“The Rosary is our weapon against temptation. It is our weapon against the devil. It is our weapon of salvation.”“Our Lady tells the king: ‘As a reward for this little honor that you paid me in wearing my rosary, I have attained a great gift for you from my Son.’”“The Brown Scapular not only protected them from the physical dangers of the storm, but most importantly protected the Protestant minister and his family from the spiritual dangers of belonging to that false religion.”“Our Lady of Fatima promised that one day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, she would save the world.”Key Points and Takeaways1. Spiritual Battle Is Constant and UnavoidableCatholics are in a daily spiritual war for their souls.Avoidance or neutrality is impossible. We are called to be soldiers of Christ.2. The Rosary: Our WeaponA common starting point for many who convert from the Novus Ordo.A proven source of strength in times of doubt and temptation.Its abandonment is often a sign of spiritual decline.Fr. McKenna: “If our rosary is our sword… then the scapular is our shield.”3. The Brown Scapular: Our ShieldProtects from spiritual and physical danger.Promises eternal salvation to those who wear it faithfully and live accordingly.Miraculously saved a ship in 1845 and led to the conversion of a Protestant family.4. True Devotion Requires ActionMere outward symbols (e.g. wearing the rosary) are not enough.The story of King Alphonsus shows how Our Lady rewards even a little honor, but calls the soul to true conversion and penance.5. Public Witness MattersCatholics must witness to their faith visibly, including public rosary processions.Our actions and example are part of how Our Lady’s promises will be fulfilled.ConclusionFr. McKenna's sermon is a call to arms in the spiritual war. In a world flooded with moral confusion and apostasy, the Holy Rosary and Brown Scapular are indispensable tools of spiritual warfare. Not only do they protect and sanctify us personally, but they also act as powerful channels of grace for others. The faithful must use them both consistently and visibly, confident that through Our Lady’s intercession, souls will be converted and saved, including our own.Sedevacantist Pre-Vatican II CommentaryFr. McKenna, a traditional priest faithful to the pre-Vatican II Catholic Faith, offers a sermon that stands in stark contrast to the modernist confusion and ecumenical errors of the post-Vatican II counterfeit religion. His words reflect the clarity, piety, and militancy of the Church Militant—something rarely seen in the Novus Ordo sect.Doctrinal OrthodoxyReaffirms Our Lady’s promises tied to the Rosary and Scapular, consistent with traditional teaching.Reflects pre-conciliar devotion and confidence in Marian intercession.Upholds traditional understanding of miracle, penance, conversion, and final perseverance.Condemnation of False ReligionCandidly identifies Protestantism as a false religion, from which Our Lady delivers souls.The story of the Protestant minister’s conversion contradicts Vatican II's Unitatis Redintegratio, which falsely claims that Protestant communities are “means of salvation.”The sermon thus refutes false ecumenism, highlighting the necessity of conversion to the true Catholic Faith.Spiritual Combat and the Church MilitantSermon uses military imagery faithful to St. Paul’s exhortation (Ephesians 6:10–17).Contrasts with the post-conciliar Church’s effeminacy, pacifism, and “dialogue” with the world.Devotion as EvangelizationEmphasizes visible Catholic identity through public prayer and sacramentals.Promotes missionary prayer, sacrificial example, and bold witness—not “accompaniment” or silent relativism.Final ReflectionFr. McKenna’s sermon is both stirring and necessary—a clear trumpet blast in a time of silence. In this age of apostasy, it reminds us that salvation is not gained by sentimentality or vague spirituality, but through devotion, conversion, and spiritual warfare. The Rosary and the Scapular are not optional, but heaven’s appointed instruments of grace.“Our Lady of Fatima promised that one day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, she would save the world.” — Let us respond by arming ourselves daily, publicly, and faithfully with both.