St. Basil: War Waged against Us by Fellow Catholics Is the Hardest to Bear

[Stone]

War Waged against Us by Fellow Catholics Is the Hardest to Bear
St. Basil of Caesarea, Epistle 257

TIA | November 16, 2024

Writing to the monks harassed by the Arians, St. Basil of Caesarea reminded them that these heretics inside the Church were more difficult to fight than the pagans of old outside the Church. He reminds them that traitors have risen among the clergy themselves, but this only increases the need to fight, having confidence God will give the victory.

Finally he tells them that he is persuaded that the reward God has for the righteous who fight the heretics inside the Church is even greater than that bestowed on the martyrs.

This bears a great similarity to the situation in which good Catholics live today...

St. Basil of Caesarea

I have thought it only right to announce to you by letter what I said to myself, when I heard of the trials brought upon you by the enemies of God, that in a time reckoned a time of peace you have won for yourselves the blessings promised to all who suffer persecution for the sake of the name of Christ.

In my judgment the war that is waged against us by our fellow countrymen is the hardest to bear, for it is easy to defend ourselves against open and declared enemies, while we are necessarily at the mercy of those who are associated with us, and are thus exposed to continual danger. This has been your case.

Our fathers were persecuted, but by idolaters their possessions were plundered and their houses were overthrown. They themselves were driven into exile by our open enemies, for Christ’s name’s sake. The persecutors who have lately appeared [the Arians inside the Church] hate us no less than these idolaters, but, to the deceiving of many, they put forward the name of Christ that the persecuted may be robbed of all comfort from its confession…

I am, therefore, persuaded that the reward in store for you from the righteous Judge is yet greater than that bestowed on those former martyrs. They indeed both had the public praise of men and received the reward of God. To you, though your good deeds are not less, no honors are given by the people. It is only fair that the requital in store for you in the world to come should be far greater.

I exhort you, therefore, not to faint in your afflictions, but to be revived by God’s love, and to add daily to your zeal, knowing that in you ought to preserve that remnant of True Religion which the Lord will find when He comes on the earth.

Even if bishops are driven from their churches, be not dismayed. If traitors have arisen from among the very clergy themselves, let not this undermine your confidence in God. We are saved not by names, but by mind and purpose, and genuine love toward our Creator.

Bethink you how in the attack against Our Lord, high priests and scribes and elders devised the plot, and how few of the people were found really receiving the word.

Remember that it is not the multitude who are being saved, but the elect of God. Be not then affrighted at the great multitude of the people who are carried here and there by winds like the waters of the sea. If but one be saved, like Lot at Sodom, he ought to abide in right judgment, keeping his hope in Christ unshaken, for the Lord will not forsake His holy ones.