Prayers & Reflections for October 14

The Armor of God
Reflections and Prayers for Wartime

CHAPTER I
Clearing Away the Debris

"I am an atheist: I do not believe in God."

Would there ever be prohibition unless there was something to prohibit?

Would there ever be anti-cigarette laws unless there were cigarettes?

How could there be atheists unless there was something to atheate?

Atheism is not a doctrine; it is a cry of wrath.

"By night an atheist half believes there is a God."

Before you deny God ask yourself why you deny Him. Is it because of the way you live? A poem of Clough's has satirized those who wish there were no God because He interferes with their dishonesty, their lawlessness, or their license.

There is no God, the wicked saith,
And truly it's a blessing,
For what He might have done with us
It's better only guessing.

There is no God, or if there is,
The tradesman thinks, 't were funny
That He should take it ill in me
To make a little money.

There is no God, a youngster thinks,
Or really, if there may be,
He surely didn't mean a man
Always to be a baby.

Some others, also, to themselves,
Who scarce so much as doubt it,
Think there is none, when they are well,
And do not think about it.

[Continued tomorrow]
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From:
The Armor of God
Reflections and Prayers for Wartime
by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen
(C) 1943, P.J. Kenedy & Sons