Editorial: How to reclaim the Rosary
On August 14, the Vigil of the Feast of the Assumption, The Atlantic published an article originally titled “How the Rosary Became an Extremist Symbol”. The piece, titled “How Extremist Gun Culture Is Trying to Co-Opt the Rosenary,” was initially accompanied by an image of a rosary made of bullet holes, which was also subsequently modified. In the provocative article, author Daniel Panneton argues that on an extremist edge, “rosaries have been woven into a conspiracy politics and an absolutist gun culture.”
Panneton writes that “Radical Traditional Catholics perpetuate their own cottage industries of goods and services that amplify radicalization.” The Atlantic author rejects gunmetal-finished crucifixes and replicas of the “combat rosaries” given to soldiers in World War I.
True, battle imagery can be found in Scripture, and since the first century battle language has been used as the main analogy for how Christians view prayer. In the New Testament, Saint Paul writes: “Put on the armor of God that you may withstand the tactics of the devil. For our warfare is not with flesh and blood, but with the princes, with the authorities, with the rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in heaven” (Ephesians 6:11-12). But in Scripture the military analogy is always used in relation to spiritual warfare and never against other people, as Panneton suggests. Paul goes on to speak of the “shield of faith,” “the helmet of salvation,” and “the sword of the Spirit.” Padre Pio, John Paul II and Mother Teresa rightly call the rosary a weapon, but it is used only in spiritual warfare.
But despite the article’s catechetical flaws (the first subheading referred to the Rosary as a sacrament!), we should heed its warning of how our tradition can be undermined by movements that contradict Church teaching. In fact, perhaps the article’s most uncomfortable point for Catholics lies in its partial accuracy. There are indeed extremists – members of the so-called “alt-right” – who have adopted traditional Catholic imagery to try to draw faithful Catholics in a radical political direction. Despite the fact that most alt-right leaders proudly call themselves atheists or pagans, they feel no qualms about adopting Catholic symbols when it serves their political purposes. Alternately aggressive and coaxing, they have targeted staunch Catholics, particularly on social media, with political appeals wrapped in Catholic imagery — including, yes, the rosary.
Interestingly, Panneton seems unaware of this concerted effort, instead trying to suggest that something about Catholicism itself led to the phenomenon he is describing. (At another point in the history of Panneton’s article, it was titled “How Rad-Trad Catholics Weaponized the Rosary.”)
Nor does Panneton acknowledge that members of the alt-right have exploited the real political violence suffered by churches and pro-life centers to try to convince Catholics that violence is therefore justified on their side. Panneton raises the specter of Christian violence, but the reality he overlooks is that those who have attempted to draw Christians in this direction can point to numerous examples of violence against Christian churches and ministries.
As we have already written, violence against Catholic churches is increasing in America. The USCCB reports, “As of May 2020, at least 160 incidents have occurred in 37 states and the District of Columbia.” American flags being burned alongside, and other destruction and vandalism.” Catholic institutions have invested in security plans, additional police, cameras and myriad other protective measures in the wake of this significant spate of violence.
We must stand firm in the face of grave ills, such as attempts to redefine marriage or expand the availability of abortion, but we must never support or further our causes with actual violence or even with language that suggests a spirit of violence . The battle language in the Christian tradition promotes discipline, strength, steadfastness, and courage against the spiritual forces that “roam the world seeking the ruin of souls.” It must be preserved. However, Saint Paul also taught the Ephesians: “All bitterness, anger, anger, crying, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31).
To hesitate to condemn what lies behind the pale wounds of tradition’s integrity instead of preserving it. As the old medical analogy goes, if a limb becomes gangrenous, it must be cut off to preserve the body. While we are right to object to the ways in which The Atlantic has mischaracterized the faith – indeed, these must be corrected – we must also be clear about condemning those who use our sacred prayers and symbols for would use for their own nefarious ends.
Our Sunday Visitor Editorial Board: Gretchen R. Crowe, Scott P. Richert, Scott Warden, York Young