"The Enduring Spirit of the Alcázar" by Roberto de Mattei.

translated from Portuguese. You can read the original text here. 

The Siege of the Alcázar of Toledo stands as one of the most epic chapters of the Spanish Civil War, which, between 1936 and 1939, saw a brutal confrontation between the Nationalist and Catholic forces on one side, and the Republican and Social-Communist Popular Front on the other. The siege began on July 21, 1936—just days after the outbreak of the Civil War—and lasted until September 27, when the besieged were finally rescued by the army of General Francisco Franco.

The Alcázar was a medieval fortress and home to the Military Academy, located in the city of Toledo, within territory controlled by the Popular Front. To escape the massacres initiated by Communist and Anarchist militias—the armed wing of the Republican government—about 1,800 people took refuge within the fortress walls, under the protection of Colonel José Moscardó, the Academy’s commandant. They included young cadets, members of the Civil Guard, and around 500 civilians—elderly men, women, and children. The Republican forces vastly outnumbered them in both troops and firepower. Food and ammunition were scarce, and the Nationalist army was far away. Yet the defenders resolved to hold out to the bitter end.

Their heroic spirit is symbolized by a famous episode. The Communist Popular Militia captured Colonel Moscardó’s 17-year-old son, Luis, who had been outside the Alcázar. The militia’s commander, Cándido Cabello, called the colonel and threatened to execute his son unless the fortress surrendered. He gave him ten minutes to decide and handed the phone to the boy. Colonel Moscardó spoke these moving words to his son:

— “Commend your soul to God and die like a patriot, shouting ‘Long live Christ the King’ and ‘Long live Spain!’”

— “I will, Father,” Luis replied. He was executed two days later.

The colonel then turned to the Red commander and said:

— “You can save the ten minutes you offered me. The Alcázar will never surrender.”

The siege lasted 72 days, during which the defenders endured a barrage of infantry assaults, aerial bombardments, artillery fire, tear gas attacks, and relentless rifle shots. Inside the fortress, survival depended on small rations of horse meat and stale bread. Water came from the putrid cistern inside the stronghold.

In the final phase of the siege, red miners from Asturias dug three tunnels beneath the Alcázar, planting powerful explosives under its walls. But even this desperate attempt failed. Only part of the building collapsed, and the rubble fell outside the perimeter—ironically forming an even greater obstacle to the attackers.

Finally, on September 27, 1936, Nationalist forces succeeded in breaking the siege and liberating the heroic defenders of the fortress.

To General José Enrique Varela, commander of the victorious army, Colonel Moscardó, saluting smartly, repeated what had been the besieged garrison’s daily bulletin from the very beginning:

“Nothing new at the Alcázar, my general.”

In the days that followed, Moscardó would often repeat:

“Todo fue un milagro en el Alcázar” – “Everything was a miracle at the Alcázar.”

And if a miracle occurred, it was because these soldiers and civilians—men and women brought together within the Alcázar by a mysterious design of Providence—did all they could in the struggle, supporting and encouraging one another, and above all, entrusting themselves with immense faith to the aid of Our Lady. Our Lady of the Tabernacle (Nuestra Señora del Sagrario), patroness of Toledo, did not fail them. Colonel Moscardó had converted the infirmary into a chapel, placing a statue of the Blessed Virgin there. When the mines exploded and that section of the fortress collapsed in a cloud of dust, the statue remained untouched. Around it, a few women prayed unharmed, while the debris formed yet more insurmountable barriers to the attacking militia.

But the greatest help the besieged received from Heaven was not material—it was the grace of fortitude, the unshakable determination to fight to the end, rejecting any dishonorable surrender. The sacrifice of Colonel Moscardó’s son instilled supernatural courage in the defenders of the Alcázar, who from that moment swore to fight until victory or death. And for them, victory came.

The Alcázar remains a historical symbol of that spiritual fortress into which we too must retreat in order to withstand the terrible siege of our time—a siege that is above all psychological and moral. We are attacked by an enemy that seeks to destabilize our minds, destroy our inner defenses, plunge us into confusion, and subject us to the masters of chaos. Yet there exist spiritual families—friends of the Cross and of the fight—who do not flee from the battle.

In his Letter to the Friends of the Cross, so fitting for reflection during Lent, Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort writes:

    “Friends of the Cross! You have joined yourselves as crucified soldiers to fight against the world—not fleeing from it, like religious men and women, for fear of defeat—but as brave and valiant warriors who enter the battlefield, never retreating or turning their backs to the enemy. Courage! Fight with strength! Be deeply united in spirit and heart. This unity among you is far stronger and more formidable against the world and hell than any external force of a nation united against the enemies of a state.”

Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, in his commentary on Montfort’s Letter, invoked precisely the enduring spirit of the Alcázar as the key to deeply understanding it.

The Alcázar can also be an association, a cultural center, or a small group of lay Catholics—men and women united by their love for God and the Church, their devotion to Divine Providence and to the Blessed Virgin. Above all, the spiritual and moral Alcázar is our own heart: an unassailable fortress, if Our Lady has a place within it. In that case, on the day we stand before the judgment of God, we may be able to repeat not the words of Colonel Moscardó, but those of Saint Paul (2 Tim 4:7–8):

“My General, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me.”

Alcazar of Toledo.

 

Our Lady of Tabernacle.

 

Blessed Noël-Hilaire Le Conte.

 

Born in 3 October 1765 in Chartres, Eure-et-Loir, France, son of a gardner.

Priest in the diocese of Bourges, France where he also was the director of music of Bruges cathedral. His talent and dedication enriched the liturgical celebrations, creating a sacred atmosphere through choral and instrumental performances.

Unfortunately, during the anti-Catholic persecutions of the French Revolution, Noël-Hilaire's faith would be severely tested. In a time when practicing Catholicism was deemed dangerous, he remained steadfast in his devotion and continued to fulfill his priestly duties.

However, his unwavering commitment to the Catholic Church led to his eventual capture and imprisonment. Noôlhilaire was confined on a ship in the harbor of Rochefort, France, where he was left to die alongside many other victims of the anti-Catholic persecutions. The conditions on these prison ships, known as "hulks," were harsh, with disease, malnutrition, and cruel treatment taking countless lives.

He died in 17 August 1794 aboard the prison ship Deux-Associés, in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France, being one of the Martyrs of the Hulks of Rochefort.

Recognizing the heroic virtue and martyrdom of Blessed Noël-Hilaire Le Conte, Pope John Paul II declared him to be venerable on 2 July 1994. He was officially beatified on 1 October 1995 by the same Pope, honoring his sacrifice and his unwavering commitment to the Catholic faith.

 

A hulk.

Sources:

Saint for a Minute. 

Catholic Saints.

Exorcist Diary #333: "Help, I can't find an exorcist."

 

Msgr. Stephen Rossetti -     Mar 1 2025

Daily I receive emails from people around the globe crying out for help saying, "Help me!  I can't find an exorcist."  My heart goes out to these suffering people who cannot find an exorcist, whom they believe they must have to solve their problems. 

There are about 150 exorcists in the entire United States.  Due to the shortage of priests, most of these exorcists are also busy pastors and have limited time to conduct exorcisms.  There are a number of exorcists in other countries such as Italy and the Philippines. But more than a few countries have a handful or none at all.

On the other hand, the request for exorcists has exploded.  There are likely many reasons including the increased public awareness of this ministry beginning with the popular books of Fr. Gabriel Amorth the stellar exorcist from Rome.  But many of us believe that there are simply more possessed and oppressed people than ever before. 

Why? First, practicing the faith has dwindled considerably in previously devout areas.  The best spiritual protection is the shield of faith in Christ (Eph 6:11-17).  Second, virtuous living is also on the decline in many areas.  Sin creates a vulnerability to the Evil One.  Third, and particularly deadly, the practices of the occult, witchcraft, divination and other demonic portals have risen sharply.  For example, WitchTok, a subset of TikTok for witches, boasts over 30 billion views. 

What to do if you have demons and cannot get an exorcist?  Don't panic.  An exorcism is a powerful tool to free the fully possessed, but the ordinary means of ridding oneself of demons are readily at hand.  Fr. Amorth said that a good confession is worth more than an exorcism.  This is definitely true.  The sacraments are the primary means of ridding ourselves from demons and sanctifying our souls.

Could there be any better exorcistic practice than a holy daily Eucharist?  I was doing an exorcism not long ago and I said to the demons, "Did he go to Mass this morning and receive Jesus in the Eucharist?"  The demons howled in agony.

To this, I would add regular Eucharistic adoration, daily rosary, and if needed, some daily deliverance prayers.  There are many on our app ("Catholic Exorcism") and website (www.catholicexorcism.org).  There are also daily deliverance prayers found on the Auxilium Christianorum app and website (https://auxiliumchristianorum.org/).  There are many other effective deliverance spiritual practices such as daily meditation on the Bible, and more.

People sometimes say:  "I have done all that and I still have demons."  When I ask how long they have been praying, they might say a few weeks or months.  But for the truly possessed, the process of liberation typically takes 2-4 years, if everything works well.  And some residual demonic harassment can be lifelong.  If the person has been doing all this, and living a virtuous life for many years, it may be that their discernment that demons are directly responsible for their sufferings is inaccurate.  They might look for other explanations for their suffering and inner torment. 

It is a special grace to have a priest exorcist and his team working with a possessed person on a weekly basis.  At SMC we provide holistic care including spiritual direction, referral to a Catholic mental health professional, and a supportive team approach.  The number of people we can help this way is very limited, and it will always be.  But the vast majority of those who suffer from a demonic affliction are not possessed, but rather suffer a lesser form-- oppressed/vexed or obsessed.  They need a less intense intervention, i.e. deliverance prayers and a solid Catholic spiritual life.

With the arrival of the internet, a new source of information and help is now available.+++  We have 238k followers on social media with lots of short, informative videos, and each month our online deliverance sessions have about 25k participants, from all over the world.+  The faithful, in far flung areas, who would likely never have access to an exorcist, can now pray with one.  They can be informed by experienced exorcists' videos and writings.  They can pray with effective deliverance prayers found online.

Can't find an exorcist?  The great majority of those who are demonically afflicted are not fully possessed and don't need one.  And, if you diligently use all the resources the Catholic Church has to offer everyone, you will slowly, steadily move toward liberation and healing. All true sanctification is a slow, steady process. 

This life is difficult and often a "vale of tears."  Trust in Jesus.   

 

You can read the original text here. 

Blessed Marie-Élisabeth Turgeon.

 

“With Christ’s protection, a spider web can be stronger than a brick wall without his protection, a brick wall can be as flimsy as a spider’s web.”—Blessed Marie-Élisabeth Turgeon

 

Élisabeth was born in Beaumont, Quebec, Canada, in 1840 as one of nine children to Louis-Marc Turgeon and Angèle Labrecque.

As a child, she made frequent visits to the church and felt a religious call which solidified as she grew older. Turgeon's father died when she was 15 and she remained in the care of her mother during this time. She would graduate from the Laval Normal School in Quebec in 1862 and taught at several schools after her graduation in places like Saint-Romuald and Saint-Roch.

On 3 April 1875 at the invitation of Bishop Jean Langevin (first bishop of Rimouski) she entered the Sisters of the Little Schools and made her profession of vows alongside twelve others on 12 September 1879. She was known in religious life as Marie-Élisabeth.

Marie-Élisabeth formed a new religious community known as the Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary. She wrote textbooks for her sisters to use in their classes and, today, the sisters are also involved in adult education and serve in number locations, including Newfoundland, Honduras, Peru, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Lebanon.

As she fell ill, she continued to direct the order and its functioning. Emergencies in her health on 23 March 1881 and 26 March led to her doctor and confessor being called in to perform medical examinations and the Anointing of the Sick. Bedridden, she was dying in August and the order led prayer vigils for her health. On 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption, she met with professed members of the order and the next day, she knew that her end was near. At 12:20am on 17 August, Turgeon died.

Turgeon was cleared for beatification in 2014 after a miracle that had found to have been attributed to her intercession was cleared. She was beatified on 26 April 2015 in Canada by Cardinal Angelo Amato on behalf of Pope Francis.

 

Sources: 

Aleteia

Wikipedia

“Exorcist Diary #344: Three Things Demons Don't Want You to Know” by Msgr. Stephen Rossetti

 

               One of the torments for those afflicted by demons is a voice in their heads that constantly belittles and tears them down.  In hell, demons constant condemn and disparage its human denizens.  Demons bring this "hell" with them when they roam the earth.  Thus, the demonically afflicted in this life experience aspects of hell.  A destructive mental torment is one of them.

               But demons are inveterate liars.  Everything they say, unless commanded by God to tell the truth, is either a lie or a manipulation.  What they do not want you to hear or to know is the Truth. 

               I offer three truths that the demons do not want you to know:

                          +You are beautiful.  God made you in His image and He is beautiful. Demons try to entice you to believe that you are worthless.  The Truth is you have an unrepeatable supernatural dignity and worth.  Moreover, because of your baptism, confirmation and Eucharist, you are now a temple of the Holy Spirit.  Demons want you to deny this and they tempt you to choose evil and sin. 

                           +You are infinitely loved by God.  Demons want you to think that God doesn't care about you.  They tell you that you are alone and abandoned.  They try to isolate their intended victims and then darken their thinking.  The Truth is that you have a divine love that is unique to you.  God focuses His infinite love on you and showers you personally with an overflowing abundance of His love. 

                         +You are forgiven.  Demons constantly torment us with our sins and weaknesses.  They will tell us that we are hopeless and rejected.  They tempt us to despair.  And they will tell you that everyone is better off without you.  These are all demonic lies.  Jesus paid the price.  The Truth is God forgives your sins: your sins are swallowed up in the ocean of God's mercy.  God the Father is waiting at the edge of his property to welcome you, the prodigal child, to His and to your home.

               Whenever you hear messages that you are worthless, unloved, alone and rejected, be assured that these messages ultimately come from the bowels of hell.  Sadly, these lies are sometimes conveyed to us by other human beings including family members, even parents.

               When we hear these demonic lies, whether directly from demons or from the mouths of humans, we might use the three R's: I reject it; I rebuke it; I renounce it, and I cast it out.  We then replace it with the Truth: God made me beautiful; He loves me with an infinite love; all of my sins are swallowed up in His mercy. 

               Moreover, God has a place for you in His home, and He is waiting.  Focus your heart on Him so that when the time comes, the saints and angels will escort you to your heavenly home. That is the Truth!

 

You can read the original text here.