Book Review - Terror of Demons: Reclaiming Traditional Catholic Masculinity



As I write this, there have been and continue to be riots across the country. It’s mob violence using a man’s death at the hands of a morally corrupt cop as an excuse. There’s a sharp division between those who want real law and order and those who simply want to rape and pillage, whether it’s to satisfy their own pleasure or to overthrow the government and establish a communist state.

 

The reason I mention the above to start a book review is to highlight an immediate example to which Terror of Demons is an answer to – the contagion of effeminacy (reluctance to suffer due to a disordered attachment to pleasure). There are very few virtuous men, not only in secular society but among the hierarchy of Holy Mother Church.

 

I freely admit that effeminacy has been a struggle for most of my life. I grew up in comfort with a father physically and financially present but morally absent. I had very few examples of authentically Catholic men in my life to turn to for guidance. Even books were woefully lacking. For anyone who thinks Be a Man by Fr. Larry Richards is a standard to follow, I vehemently disagree. I can’t stand a motivational speaking style with very little substance or concrete practices to follow. Kennedy Hall has finally filled that void.

 

As men, we are called to fight. As men, we are designed to lead and protect those whom we love from grave harm both physically and morally. A pagan and pleasure-centered society that attacks the Faith any which way it can (ultimately led by the father of lies) makes our duty as men humanly impossible and a seemingly hopeless battle. This book is both a clarion call and a practical manual for how to be real Christian soldiers.

 

He reminds us that the devil and his minions are very real and actively try to take us away from God by any means necessary. Satan’s primary tactic today is through all sorts of pleasure and comforts that make men soft and useless. Internet lust is by far the most effective means of making us his slaves and wreaking havoc in our lives.

 

The way out is through consistent mortification of our senses. We must deny ourselves the small comforts that lull us to sleep and make us physically and spiritually flabby. We must embrace suffering and engage in physically arduous activities on a daily basis. We must cut back on our sleep, for as St. Benedict says, “the sleepy like to make excuses.” Above all we must embrace a solid prayer life, specifically the rosary, for the rosary is the weapon for our times. The rosary is the means of transforming us from wimps into warriors.

 

I believe Terror of Demons should be required reading for every man. Whether you find yourself deep in effeminacy or are looking for something to help you go from good to excellent, this is a must-read. Don’t wait. Buy it now. Begin your training now for we will be held to account for every idle moment.

 

Deus vult!

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