"The Great Mortal Combat of Good and Evil" by Bishop Fulton Sheen

In his profound speech, Bishop Fulton Sheen emphasizes the ongoing and often overlooked battle between the forces of good and evil. He laments the modern trend of either trivializing or denying the existence of the devil, warning that such ignorance empowers evil. Sheen explores the stark contrast between God's self-definition as "I am who am" and the devil's as "I am who am not," highlighting the devil's strength in being denied or ignored.

Sheen uses a poetic narrative to question the absence of spiritual leadership in society, and he critiques the silence of theologians on the topic of Satan and his relevance in the contemporary world. He references renowned poets and thinkers like William Butler Yeats and Friedrich Nietzsche to illustrate society's fear of impending doom and the rise of the antichrist.

Delving into the diabolic from both psychiatric and biblical perspectives, Sheen describes it as a force of division, aggression, and confusion. He stresses the importance of recognizing and resisting these forces in the church and within ourselves. Sheen admonishes the decline of discipline and the love of the cross in modern times, seeing these as indicators of diabolic influence.

Furthermore, Sheen explores the contrasting roles of Christ and Satan before and after sin. Christ appears as an obstacle during temptation but becomes a defender after sin, offering forgiveness and peace. In contrast, Satan acts as an ally during temptation but turns into an accuser post-sin, leading to despair and guilt.

Sheen concludes by warning of a rise in open Satanism and the urgent need for true faith and dedication to Christ-like values. He underscores the inevitability of confronting either the benevolent face of Christ or the malevolent face of Satan at life's end, urging a decision on where one's allegiance lies.