Amid such reckless and widespread folly of opinion, it is, as We have said, the office of the Church to undertake the defense of truth and uproot errors from the mind, and this charge has to be at all times sacredly observed by her, seeing that the honor of God and the salvation of men are confided to her keeping. But, when necessity compels, not those only who are invested with power of rule are bound to safeguard the integrity of faith, but, as St. Thomas maintains: “Each one is under obligation to show forth his faith, either to instruct and encourage others of the faithful, or to repel the attacks of unbelievers.”(12) To recoil before an enemy, or to keep silence when from all sides such clamors are raised against truth, is the part of a man either devoid of character or who entertains doubt as to the truth of what he professes to believe. In both cases such mode of behaving is base and is insulting to God, and both are incompatible with the salvation of mankind. This kind of conduct is profitable only to the enemies of the faith, for nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good. Moreover, want of vigor on the part of Christians is so much the more blameworthy, as not seldom little would be needed on their part to bring to naught false charges and refute erroneous opinions, and by always exerting themselves more strenuously they might reckon upon being successful. After all, no one can be prevented from putting forth that strength of soul which is the characteristic of true Christians, and very frequently by such display of courage our enemies lose heart and their designs are thwarted. Christians are, moreover, born for combat, whereof the greater the vehemence, the more assured, God aiding, the triumph: “Have confidence; I have overcome the world.”(13) Nor is there any ground for alleging that Jesus Christ, the Guardian and Champion of the Church, needs not in any manner the help of men. Power certainly is not wanting to Him, but in His loving kindness He would assign to us a share in obtaining and applying the fruits of salvation procured through His grace.
Pope Leo XIII, SAPIENTIAE CHRISTIANAE
Prior to the Battle of Lepanto the chaplains in the fleet preached the same sermon: No Heaven for Cowards. True then, true now. Christianity has never been a religion for cowards.
On the synod
Ordained bishops are ordained to represent and are responsible for the souls of the persons in their care as they are called by their vocation. Non ordained persons of either sex do not represent any souls but their own soul as they are not called by their vocation.
Militia est vita hominis super terram, et sicut dies mercenarii, dies eius (“Man’s life on earth is warfare, and his days are spent under the burden of work”) [Job 7:1]. No one escapes this law, not even the easygoing, who try to turn a deaf ear to it. They desert the ranks of Christ and then take up other battles to satisfy their laziness, their vanity, or their petty ambitions. They become enslaved to their every whim.
Since to be in a state of struggle is part and parcel of the human condition, let us try to fulfill our obligations with determination. Let us pray and work with good will, with upright motives, and with our sights set on what God wants. This way our longing for love will be satisfied, and we shall progress along the path to sanctity, even if we find at the end of the day that we still have a long way to go.
Renew your decision each morning, with a very determined Serviam! (“I will serve you, Lord”). Renew your resolution not to give in, not to give way to laziness or idleness; to face up to your duties with greater hope and more optimism, convinced that if we are defeated in some small skirmish we can overcome this setback by making a sincere act of love.
From “The Christian’s Hope” in Friends of God by St. Josemaría Escrivá
https://www.escrivaworks.org/book/friends_of_god-point-217.htm