Principalities and Powers: Spiritual Combat 1942–1943

by Father George William Rutler

This book is a “You Are There” approach to a portion of the Second World War, specifically the decisive years of 1942–1943. While referencing the events which are part of well-recorded history, Fr. Rutler gives a monthly commentary on them, drawn from letters, newspapers, and journals. This information might well have been lost, especially as most of these documents are rare and, having been printed on rationed paper, are deteriorating.

Besides the concern for generally unknown details of people and events, the book presses the theme that “the Second World War can rightly be understood and probably only fully appreciated as a holy war fought for multiple and mixed motives, but in its deepest meaning as a campaign against evil by defenders, consciously or obliviously, of the good.” While its principle focus is on the way the Catholic Church confronted enemies of humanity, a wide variety of institutions and colorful characters find a place.

Of particular interest, and perhaps something of a revelation, are insights into the personalities who played their parts in this titanic spiritual combat: saints and sinners, the famous as well as those who are forgotten today and who were little known even then. A message to be learned is that human nature never changes, and that the test of character in the struggles of the world’s greatest war is a litmus for how we should and should not behave in the challenges of our own generation.

Genres: War, History

184 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2013

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a Paul Harvey ‘Rest of the Story’ feel for me. It seemed to pick up where the rest of World War II histories leave off. Without all the detail of a Harvey broadcast, the focal was on the spiritual* which Christians know to be the deepest reality.

In Principalities and Powers we catch a glimpse—and sadly it is little more than that—of the saints and sinners who battled ‘the powers of this dark world’ during two critical years (1942-1943) of the Second World War, of all wars one which fought on and for principles. Fr. Rutler has organized the book roughly chronologically, with a chapter for each of the months. He often anticipates an individual’s future fate, further demonstrating the just mercy of God.

I recognized many people, places and events and yet there were so many more I didn’t. Even those I thought I knew popped up in unexpected situations. If anyone has any doubts about Pope Pius XII’s dedication to fighting the Nazis, helping save all especially Jewish life, and most especially the lives of children, they need look no farther than this book¹.

Another thing I appreciated was reading about the various priest martyrs. Seldom in my secular reading about WWII have I run across much information about the priests who suffered and/or died at the hands of the Nazis and yet there is evidence in abundance. They hated and hunted Catholic priests with a vengeance. In concentration camps priests were often segregated from other prisoners and made a pretense of giving them better rations and treatment to get other inmates to turn on them. This also restricted priests from ministering to those who most needed them.

One point, this is not a smooth narrative read, as each chapter consists of anywhere from 5 to 8 brief vignettes, roughly overlapping and loosely connected thematically. You must read UP to this author. His erudition demands it. Check out the link below.

Originally I’d planned to read this book and then pass it along to my parish priest. Since finishing it, however, I plan to keep my copy for reference and rereading.

Most excellent! Highly recommended!

*In the Nicene Creed we profess to believe in ‘all things visible and invisible’ and as St. Paul says, in Ephesians 6:12-17: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

¹It was the Pope’s constant concern. And yet, he also realized how much more damage he could do through haste, force, direct confrontation and nettling the pride of someone as volatile as Hitler. As it was Pius affected many rescue successes behind the scenes. The many awards he received from grateful Jews and Israelis after the war were testimony to the lives he was able to save.


December 18, 2015: This article made me want to read this book.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, written by an American Catholic priest, looks at the religious aspects of World War II. I thought he did a good job of both highlighting Christians who heroically resisted the Nazis, or tried to protect their victims, and those who went along with the Third Reich's ideology. However, the book only covers two years (1942 and 1943), so it does not really provide adequate background to everything that had gone on before during the rise of Hitler, and the early days of the war. The author also writes each chapter as a separate essay, so although they appear in chronological order, there is plenty of material missing, and there are not good transitions between the chapters. Finally, the author includes plenty of digs at people who he does not like, which are typically not really related to the point that he is making, and somewhat undermine his overall project.