STRONG!

There he is, one of the Cohors Pedestris Helvetiorum a Sacra Custodia Pontificis a.k.a. the Swiss Guard, effectively the military of the Vatican City. This cohort came into being in 1506 under the aegis of Pope Julius II (who also was the patron of Michelangelo’s work on the Sistine Chapel). Huldrych Zwingli, then a Swiss Catholic (later one of the foremost of the Reformers) lauded this recruitment of the Swiss to guard the Mother Church’s freedom. Arguably, these dudes were the best mercenaries in the business, provided they were fed well and paid well. Their task was—and is—to guard the Pope and the Apostolic See.

Yes, you gotta be Swiss, Catholic, male, between 19 and 30 years old, and at least 5’ 9’’. And, if selected, you are sworn in on a May 6 in the Cortile di San Damaso (San Damaso Courtyard) in the Vatican. That day is significant. It was on May 6, 1527, that Rome was plundered by the Habsburgs, and it was only the heavy toll in life paid by the Swiss Guard—147 of 189 killed—that enabled Pope Clement VII to escape, escorted by the remainder of this valiant band.

So, if you are picked, you swear, on a May 6: “I vow to faithfully, honestly and honorably serve the reigning Pope [name] and his legitimate successors, and to dedicate myself to them with all my strength, ready to sacrifice, should it become necessary, even my own life for them.”

The motto of the Swiss Guard is inscribed proudly on their banner: Fortiter et fideliter—“Strongly and Faithfully.” As you are sworn in, your left hand touches the banner, and your right hand is raised with its first three fingers extended in three axes to represent the Trinity.

“Strongly and Faithfully.”

These guys rarely bow the knee. If you watch the telecast of a Vatican Mass, you’ll seek them kneel only once, when, during the recitation of the Nicene Creed, these words are uttered: Et incarnatus est (“And He [Jesus Christ] became Man”).

“Strongly and Faithfully.”

That’s a mandate for all of us who are believers in Jesus Christ, as well.

Be on the alert,
stand firm in the faith,
be courageous, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

“Strongly and Faithfully.”

Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and
let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14

This strength is no self-concoction, no product of auto-suggestion or positive thinking. Not at all. This strength comes from God Himself.

For this reason
I bow my knees before the Father …
that He would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory,
to be strengthened with power
through His Spirit
in the inner man.
Ephesians 3:14, 16

“Strongly and Faithfully.”

And as a result of our strengthening by God, we have a responsibility to be faithful to Him.

It is required of stewards
that one be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2

Faithful in everything—all that we say, do, and think.

Women must likewise be …
faithful in all things.
1 Timothy 3:11

(Needless to say, that goes for men, too!)

“Strongly and Faithfully.”

A tough assignment. We know that we are inadequate of ourselves to conduct ourselves strongly and faithfully.

Not that we are adequate in ourselves
to consider anything
as coming from ourselves,
but our adequacy is from God,
2 Corinthians 3:5

And by His strengthening, by the adequacy He provides, we can be strong and faithful so that, one day, we will hear from Him:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Matthew 25:21, 23

Fortiter et fideliter!