SAS Operator Prayed This Before Engaging Attackers 😳
A SAS operator discusses why he recited the Hail Mary prayer immediately before engaging attackers in combat. He explains it was an instinctive reaction rooted in his strong Catholic faith and personal connection to the Virgin Mary, reflecting on the importance of Marian devotion in his spiritual journey.
Summary
In this interview excerpt, a former SAS (Special Air Service) operator recounts a significant moment from his operational experience. When asked why he chose to pray the Hail Mary specifically before engaging two attackers, rather than any other prayer or spontaneous address to God, the operator explains that it was simply his immediate, instinctive reaction—the first prayer that came to mind in that high-stakes moment. He attributes this spontaneous choice to his long-standing Catholic faith and, more specifically, to a deep personal connection he has maintained with the Virgin Mary throughout his spiritual journey. The operator notes that a mentor figure named Father Anthony, who guided his conversion to Catholicism, had previously highlighted and affirmed this natural inclination toward Marian devotion. To illustrate the significance of Mary's role in Catholic faith, the operator shares an anecdote that Father Anthony told him. In this story, an Anglican vicar questions a Catholic priest about the Catholic emphasis on the Virgin Mary, asking what would happen if they reached heaven and found only Jesus present. The Catholic priest responds with a poignant answer: he hopes Jesus will say, 'My mother's told me so much about you, and I'm so pleased to meet you.' This anecdote underscores the Catholic understanding of Mary as an intercessor and the deep relationship between Christ and his mother, suggesting that devotion to Mary is ultimately a way of drawing closer to Jesus himself.
Key Insights
- The operator recited the Hail Mary as an instinctive reaction immediately before engaging attackers, describing it as the first prayer that sprung to mind in that critical moment.
- The operator attributes his instinctive choice of the Hail Mary to a long-established strong personal connection with the Virgin Mary that developed throughout his spiritual journey as a Catholic.
- Father Anthony, the operator's Catholic mentor, specifically highlighted and affirmed the operator's natural inclination toward strong devotion to the Blessed Lady.
- According to the anecdote shared, a Catholic priest responds to questions about Marian devotion by framing it as a path to Christ, hoping Jesus will acknowledge that 'my mother's told me so much about you.'
- The operator frames Marian devotion not as separate from Christ but as fundamentally connected to building a relationship with Jesus through his mother.
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] We could start this off with a prayer. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among [music] women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. You said that prayer [music] right before you engaged two of the attackers. You could have said any prayer, you could have made up a prayer, you could [music] have just talked to God. Why did you choose the Hail Mary? >> It was a quick reaction. That was the first thing that sprung to mind. And even from my journey becoming a [music] [0:32] Catholic, I've always…
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