In every century of Christianity, lives of serious discipleship have been lived in response to--not in isolation from--the state of the Church and the world. The inherent link between history and Catholic spirituality, between holiness and the dark forces at work in a given era, is as real and pertinent today as ever. In this powerful work that may very well prove prophetic, renowned spiritual writer Fr. Donald Haggerty plumbs the depths of this connection, offering a profound reflection on the signs of the times, both inside and outside the Church, and unfolding their implications for believers today. Echoing Ra ssa Maritain's remark that 'Jesus will be in agony till the end of the world,' this book posits that the Church may live out, within history, a trial mirroring the Passion of her Lord--and that union with Jesus' suffering must be central in the spiritual lives of her individual members. Against a darkening historical backdrop, the would-be saints of today must be ready to