About ARMOR

ARMOR's name was inspired by Ephesians 6:11, where we read that the "armor of God" enables us to withstand the "tactics of the devil". These tactics include habits that hurt our relationship with God, others, and ourselves, and the outcome is less happiness.

"Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil."
-Ephesians 6:11

The military stencil font style of the name and motto represents the spiritual warfare that St. Paul suggests in Ephesians 6:12-13, and ARMOR is an active engagement in spiritual warfare against the devil's tactics as a response to the universal call to holiness.

"Our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.”
-Ephesians 6:12-13

ARMOR's "Grow in Virtue" motto is rooted in Ephesians 6:14-17, which Pope Paul VI alluded to in the last section of his address to a General Audience in 1972, where he recalled “how often the apostolic method of teaching used the armor of a soldier as a symbol for the virtues that can make a Christian invulnerable. The Christian must be a militant; he must be vigilant and strong; and he must at times make use of special ascetical practices to escape from certain diabolical attacks. Jesus teaches us this by pointing to ‘prayer and fasting’ as the remedy. And the Apostle [St. Paul] suggests the main line we should follow: ‘Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’” (Romans 12:21, emphasis added) 

"So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
-Ephesians 6:14-17

The "Grow in Virtue" motto is further shaped by the following excerpt from Manual for Spiritual Warfare:

"The virtues provide our defensive armor... [and] are our best defense against [the devil’s] attacks, for they guard our minds and hearts against his deceptions and temptations. A lapse in virtue is in fact a chink in our armor that makes us vulnerable."
-Manual for Spiritual Warfare

ARMOR equips people to engage better in spiritual warfare by overcoming evil (vices) with good (virtues). Exercising better habits daily enables one to grow in virtue and happiness.

ARMOR uses a black dog tag as a constant reminder to grow in virtue, and it is packed with symbolism:

• Memento Mori - The purpose of using dog tags in the military is to identify the body of one who was killed in battle. ARMOR uses it to symbolize the "memento mori" (remember death) mindset, which reminds us that physical death is inevitable (Genesis 3:19) and that dying to self is necessary to grow in virtue and be holy. (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23)

• Spiritual Warfare - Elite U.S. military special operations teams use black dog tags for stealth in combat, and ARMOR uses it to symbolize the spiritual combat we actively engage against an enemy more powerful than any earthly enemy. Jesus alluded to this truth in Matthew 10:28, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna."

• Faith - The theological virtue of faith is symbolized in Ephesians 6:16, which says to "hold faith as a shield to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one" so that we believe in God and all the truths He has revealed to us instead of the lies that the devil would have us believe.

• Hope - The theological virtue of hope is symbolized in Ephesians 6:17, where the "helmet of salvation" protects the mind from temptation to despair.

• Charity - The theological virtue of charity is symbolized in Ephesians 6:14. To be "clothed with righteousness as a breastplate" is symbolic of the breastplate protecting our heart, which is a symbol of our will that makes choices for or against God.

• Prudence - The cardinal virtue of prudence is also symbolized in Ephesians 6:14, where righteousness is being rightly related to God and others by loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind and by loving others as we love ourselves. Love consists in choosing and doing what is right and good, and knowing what is right and good requires wisdom.

• Justice - The cardinal virtue of justice is symbolized in Ephesians 6:15, where having "your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace" is demonstrating peace with God and others by fairness to both.

• Fortitude - The cardinal virtue of fortitude is also symbolized in Ephesians 6:15. Having "your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace" requires courage to demonstrate peace.

• Temperance - The cardinal virtue of temperance is symbolized in Ephesians 6:14, where to "stand fast with your loins girded in truth" is to seek and live the truth about what it means to love God, others, and ourselves rightly with respect to moderating all pleasures of the flesh as represented by the "loins".

Do I need to be Catholic to join ARMOR?

While ARMOR uses Catholic prayers in a faith-based approach to behavioral change, people of any faith or no faith are invited to join.

How is ARMOR different from other approaches to behavioral change?

Other approaches to behavioral change focus on avoiding specific undesirable behaviors that hurt and weaken relationships with God, others, or self. In contrast, ARMOR is a faith-based approach that focuses on practicing specific desirable behaviors that heal and strengthen those relationships and replace the undesirable behaviors.

What else can I do in addition to ARMOR?

While ARMOR enables better habits to grow in virtue and happiness, all are encouraged to work with these additional people to live a happier life:

• Certified spiritual directors help with guidance on the spiritual journey.

• Professional counselors help to address psychological pain and trauma.

• Life coaches help with identifying and exercising new habits to grow in virtue.