"It is a striking experience in the history of the Church that we have, as canonized saints, more soldiers than from any other profession; and this is reasonable, for the definition of sanctity is bravery supernaturalized."
- Francis Cardinal Spellman

"The soldier is guiltless who, actuated not by motives of ambition or cruelty, but by a pure desire of serving the interests of his country, takes away the life of an enemy in a just war. Furthermore, there are on record instances of carnage executed by the special command of God. The sons of Levi, who put to death so many thousands in one day, were guilty of no sin; when the slaughter had ceased, they were addressed by Moses in these words: 'You have consecrated your hands this day to the Lord'...If a man kill another in self-defence, having used every means consistent with his own safety to avoid the infliction of death, he evidently does not violate this Commandment."
- The Roman Catechism (Catechism of the Council of Trent)