The Way of the Warrior Saint

Book excerpt: The Way of the Warrior Saint promotes self-sacrifice—or crucifixional living—as the cure for the modern fallacy of taking the easy route in life. Modeled on Jesus’ victory over death through His voluntary suffering on the cross, it spotlights heroes who through self-sacrifice became exceptional and reputable individuals. You don’t have to believe the tenets of the Christian faith to see that the mechanism of self-sacrifice is the way to find greatness within you. Even a cursory examination reveals that the Christ story serves as the model for all our great stories. The likes of Luke Skywalker, Jon Snow, Catniss, Tony Stark, Elsa, Harry Potter, Batman, Wonder Woman, Pinocchio, Horus and Perseus. All of our heroes found their victory through the sacrifice of self. But the crucifixional model isn’t just for the movies. We find the same message in sports, the kitchen, marriage and everywhere else we look. If you want to live a life based on wisdom in the service of others, you’ll find a refreshing Christian perspective that drives results in this book. “Personal achievement advice has been with us since time immemorial, but in The Way of the Warrior Saint, an American parish priest from Arizona, Fr. Chris Salamy, takes it to another level by overlaying a powerfully Christian teaching on top of the traditional wisdom of the ages. His unique message for exceptional living, through what he terms a crucifixional life, is an important concept and a must read, especially for all dads and younger men.” —Dean G. Popps, former Assistant Secretary of the United States Army “The Way of the Warrior Saint is a helpful read for anyone who is trying to put faith into action. It is filled with real life challenges, engaging stories, solid principles, and practical tips to help the reader navigate life’s uncertainties with clear direction. Father Chris distills his years of ministry experience into memorable and applicable ‘takeaways’ that can help each one of us and all of us live a life that honors God and serves others.” —Tim Tassopoulos, President and COO, Chick-fil-A, Inc. “The Way of the Warrior Saint is a work of art. Fr. Chris identifies the missing link in our lives that allows us to conquer anything and live successfully. The concept of living a crucifixional life to overcome and win is genius and a tool that everyone should embody. This book is a must read for anyone that has faced challenges and wants to live more powerfully.” —Dr. Eric J. Scroggins, author of Vision Blockers, life & business coach, CEO of EricScroggins.com “In The Way of the Warrior Saint, Fr. Chris draws from his personal experiences to paint a vivid and compelling case for taking up the ‘crucifixional’ way of life. Not only does Fr. Chris inspire his reader but he also gently guides them towards a fuller Christian life. I highly recommend this often humorous and bare-knuckled book by one of the Church’s preeminent pastors it will engage every reader who wants to live courageously for Christ.” —Father Evan Armatas, Host of Orthodoxy Live on Ancient Faith Radio and author of Toolkit for Spiritual Growth: A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving