Where is this war? Where shall it be fought? It is waged every day in our communities and our societies. It is waged over airwaves and print. It is waged in quiet and subtle ways, but it is a war nevertheless. Anything which walks us down the "other" path cannot lead to the path of salvation. In vision our days are described as a war. Unlike the clear earlier reference to the particular event of Columbus' discovery, this "war" is an image, a symbol, rather than a particular war.
The saints should not wait to gird for battle until they see a physical war coming. The real war is already enjoined.