Crossword Genius

Struggles to maintain faith in the past (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

crusades

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'struggles' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for crusades that I've seen before include "wars" , "Military expeditions by Christians to recapture the Holy Land" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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