Chronica Majora

Friday, March 21, 2003

 
Anno Domini 1237. The Templars and Hospitallers dwelling in the western countries courageously prepared to avenge the blood of their brethren which had been shed for Christ. The Hospitallers sent their prior, Theodoric, German by birth, and a most clever knight, with a body of other knights and stipendiary attendants, and a large sum of money, to the assistance of the Holy Land. They, having made all their arrangements, set out from their house at Clerkenwell, in London, and proceeded in good order, with about thirty shields uncovered, with spears raised, and preceded by their banner, though the midst of the city towards the bridge, that they might obtain the blessings of the spectators, and, bowing their heads, and with cowls lowered, commended themselves to the prayers of all.
Matthew 6:49 AM

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

 
In our modern day, a reporter from the old country gives the unfortunate impression that the British do not pray.

I am talking about Mr and Mrs Average in Normaltown, USA.

Mr and Mrs Average share an uncomplicated faith with its roots in the puritanism of their forebears.

...Americans will talk of praying as if it were the most normal, rational thing to do.

It is not unusual to see people walking the White House corridors with a Bible in hand

The jolly plump woman who delivers our mail in the Washington suburbs has a son who is ill - the doctors are doing their best, she says, but she's praying hard and that's what'll do the trick.

But that is not the worst of his wickedness. He states firmly and in a clear voice that, "My wife and I do not believe in God." No, it is not his atheism which I find sinful here, it is the accompanying disbelief in evil.

According to that faith there is such a thing as heaven - 86% of Americans, we are told by the pollsters, believe in heaven.

But much more striking to me, and much more pertinent to current world events, is the fact that 76% or three out of four people you meet on any American street believe in hell and the existence of Satan.

They believe that the devil is out to get you. That evil is a force in the world - a force to be engaged in battle.

Even if you are so misguided as to believe there is no God, you should be able to recognize that there is evil in the world. How very sad, and somewhat frightening, that there are people who do not believe in the battle between good and evil. It is those souls who wil certainly lose it for all of us. Let us pray for him and all like him.
Matthew 7:19 AM

Monday, March 17, 2003

 
Anno Domini 1237. Amongst others who came to the council, was one Master Walter Pruz, a clerk, who publicly declared that almost all the planets were then coming together under one sign of the zodiac, namely Capricorn, and would cause great commotion in the elements, and stir up heavy storms of wind; and foretold that a great destruction of animals, especially horned ones, would ensue, and added, as if in jest, "May it not be of horned men," that is, "of bishops." This prediction of his was not altogether void of truth, for on a sudden, St.Paul's church, where they were all assembled, was suddenly shaken by such a storm of wind, that great fear seized on all, especially on the legate. On the night of St. Cecilia's day, too, the moon being in it first quarter, extraordinary black clouds, of tower-like form, appeared in the western part of the heavens; thunder began to roar, lightning to dart forth, and the wind to rise, and throughout the whole night and following day such a heavy storm of wind raged as was never remembered to have occurred before, and this storm continued for fifteen days more without interruption. Oaks were torn up from their roots and fell; houses, towers, and other buildings were thrown down or shaken, so that the elements seemed to join in the perturbation of man.
Matthew 7:32 AM