Chronica Majora

2003-09-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

Anno Domini 2003. My most humble apologies to all who have come upon this blog and found it all but defunct. I have glorious visions of writing more entries, and of perhaps, adding the images which grace the pages of my original journal. Have patience, and check back from time to time. I will, with God's grace, begin blogging again soon.

2003-04-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

Anno Domini 1237. King Henry the Third, trusting to evil advice, contrary to what was his duty or expedient for him, estranged himself from his counsels of his natural subjects, and became stiff-necked against his well-wishers and those who looked to the advantage of the kingdom, and managed its affairs but little or not at all according to their advice. In order to have some cunning pretexts for extorting money from them, he declared on his oath, at a conference to which he had called the nobles from a distance, that he was entirely destitute of money and in a state of greatest need; he therefore most urgently begged of them to grant him the thirtieth part of property throughout the kingdom, that the diginity of him, the king, and that of the kingdom, might be supported in a more honourable manner, and be established on a firmer foundation. The nobles were greatly troubled at hearing this, and replied that they were so often oppressed in this way, and saw so many foreigners fattening on their property, that the king was weakened by poverty, and that manifold dangers were impending over it. However, after much discussion, inasmuch as the king humbled himself and promised that he would thenceforth abide by their counsels without hesitation, the thirtieth part of all moveable property was granted him, though not without great difficulty.

2003-04-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

My most humble apologies for the lack of blogging. Blame it on writer's cramp, if you wish.

Anno Domini 1237. In that year, about Michaelmas, the emperor, having quelled the disturbances which had broken out in Germany, and pacified all parties there, entered Italy in great force, with a determination by all means to punish the manifold injuries so often inflicted on him by the citizens of Milan. For when a short time before he returned to Germany, at the time the internal disturbances took place, which the duke of Austria had excited to his own ruin, the Milanese, on hearing of it, as it were pursuing the emperor with inexorable hatred, cruelly murdered his his followers, whom he had placed in the castles which he had gained possession of in Italy; thus daily they provoked the emperor's anger. He, therefore... entreated the pope himself, as head of the Church, to assist him in obtaining his inheritance, to punish the manifold injuries inflicted on him by the Milanese citizens, and to root out the sin of heresy from every infamous city in Italy.... The pope, however, on hearing this, dissembled and proceeded to Rome, being unwilling or unable to assist him.

2003-03-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

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.

2003-03-18T07:19:00.000-08:00

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.

2003-03-17T07:32:00.000-08:00

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.

2003-03-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1237. The Milanese, on hearing of the approach of the emperor, whom they had provoked to just anger, made all the preparations in their power for war, supplying their towers with provisions, their quivers with arrows, and furnishing arms to those who were without them. When therefore the emperor drew near with his large army, which was said to have exceeded a hundred thousand men, besides his Saracen mercenaries, and had proceeded to within a day's march of the place, the citizens, together with their allies, went forth without alarm, in great strength and battle-array to meet him, pitching a camp till the day of battle should be determined, with a host of troops amounting to about sixty thousand men, and fixed their carrochium where the army seemed strongest. At sight of this, the emperor summoned his counsellors, and encouraged them by the following war-like speech: "See how these insolent Milanese, our enemies, dare to appear against us, and presume to provoke me, their lord, to battle, enemies as they are to the truth and to the holy Church, and borne down by the weight of their sins. Cross the river, unfurl my banner, standard-bearer, and raise aloft my victorious eagle, and you, my knights, draw your formidable swords, which you have so often steeped in the blood of your enemies, and inflict your vengeance on these rats, who have dared this day to come forth from their holes to cope with the glittering spears of the Roman emperor."

2003-03-10T20:59:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, Iraq's mighty army has their own version of military excercises:

TERRIFIED Iraqi soldiers have crossed the Kuwait border and tried to surrender to British forces - because they thought the war had already started.
The motley band of a dozen troops waved the white flag as British paratroopers tested their weapons during a routine exercise.
The stunned Paras from 16 Air Assault Brigade were forced to tell the Iraqis they were not firing at them, and ordered them back to their home country telling them it was too early to surrender.

Such dedication to their craft. Its sounds as though they are, indeed, ready for the war.

2003-03-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, Human Shields are leaving Iraq. And why are they leaving that doomed country? "Safety concerns." I beg your pardon, but I had thought they were going there ready to give their lives in this great cause. How can fear for their safety cause them to flee? Well, let me tell you. That wicked dictator, Saddam Hussein, assigned various places for them to "shield"; communications infrastructures, power, water, that sort of thing. The sort of thing that will actually be attacked when the time comes. But these poor souls had gone to Iraq hoping to shield hospitals and orphanages, as if our modern military would actually target such places. They are frustrated by the Iraqi government's attempts to use them as effectively as possible. These people are all speech and no thought. If they were truly willing to die in this cause, it would not matter what they had been assigned to shield, down to munitions factories and military bases. Or is it that, perhaps, they realize that such efforts are useless, for their lily-white bodies will not stop a smart bomb from destroying its intended target. They claimed to want to protect "the children", but the fact is, the military will not target them, so they would have been relatively safe at orphanages. Would that such people, whose ideals are in the clouds and not on the earth, could see more clearly the true evil of that which they defend.

2003-03-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1237. About this time, lamentable rumours prevailed, spreading dismay throughout the Holy Land. At the death of the Sultan of Aleppo, the truce made between the Knights Templars and the said sultan expired, when the Templars, wishing to enlarge their territories for the honour of Christ, made preparations for war, purposing to lay siege to a castle called Guascum, situated at the north side of Antioch, and pitched their camp in a grassy plain near the castle, appointing William of Montferrat, a native of Auvergne and preceptor of Antioch as their chief. When, however, they approached the said castle in battle array, some captive Christians who were detained by the enemy in chains, together with some apostates, seeing their approach, cried out to them, "Fly, wretched men, fly; why are you rushing to your own destruction? You are all dead men: your enemies are ready in countless numbers to massacre you, by the command of the sultan of Aleppo, who has laid ambuscades for you." But the preceptor of Antioch, although he heard this, despised their warnings, and called them apostates and traitors. Many of the knights of the Temple, however, on calculating the chances of war, and considering their own small force and the multitude of their enemies, advised him to avoid the enemy's ambuscade till they were more fully assured of their strength. To this the preceptor replied, that he did not wish to have such timid people as were with him, in a doubtful struggle, to be partakers in such a great victory, and called them false cowards; and in this unadvised headstrong way, although numbers left him, he provoked the enemy to battle. But the latter having assembled and come upon him before he expected, he was unable to endure the shock of battle; and, contrary to the rules of the Templars, he turned his back and fled, and with him some others of his followers who had before encouraged the rest. In this battle more than a hundred knights of the Temple fell, and three hundred crossbowmen, not including some other seculars, and a large number of foot soldiers; and of the Turks, about three thousand were slain. In this unlucky conflict an illustrious Knight Templar of English extraction, named Reginald d'Argenton, who was a standard bearer on that day was slain; but he, as well as the others who fell, left a most bloody victory to their enemies, for he unweariedly defended the standard till his legs and arms were cut off. Their preceptor alone, before he was slain, sent about sixteen of the enemy to the shades below, not inculding those mortally wounded. This hateful conflict occurred in the month of June.

2003-02-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1237. [On] the 15th of April, died Richard, the second bishop of Durham of that name; a man of unparalleled piety and profound learning, who had strenuously ruled over three episcopal churches; namely those of Chichester, Salisbury, and, finally, that of Durham, which he had presided over with all prosperity, and had released it from heavy debt, incurred by the first Richard, surnamed Marsh, his predecessor. The sum of money which the aforementioned bishop, the second Richard, paid by way of settlement of the debt, was reckoned at more than four thousand marks. It also redounds to his immortal praise, that he transferred the church of Salisbury from a hollow, dry place in the neighbourhood of the earl's castle, to a fitting situation, and by the help of some famous architects, whom he had summoned from distant provinces, he laid a large foundation, and himself placed the first stone; to promote which work, not only the bishop, but also the king, and a great many nobles lent a helping hand.

... Besides this he founded an establishment of nuns at Tarent, and gave it to the queen, where he chose his burial place. When the time of his dissolution drew nigh, the bishop, seeing that the hour was come for him to pass from this world, preached a special discourse to the assembled people, and told them that his death was at hand; on the following day, as his disease gained ground, he again assembled the people, and repeated his discourse, bidding them all farewell, and asking pardon of whomsoever he had offended. On the third day he summoned his family, and those to whom he was bound particularly to afford protection, and divided amongst them whatever appeared necessary to be distributed, to each one according to his deserts; and, having arranged and completed all his affairs with proper deliberation, and taken leave of his friends one by one, and, finally, performing the midnight devotions, he uttered the verse, "I will both lay me down in peace and sleep," and fell asleep in the Lord in all happiness. The monks of Durham, then, after invoking assistance from above, elected their prior, Thomas, a religious and discreet man, as their bishop and pastor of their souls.

2003-02-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

In our modern day: Farewell Mister Rogers.

2003-02-25T07:43:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1237. During all this time, the small fire of the true faith began to die away, so that it was almost reduced to ashes, and seemed scarcely to emit a single spark. For simony was now practised without a blush, and userers openly, by various arguments, extorted money from the people and from minors; charity expired; the liberty of the church was crushed; religion was trodden upon, and of no value; and the daughter of Sion became, as it were, a shameless harlot without a blush. Illiterate persons, of the lowest class, armed with the bulls of the Roman church, bursting forth into threats, daily presumed, despite of the sacred pivileges we enjoy from our holy ancestors, to plunder the revenues left by pious men of old times for the maintenance of religious men, for the support of the poor, and to afford hospitality to pilgrims; and, by thundering forth sentences of excommunication, they at once obtained what they demanded. And if any of the injured or robbed parties resorted to the remedy of apeal, or to the plea of privilege, they immediately suspended and excommunicated them by means of some other prelate, on the authority of a warrant from the pope, and in this way, not by prayers, not canonically, but by imperious extortion, did they rob the simple minded, according to the saying of the poet -

Armato supplicat ense potens

(The man in power begs with a drawn sword.)

Hence it came to pass that, where formerly noble and bountiful clerks, guardians and patrons of churches, used to make themselves renowned throughout the whole of the adjacent country, by entertaining travellers and refreshing the poor, there debased men, void of morals, and full of cunning, agents and farmers of the Romans, now scraped together all that was useful and valuable, and transmitted it to the foreign countries of their lords, who were living daintily on the patrimony of Christ, and bragging on the posessions of others. Then was to be seen hearfelt grief, the cheeks of the saints became wet with tears, and sighs and complaints were heard to burst forth and multiply, and many said with a sigh, "It were better to die than to behold the sufferings of our people and our saints." Woe to England! which, once the chief of provinces, mistress of nations, the mirror of the church, and a pattern of religion, is now laid under tribute; ignoble men have trampled her underfoot, and she has fallen prey to degenerate men. But the manifold offences of the English have brought these scourges on themselves, through the anger of Him, who, for the sins of the people, makes the hypocrite to reign, and the tyrant to bear rule.

2003-02-20T08:11:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1237. In this year, Philip, prior of the order of Preachers in the Holy Land, sent the following report:

"To the most holy father and lord, Gregory, by Divine calling supreme pontiff, brother Philip, the useless prior of the brotherhood of Preachers, due and devoted obedience in all things. Blessed be God, the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has in our time, holy father, by his clemency brought back to the shepherd the sheep which have been so long wandering. For in our days he has shown us a year of his kindness, and begins to fill his fields with abundance; inasmuch as he is bringing back to obedience to you, and to the unity of the mother church, the nations which have so long gone astray from that community. For in this year, the patriarch of the Jacobites of the East, a man of science and morals, and venerable age, with a large company of archbishops, bishops and monks of this nation, came to worship in Jerusalem. To him we expounded the words of the Catholic faith; and, by the co-operation of the divine grace, we made such progress, that on Palm Sunday, at the time of the solemn procession, which on that day usually comes down from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, he promised and swore to obey the holy Roman chruch; at the same time abjuring all heresy. He also delivered to us his profession in Chaldaic and Arabic writing, as a lasting evidence; and in addition to this, he at his departure adopted our habit. This man is chief over the Chaldeans, Medes, Persians, and Armenians, whose territories the Tartars have now ravaged to a great extent; and his prelateship extends so far in other kingdoms, that seventy provinces are under his subjection, in which numberless Christians dwell as slaves, and tributary to the Saracens, with the exception of the monks, whom they exempt from tribute.

2003-02-20T07:56:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, the Vatican is concerned over aModern-day exodus: Flight of Catholics from Iraq.

At the start of 1991, just before the first Persian Gulf War, the Catholic population of Baghdad was counted at more than 500,000.
Today, Catholics there number about 175,000. Over the last 12 years, the second-largest Catholic community in the Middle East has shrunk by almost two-thirds.
"It's like a biblical exodus," one Vatican official said in mid-February. "And with the threat of a new war, the remaining Catholics must be thinking very hard about packing their bags."
..."As a Christian in Iraq, you can live your life as you want. And if you want to build a church, the authorities say, 'Go do it,'" said one source in Rome.
But there are some worrisome signs that things are changing and that Islamic extremist attitudes are starting to appear in Iraq. In recent months, local bishops have pointed to two or three attacks on Catholic places of worship -- something that had never happened before, the source said.

It seems that even Saddam Husein cannot control the wicked Islamic extremists in his country. And I fear they will only proliferate in huge numbers in response to any actions the United States takes, whether we attack Iraq, or whether we stand off as the UN would have us do, for standing off will make us appear weak in their eyes, and they will see it as a sign that they are supported by their god and will perpetrate more attacks upon this sovereign nation. There is no winning in this situation, for fanatics do not believe in "live and let live." All must die or convert. I only wish those "anti-war" protestors would understand this lesson.

2003-02-16T07:27:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1237. In this year, Llewellyn, prince of Wales, by special messengers sent word to the king that, as his time of life required that he should thenceforth abandon all strife and the tumult of war, and should for the future enjoy tranquility and peace, he had determined to place himself and all his posessions under the authority and protection of him, the English king, and would hold his lands from him in all faith and friendship, and enter into an indissoluble treaty; and if the king should be proceeding on any expedition, he would to the best of his power, as his liege subject, promote, it, by assisting him with troops, arms, horses, an money. To confirm and ratify this treaty, the bishops of Hereford and Chester were sent as mediators to bring the aforesaid matter to a conclusion. The cause of this message is said to have been that the said Llewellyn, owing to an attack of paralysis, was unable of himself to oppose the grievous attacks of his son Griffin, who was making war against him. Many of the nobles of Wales agreed to this treaty, and confirmed it at the same time as Llewellyn; some of them however, strongly oppose their compacts. The faith of the Welsh is a want of faith, and they show no mercy when they have it in their power; and when fortune befriends them, they persecute those who fall into their power; but when defeated, they either fly or humble themselves: and such persons are never to be trusted, as the poet says, "I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts;" the philospher Seneca also says, "You will never make a safe treaty with any enemy."

2003-02-16T07:15:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, Michael Novak presents a truly enlightening argument for a just war against Iraq.

...let me recall that authentic Catholic doctrine on the just war, as formulated by St. Augustine and St. Thomas, lays out a clear path of reasoning for public authorities acting in their official capacities in approaching the decision to go to war, or not. Moreover, in evaluating these contingencies, the new Catholic Catechism assigns primary responsibility, not to distant commentators, but to such public authorities themselves. This assignment of responsibility is made for two reasons. First, they are the ones who bear the primary vocational role and constitutional duty to protect the lives and the rights of their people. Second, they are by the principle of subsidiarity the authorities closest to the facts of the case and — given the nature of war by clandestine terror networks today — privy to highly restricted intelligence. Others have a right and duty to voice their own judgments of conscience. But the final judgment belongs to public authorities: "The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good" (Catechism, #2309).
...How does Iraq fit into that picture? From the point of view of public authorities who must calculate the risks of action or inaction vis-à-vis the regime of Saddam Hussein, two points are salient. Saddam Hussein has the means to wreak devastating destruction upon Paris, London, or Chicago, or any cities of his choosing, if only he can find clandestine undetectable "foot soldiers" to deliver small amounts of the sarin gas, botulins, anthrax, and other lethal elements to predetermined targets. Secondly, independent terrorist assault cells have already been highly trained for precisely such tasks, and have trumpeted far and wide their intentions to carry out such destruction willingly, with joy. All that is lacking between these two incendiary elements is a spark of contact.
...For some years, it seemed reasonable (if shameful) not to force Saddam Hussein to comply, but just to wait him out. However, the maturation of al Qaeda and other highly trained international terrorist groups adds to Hussein's violation of U.N. decrees a new peril. On the record, Saddam is capable of ordering a tremendous loss of life, through a secretive, sudden attack upon major western cities with small amounts of biological or chemical agents.

I found this article, being a lecture given at Vatican City, to be very insightful. While I have not been fully behind our President's rush to oust Saddam, I now understand, perhaps, what the motives are behind it. For those who sit precariously on the fence on this issue, I urge you to read the entire lecture.

(Thank you to Loyal Citizen Victor for sending me the link)

2003-02-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, a man who has supplied this humble monk with many wonderful and interesting links to articles has created his own blog. I urge you all to visit Loyal Citizen Victor at his new abode. Welcome to the blogosphere!

2003-02-13T08:33:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1237. In this year, churches and prelates were ordained at Cordova, a large city in Spain, which, as has been before mentioned, was taken on Tuesday in Easter-week. In this city Lucan states that he was born, and says, "Cordova gave me birth." It was captured by Alphonso, the most Christian king of Castile; and on its surrender to the Christians, joy was heaped upon joy, by the capture also of the great and rich pagan island of Majorca, which was filled with pirates and vagabonds, and was most particularly inimical to the merchants and pilgrims who travelled by sea between the countries of Africa and Spain... And to increase our joy, in the year last past the large city of Burianna was taken, and also the most impregnable castle of Peniscola by the King of Arragon; and thus he fulfilled by exquisite cunning what was impossible to accomplish by force. Thus within two years were taken the city of Cordova, the island of Majorca, the city of Burrianna, and the castle of Peniscola; and all those places were given up to the Christian power in Spain, and yielded to God for the honour of his holy church. Our people therefore prepared under happy auspices to attack Valentia, another large and famous city of Spain, keeping up their courage and good hopes by the remembrance of past events. The city of Cepta, too, was fearing a like downfall.

2003-02-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, scholars for Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) claim that the US Government is Playing with Fire in it's attempts to bring democracy to the Islamic world.

The paper essentially cautions US policy-makers against what it describes as the Bush administration's "extraordinarily expansive, optimistic view of a new democratisation mission for America in the Middle East". It examines the validity of current US claims to promote democratisation in the region in view of other less successful "experiments" in countries like Haiti, Bosnia and Afghanistan. The paper also assesses the potential for real democratic transformation in the Middle East, which is considered to be limited. The reasons for this, aside from issues of economic development, relate to the nature of the region's, "semi-authoritarian regimes". The CEIP paper cites countries like Jordan, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco, who perpetuate their autocratic and non- democratic systems while claiming to pursue policies of "political liberalisation" which encompass never-ending "transitional phases".

From Egypt's Al-Ahram weekly online.

2003-02-05T08:24:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1237. In this year was taken from amongst us the renowned John de Brienne, of immortal memory, formerly king of Jerusalem, and who had almost attained the imperial sovereignty of the Greeks; who would have closed a happy and peaceful life in sunshine, if he had not brought on himself the enmity of the great Frederick, the emperor of the Germans. Between winter and spring of this year, too, brother Jordan, prior of the order of Preachers, a man of distinguished sanctity and a renowned preacher, was drowned in a storm, whilst sailing along the coast of the southern barbarians, for the purpose of gaining them to God by his preaching. His body was brought to land by some of those shipwrecked, whom chance had snatched from death, although with much labour and danger, and consigned to the tomb in an honourable and becoming manner. As they were burying his holy body, they smelled a remarkable fragrance proceeding from his clothes, as well as from his person, the sweetness of which continued to perfume their hands for a long time.

About the same time was canonized and enrolled in the list of saints, St. Dominic, a brother of the order of Preachers.

2003-02-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, there is nothing that relates in any way to the tragedy of the great ship Columbia, which burned like a mighty fireball in the sky on its way back home to earth. Peace be with the families and friends of the gallant men and women of that space shuttle.

2003-01-31T07:46:00.000-08:00

Good readers. Today we move on to the year of Our Lord 1237, as we have exhausted much of Brother Matthew's writings for the previous year. Do not fret; in his later years he became evermore verbose. I urge you to read the next two entries below with our once-good-friends the French in mind.

2003-01-31T07:44:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1237. In this year, the emperor Frederick, by special messengers and imperial letters, summoned all the great Christian princes of the world to assemble on the day of St. John the Baptist's nativity, at Vauvoleurs, which is on the confines or near the confines, of the empire and the French kingdom, there to discuss some difficult matters concerning the empire as well as the kingdom. The king of France, as if entertaining suspicion of this conference, proceeded at the time fixed to the place appointed, attended by a large army, which he had assembled for the purpose, and thus set a dreadful and pernicious example to the others, inasmuch as he went to discuss matters of peace in the same way as he would attack his enemies. The king of England made reasonable excuses for not coming in person; but sent a peaceful embassy, consisting of some of the chief men of the kingdom.

2003-01-31T07:27:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, Eight European leaders are as one with President Bush.

The real bond between the U.S. and Europe is the values we share: democracy, individual freedom, human rights and the rule of law. These values crossed the Atlantic with those who sailed from Europe to help create the United States of America. Today they are under greater threat than ever.
The attacks of Sept. 11 showed just how far terrorists--the enemies of our common values--are prepared to go to destroy them. Those outrages were an attack on all of us. In standing firm in defense of these principles, the governments and people of the U.S. and Europe have amply demonstrated the strength of their convictions. Today more than ever, the trans-Atlantic bond is a guarantee of our freedom.

Would that all our European leaders were of the same mind. No matter, these will be enough. Link via Craig Schamp.

2003-01-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236. In this same year, the inhabitants of Genoa, assisted by the Pisans and Marseillese, and the king of Arragon, suddenly attacked a noble city of Spain, called Cepta, in which pagan citizens, who had for a long while inflicted much harm and injury to the said invaders, in alarm at the great numbers of their enemies, and at the sudden attack, surrendered to their authority, making a truce for a time on the condition that if their lord, the king of Africa, who was commonly called the Emir of the World, should not send them effectual assistance within three years, they would willingly, and without any difficulty, surrender themselves and the whole city to them; that in the meantime the king of Arragon and his allies might, at any time during the three years, peacably build a tower and fortify it at their pleasure, on a bridge which they had gained possession of before the arrangement of this truce. The city of Cordova, then being taken, and Cept being ready for capture, the hopes of Christians were raised, and alarm seized on the Saracens, and especially on the king of Africa.

2003-01-29T07:41:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, the Spaniards have foiled a major al-Qaeda attack.

More than 150 anti-terrorist police agents took part in the pre-dawn swoop against the suspected al-Qaeda cells in more than a dozen apartments in Barcelona and elsewhere in Catalonia.

Mr Aznar said the group had connections to people recently arrested in Britain and France.

They have now been brought to Madrid, where they will be held in police custody before being brought before magistrates for questioning.

The arrests come two days after an operation in Italy to arrest five Moroccans on charges of illegal possession of explosives.

The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said there had been an unprecedented level of co-operation between the intelligence services of several European countries including Britain's MI6.

I believe there are some members of the European community who realize the seriousness of what we are facing.

2003-01-27T08:01:00.000-08:00

Anno Domin 1236. About Whitsuntide, a lamentable dissension sprung up between the clergy and the citizens at the City of Orleans, which originated about, and was promoted by, a chattering, brawling woman; and the tumult was fanned up and increased to such a pitch, that some scholars, illustrious youths of noble family, were slain in the city by townsmen....some of whom were were drowned in the river Loire, and others were killed; some, however, escaped with difficulty, and, hiding themselves in caves, vineyards and other secret places, thus escaped death. On hearing this, the bishop of the city, excommunicated all the perpetrators of this crime, and laid an interdict on the whole place. The nobles, hearing of the murder of their relatives, attacked the city, and put many of the inhabitants to death at the sword's point, without waiting the formality of a trial; some others, too, they, with their swords still reeking with blood, beheaded on the road as they were returning from some market with their panniers laden with merchandise. This sedition did not cease till the royal mandate, at the wish of both parties, made terms between them, and calmed the tumult.

2003-01-27T07:47:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, SJSU student dies in frat brawl.

Police Sgt. Steve Dixon said police didn't know who was armed or how many weapons were involved, but he likened the brawl to a fight between gangs whose members sport Greek letters instead of tattoos and bandannas. The deadly fight marred the university's first day back to classes after winter break, as investigators cordoned off the Pi Alpha Phi house and spent the day interviewing more than 60 people.

2003-01-23T20:48:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236. At this time some of the Minorite brethren, as well as some of the order of Preachers, unmindful of their profession and the restrictions of their order, impudently entered the territories of some noble monasteries, under the pretence of fulfilling their duties of preaching, as if intending to depart after preaching the next day. Under pretence of sickness of some other pretext, however, they remained, and, constructing an altar of wood, they placed on it a consecrated stone altar, which they had brought with them, and clandestinely and in a low voice performed mass, and even received confession of many of the parishioners, to the prejudice of the priests. And they said that they had obtained authority from the pope to receive from those of the faith the confessions which they were ashamed to make to their own priests, or scorned to make, because the priests had committed the same offence, or were afraid to do so because the priest was drunk; and to such they, the Minorites, gave absolution after having enjoined penance upon them. In the meantime they sent a proctor to the Roman court with all speed, to plead their cause against the religious men, in whose territory they were staying, and obtained permission to remain there with some other benefit in addition. And if by chance they were not satisfied with this, they broke forth in insults and threats, reviling every order except their own, and asserting that all the rest were amongst those doomed to damnation, and they would not spare the soles of their feet till they had exhausted the wealth of their opposers, however great it might be.

2003-01-23T20:17:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, a Father Hanna preaches anti-Christian messages to the people of the Holy Land.

In July 2002, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate decided to fire Father 'Atallah Hanna (also known as Archimandrite Theodosios Hanna) from his post as official spokesman of the Greek Orthodox Church, following statements he made in praise of suicide attacks. Nevertheless, Father Hanna continues to present himself as the Church's official spokesman, and has not stopped issuing statements lauding suicide attacks.

Truly this man is a heretic, and a liar (Two days after these statements were published, Hanna strongly denied having made them). He preaches unholy collaboration with the Saracen and death to innocents. I see that he is no longer associated with his church. They, in their wisdom, even though they be not of the true Roman Catholic church, have seen fit to dissassociate him. Would that they would take the next step and excommunicate him. I fear that any day now, he will take up the sword of the Saracen, for truly that is where his wicked heart lies.

Link via His Majesty Emperor Misha.

2003-01-22T17:52:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236. Feast of St. Anistasius. Being more on the customs of the Saracens. According to their law, a man may take three of four wives, if he has sufficent means to suport them; their wives ought to be free women; but of female slaves and concubines, they keep as many as they can manage to feed; contrary to what it says in Genesis, "There shall be two in one flesh:" it does not say, "three of four." Lamech, who first introduced polygamy, was rebuked by God, and punished worse then the first murderer. If any one among them is displeased with his wife, or if any contention, dispute, or hatred arises between them, a divorce is at once effected both on the part of the husband and of the wife, each releases the other. If, however, a man, after putting away his wife, repents of so doing, and wishes her to be restored to him, unless she has previously formed a connexion with another man, and she herself consents to return to him, it is in no wise allowed to take her to wife; this is so, because amongst them there is no legitimate marriage. They pay their doweries, not according to the law, but after the manner of the heathens, for they have no doctrinal guidance in these things, and no blessing is bestowed upon their nuptials.

2003-01-22T17:40:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, Meryl Yourish speaks to us far more eloquently than I could. Found via Carnival of the Vanities #18.

2003-01-20T20:42:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236. In the month of May, near an abbacy called Roche, in the northern part of England, there appeared bands of well armed knights, riding on valuable horses, with standards and shields, coats of mail and helmets, and decorated with other military equipments: they issued from the earth, as it appeared, and disappeared again into the earth. This vision lasted for several days, and attracted the eyes of those who beheld it, as if by fascination; they rode in arrayed troops, and sometimes engaged in conflict; sometimes as if at a tournament, they shivered their spears into small fragments with a crash; the inhabitants saw them, but more from a distance than near them, for they never remember to have seen such a sight before, and many said that the occurrence was not without its presage. This occurred more plainly in Ireland and its confines, where they appeared as if coming from a battle, and dragged their horses after them wounded and broken and bloody; and what was more wonderful, their track plainly appeared impressed on the ground, and the grass was borne down and trampled on. Many people on seeing this vision fled before them in alarm, and betook themselves to the churches and castles, thinking that it was not an illusion, but a real battle. These occurrences came to our knowledge some years after they happened, from a report and true account of the event obtained from the earl of Gloucester, and by evidence of many other persons.

2003-01-20T20:27:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, this from a Moscow newspaper:

The great wizard, leader of the Wise, once known to all the world as a force for good, has turned bitter, fearful -- and ambitious. Aping the ways of the evil he once fought -- brutality, dominance, greed, terror -- he descends to his secret laboratory, where, with black arts of alchemy and fiendish technology, he breeds a race of mutant warriors, "iron bodied and iron willed": fierce fighters who can attack day and night, without rest, their combat spirit kept soaring by spikes of lightning from the wizard's wand.

A scene from J.R.R. Tolkein's "The Lord of the Rings," where the corrupted wizard Saruman fashions his monstrous Uruk-Hai to wage a relentless, remorseless war for dominion? No; unfortunately it's a very real scheme now being pursued by the Pentagon, whose dope wizards and gene splicers are working on the creation of the "Extended Performance War Fighter," the Daily Telegraph and Christian Science Monitor report.

Pentagon dark lord Donald Rumsfeld is shoveling billions of tax dollars into the research furnaces of federal laboratories and private universities across the land in the wide-ranging effort to spawn "super soldiers," fired by drugs and electromagnetic "brain zaps" to fight without ceasing for days on end. The work is being directed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) -- yes, the same outfit now laboring under convicted terrorist-conspirator John Poindexter to build the "Total Information Awareness" network that will allow the government to monitor the electronic records and communications of every citizen.

Not a new idea as I am sure those good readers who are fond of science fiction novels will attest. However, I am hard pressed to believe that a nation which bans cloning and certain types of stem cell research would find the firmitas to attempt such a monstrous scheme. While it is certainly less fantastic, and therefore less newsworthy, this may be closer to the truth.

2003-01-19T08:24:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236. Being a continuation of the beliefs of the Saracens as set out by the letter from the Preachers to Pope Gregory IX. See earlier post below for more parts to this missive.

One of the followers of Mahomet endeavoured by various strategems and promises to recall to their faith those who had seceded from it; some he brought over to his faith by threats, others he seduced by means of worldly pleasures, until at length immense numbers returned to that faith. Other people too in distant parts of the world, hearing of the luxury and carnal pleasures permitted and enjoined by that law, willingly received it, considering the Christian religion and chastity as much too strict and severe, and thus a host of people were seduced to paganism. The chief cause of the Mahometan faith gaining ground is said to have been a monk, formerly a Christian, named Solius, who being excommunicated for heresy and expelled from every church of God, in his desire to revenge himself upon the Christians, went to a place called Thenme, and from thence he went into the desert of Malse, where he found men holding two modes of belief, for the greater portion of them were Hebrews, and the smaller portion worshipped idols. There, this apostate monk and the father-in-law of Mahomet met, and, after conference, became friends. The monk changed his name, taking that of Nastorius, and taught him many prophesies and attestations out of the Old and New Testament, and the writings of the Prophets, which he skillfully annexed to the law of Mahomet, and thus, by aid and advice of these men, the seducer began to be exalted above all the tribes; for the men were rude, uncultivated, and of a simple character, easy to be led away, and carnally disposed according to the words of the Prophet.

2003-01-19T08:06:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, Daimnation lead me to read this article, The Scandal of U.S.-Saudi Relations. Good readers, this article was a revelation. The argument that "it's about oil" has always seemed absurd to me. I am certain that lower priced gasoline would be appreciated, but would our own oil companies truly wish for a glut on the market? That being the case, I have never understood the true reason for our false friendship with the wicked Bedouins. Mr. Daniel Pipes, however, has made it clear.

The import of these incidents is clear enough: Official Americans in Saudi Arabia bend to Saudi customs, and official Americans in the United States do so as well. And it's not just a matter of travel etiquette; one finds parallel American obsequiousness concerning such issues as energy, security, religion and personal status. The Saudis routinely set the terms of this bilateral relationship. For decades, U.S. government agencies have engaged in a consistent pattern of deference to Saudi wishes, making so many unwonted and unnecessary concessions that one gets the impression that a switch has taken place, with both sides forgetting which of them is the great power and which the minor one. I shall first document this claim, then offer an explanation for it, and conclude with a policy recommendation.

Mr. Pipes numerates many such incidents, from the confiscation of personal items thought to be offensive to the Saudis - Christmas trees and pictures of female relatives - to the curtailment of our troops' rights to dress in their own uniforms. His list of offenses against Americans is long and upsetting. Too often the United States bends over backwards to accomodate the Saudis precious sensibilities, often to the detriment of the Americans and their constitutional rights. But, he explains, some of this does not even come from the Saudis themselves.

Note two cases: The requirement that female military personnel wear the abaya was imposed by Americans, not Saudis; the latter did not even raise the subject. Saudi law only requires Westerners to dress conservatively, not to wear Saudi garb. Likewise, the investigation of the Air Force-Justice-caci directive excluding Jews from Saudi Arabia found "no evidence that the restriction was specifically requested by, was required by, or was even known by the Government of Saudi Arabia."

Troubling, indeed. But Mr. Pipes has an answer.

The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, helpfully hinted at an answer in a statement boasting of his success cultivating powerful Americans. "If the reputation then builds that the Saudis take care of friends when they leave office", Bandar once observed, "you'd be surprised how much better friends you have who are just coming into office." This effective admission of bribery goes far to explain why the usual laws, regulations and rights do not apply when Saudi Arabia is involved.

Ah, the venality of our government officials! This is indeed a sad state of affairs, but one that makes more sense than any other explanation, for we know how "money talks." Were it not for the obscene amount of money the Saudis are willing to spend cleansing their reputations and bribing our government officials, Saudi Arabia might have been our next target, and not the infamous Saddam. I can only pray that once Saddam is out of power, we may set our sights on the wicked Bedouins.

2003-01-18T09:23:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236. Feast of St. Desiderius. Being a continuation of the beliefs of the Saracens as set out by the letter from the Preachers to Pope Gregory IX. For earlier parts, see Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV.

Many of the Saracens believe that there is one God, the Creator of all men: they have, however, no belief in the Trinity, which they reject entirely. According to the writings of Mahomet they abominate idolatry, for he mixed some good doctrines with his evil ones, in order the more warily to make persons drink his poison seasoned with honey. They state that our Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, by the Holy Ghost, and they say that he was a Creator by virtue of God, as also they say was Adam, for they place him on a level with Adam, or Moses, or one of the prophets. They also believe that he was taken to Heaven and still is alive there, for, as he came from God, so he has returned to, and remains with God, and they expect that he will still reign for forty years on earth. His crucifixion, suffering and death they altogether deny, and say that some other man was substituted to suffer in his stead, and that when he was about to suffer, it became so dark in order that this might not be found out. They also declare that, from the days of Noah, all partriarchs and prophets, and Jesus Christ himself, have observed the same law as they, and by it have been saved. They say that we have perverted the law of the Gospel, and have erased the name of Mahomet from it. For the scripture of the Saracen has it that, before the heavens and the earth were made, the name of Mahomet existed with God, and if there had been no Mahomet, there would have been no heaven, earth, paradise, or hell; wherefore, from this sole sentence, so pregnant with folly, all wise Saracens may see the vanity of his other doctrines.

2003-01-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

From our modern day Qur'an (King Fahd Edition, Saudi Arabia), S.5:75

Christ the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their daily food. See how Allah doth make his signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth!

S. 4:157

That they said in boast "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah"; but they killed him not, nor crucified him. Only a likeness of that was shown to them.

S. 5:14

From those, too, who call themselves Christians, we did take a Covenant, but they forgot a good part of the Message that was sent them: so We stirred up enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the Day of Judgement. And soon will Allah show them what it is they have done.

2003-01-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, Mr. Aziz Poonawalla a Saracen, has a clear and coherent blog in which he addresses the discourses on modern day Islam, particularly referring to the troubles stemming from the infamous wickedness of 9-11. In this post, he addresses the issue of Christian Fundamentalism compared to Moslim Fundamentalism. I believe he is correct about many things, but I mistakenly asked why more Moslems had not spoken out. Mr.Poonawalla kindly directed me to another post in which this very item was addressed. My thanks to him.

I urge all to read his daily musings. However, it is still my contention that there are not enough people of his faith speaking out against attrocities committed by their brethren. Looking back into our history, we can see that both Christianity and Islam have rigorously policed their faiths, cleansing them of wicked doctrines. Christians have certainly used the most violent means to acheive this in times past. Moslems still do. Yet there are an estimated 12 million fundamentalist Moslems in the world, each one willing to kill and die for his faith. How is it that a religion so active in punishing its heretics has allowed so many to flourish? Could it be that the fundamentalists are the ones in power? Here is a vast difference between the Christian and Moslem fundamentalists: while we listen and respect (in some instances) the opinions of our Christian leaders, we do not allow them to control our government nor our lives. We do not make public and foreign policy based on their ideas or the ideas written in our scriptures. Back in Matthew's day, we did. We can also see what violent times those were. Have we not bettered ourselves since then? Have the Moslems?

I do not say these things to incite wars and riots. I merely wish to hear that the vast majority of Moslems have risen up against the evil-doers in their midst. If that fails to happen, then my voice will not be the only one crying out for retribution from that faith.

2003-01-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236. At about this time, Raymond, count of Provence, sent his daughter Eleanor to be married to King Henry the Third. This said count was a man of illustrious race and brave in battle, but, by continual wars, he had wasted almost all the money he possessed. He had married the daughter of Thomas, the late count of Savoy, and sister to the present count, Amadeus, a woman of remarkable beauty, by name Beatrice. This lady had issue by the aforesaid count, two daughters of great beauty, the elder of whom, Margaret, was married to Louis, the French king, as we are told by a clerk named John de Gates; and the king of England had now demanded the younger one, a young lady of handsome appearance, in marriage. In order to obtain this favour, he had secretly sent Richard, prior of Hurle, in advance, who faithfully and with diligence brought the matter to a conclusion. On the prior's returning and telling the king the result, the latter sent him back to the count with some other messengers... These messengers were received by the count on their arrival in Provence with the greatest honour and respect, and from his hands received his daughter Eleanor, for the purpos of being united to the king of England; she was also attended by her uncle, William, bishop elect of Valentia, a man of distinction, and by the count of Champagne, a relation of the English king. The king of Navarre, on learning that they would travel through his territories, went joyfully to meet them, and acompanied them as a guide through his dominions during a journey of five days or more; he also, from his natural generosity, paid all their expenses, both for horse and attendants. Their retinue consisted of more than three hundred horsemen, not including the people who followed them in great numbers. On reaching the boundaries of France, they obtained not only a safe but honourable passage through that country, under conduct of the French king and his queen, the sister of the lady about to be married to the English king... They embarked at the port of Sandwich and with full sail made for Dover, where they arrived, after quick passage, before they were expected. Having thus safely landed, they set out of Canterbury, and were met by the king, who rushed into the arms of the messangers, and, having seen the lady and received possession of her, he married her at Canterbury; the ceremony being performed on the fourteenth of January, by Edmund, archbishop of that place, assisted by the bishops, who had come with the lady, in the presence of the other nobles and prelates of the kingdom.

2003-01-15T06:45:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, her grace the Duchess of York is in the news. Once-Reviled Fergie Reinvents Self in U.S. Would someone please inform this humble monk why it is deemed necessary to discuss this noble lady's poundage as if that were the most important aspect of her personality?

2003-01-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

My most humble apologies to my readers for the lack of posts this last week. Visting bishops have caused chaos at the monestary, and I had been called to other duties for the duration. However, serenity has returned for the nonce, and I will attempt to keep you all updated as I may.

2003-01-13T09:31:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236, octave of the Epiphany. The heretical wickedness of the people, commonly called Paterinians and Bugarians, who dwelt in the transalpine provinces, and of whose errors I would rather be silent than make mention, gained such ground that they dared to disturb the purity of faith in the territory of France and Flanders. But by the diligent ministry and unwearied preaching of the Minorites, Preachers and Theologians, and especially of one of the order of Preachers, Robert (who was surnamed Bugre, because he had been converted from that faith and assumed the habit of a Preacher), and who was called the hammer of the heretics, their superstition was confounded, and their error was discovered. Several of both sexes, who refused to be converted to the true faith, he caused to be burnt; and within two of three months he caused about fifty people to be burned or buried alive.

2003-01-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

In our modern times, an Egyptian writer almost has it right. Al-Ahram publishes an opinion piece by a Basheer M Nafi entitled The Root of all Evil. In this missive, Mr. Nafi disputes the accusations that Wahabism is at the root of Islamic extremism. He enlightens his reader with a brief history of Salafism and it's spawn, Wahabism. It is interesting to note this particular entry:

If Wahhabism/Salafism is the problem, then American armed forces should be unhesitatingly deployed to uproot centres of violence, backwardness and anachronism wherever they are -- even if that requires invading the entire eastern part of the Arab world.

This may have been said facetiously, as he may not actually believe that anyone would consider attacking Arabia, yet he is right. Would it not be ironic if we in the west were to take him up on his idea?

Mr.Nafi strongly denies that Wahabism is inherently violent. Instead, he blames western imperialism, just as all Moslem writers are expected to do.

Perhaps, then, the vilification of Sufism and Salafism tells us more about the crisis of imperialism than about a crisis in Islam. With their absolute sense of self-righteousness, imperialists are never sure of what to make of the resistance they are faced with by the "lesser" peoples. The marathon- like conflict between Western imperialist powers and the world of Islam was caused neither by 20th-century Sufism nor by 20th-century Salafism. This conflict is rooted in a dominant set of international relations, known simply, in university textbooks, as the imperialist system. It is no doubt imperative for Islam to confront and deal with the forces of pathetic radicalism and nihilist violence that are trying to speak on its behalf -- a task that Islam has successfully engaged in on numerous occasions during its historical venture. Yet, this is will not put an end to the conflict. An end to the conflict and the development of normal relations between Western powers and the world of Islam are contingent upon an end to imperialist relations in our world.

2003-01-08T08:52:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236. At this time a great slaughter of the Jews took place on the continent, especially in Spain; and those on this side of the sea, fearing they would suffer in the same way, made the king a present of money, on which he caused a proclamation to be made by the crier, that no one was to do any injury or cause any annoyance to any of the Jews.

2003-01-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, an article found in Al-Ahram condemns violence against Jews as a purely European import. The author, one Osama el-Baz, is an advisor to his excellency President Mubarak of Egypt. It is refreshing to see a Saracen promoting a reasoned argument.

Those who admire Hitler for his demagogic hold over the masses or for his enmity to Britain, once the occupying power over Egypt and other Arab countries, would do well to recall the disasters he inflicted on his people. Hitler executed those who opposed him. He masterminded the horrors of the concentration camps into which the Jews and other "undesirables" in Germany and the countries occupied by the Nazis were rounded up and eventually exterminated in vast numbers.....
What concerns us here, however, is not scale of the tragedy, or how it was later used, but rather that it happened at all. Jews in Europe were the victims of a rabid anti- Semitism. To anthropologists and ethnologists, the term "Semitic" refers to all peoples, Jews, Arabs and others descended from Abraham. The apologists for anti- Semitism, however, do not use the term in its technical sense, but rather to target Jews in Europe and this, in turn, gave rise to such concepts as the "Jewish character", "Jewish morals", "Jewish culture", and "Jewish people".

Mr.El Baz explains that it is not the Jewish people that Moslems should target, for they are "people of the book," and therefore sacrosanct according to Al-Koran. He would have people see that there is a difference between Jewish and Israeli.

This leads us to a second important question: did the spirit of brotherhood between the Arabs and Muslims, on the one hand, and Jews on the other, continue after the creation of the state of Israel. Sadly, one must answer that this spirit was impaired for a number of reasons. Firstly, the methods used by the founders of Israel against the Arabs of Palestine were brutal. Secondly, Israel, and the Zionist movement abroad, frequently used Jewish and Israeli interchangeably. This confusion caused Arabs to wonder whether the conflict that had erupted in Palestine and later spread to other Arab countries was between the Arabs and Israel or between the Arabs and Jews.

Mr.El-Baz's intentions are noble, but he is still a Saracen. He concludes his argument by setting forth certain recommendations to Arabs and Muslims which include avoiding using the star of David as it represents the symbol used by the Nazis to round up Jews for the concentration camps. Very noble sentiment, yet nowhere does he mention avoiding suicide bombings and the murder of innocent people on the streets of Tel Aviv. He does have recommendations for Israel as well, and he wants them to stop the terror and violence perpetrated upon the innocent people of Palestine. It is unfortunate that he does not advise his Palestinian brothers to do the same.

2003-01-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

Also in our modern day, this sad reminder of the fact that Isreal is, indeed, fighting a war. A list of the victims of Palestinian violence and terror since September 2000.

2003-01-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, it would seem this humble monk has a reader. I had called him a vassal of his excellency Misha, but I belive it would be safe to say he reads this blog on his own inititive. He has pointed me to this article from the Washington Post. Here is an author who is not afraid to speak the truth concerning the Saracen's intentions againts the west. As we have thought ourselves to be more "civilized" in our modern age, we have also ascribed this wondrous progress to other cultures, yet the Saracens would not have it so. Just as the west called for crusades in the middle ages, the Moslem world calls for jihad now.

In the spring of 1095, Pope Urban II allowed Byzantine delegates to address the Council of Clermont in France, and in his speech there he called for the first crusade to aid Byzantium and take back Jerusalem. Crusades and counter-crusades between Muslims and Christians followed for centuries.

What is striking is how much bin Laden today sounds like Pope Urban in 1095. The pope said: "I beseech you as Christ's heralds to persuade all people of whatever rank, foot-soldiers and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends." And, "All who die along the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins."

Meanwhile, hear bin Laden in recent years: "It is our duty to make Jihad so that God's word is the one exalted to the heights and so that we drive the Americans away from all Muslim countries." And: "In our religion, it is not permissible for any non-Muslim to stay in our country. If the Americans refuse to listen to our advice and the goodness, guidance and righteousness that we call them to, then be aware that you will lose this Crusade, just like the other previous Crusades in which you were humiliated." And, not incidentally, he, too, guarantees immediate salvation to all who die in the effort.

I advise you to read the entire article, that you may know what the west is up against.

2003-01-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236. In this year, Earl Richard, the king's brother, Earl G. Marshal, John, Earl of Chester and Lincoln, the Earl of Salisbury, G.de Lucy, his brother, Richard Seward, and many other nobles assumed the cross. Earl Richard at once ordered his woods to be cut down and sold, and endeavoured by all the means in his powert o raise money to sustain his pilgrimage. Not long afterwards, by means of Simon de Montford, Earl of Leicester and (as was reported) Peter de Rivaulx, Richard Seward unjustly incurred the king's anger, and was taken and imprisoned; but was soon afterwards released with the same ease.

2003-01-06T09:53:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236, Feast of the Epiphany. On a warrant from the pope, a solemn preaching was made, both in England and in France, by the brethren of the orders of Preachers and Minorites, and other famous clerks, theologians, and religious men, granting to those who would assume the cross, a full remission of the sins of which they truly repented and made confession. These preachers wandered about amongst cities, castles, and villages, promising to those who assumed the cross much relief in temporal matters, namely, that interest should not accumulate against them with the Jews, and the protection of his holiness the pope for all their incomes and property given in pledge to procure necessaries for their journey, and thus incited an immense number of people to make a vow of pilgrimage. The pope afterwards sent also Master Thomas, a Templar, his familiar, into England, with his warrant, to absolve crusaders, whom he chose and thought expedient, from their vow of pilgrimage, on receiving money from them. . . When the crusaders saw this, they wondered at the insatiable greediness of the Roman court, and conceived great indignation in their minds, because the Romans endeavoured thus impudently to drain their purses by so many devices.

2003-01-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, The Pope is "deeply worried" over conflict with Iraq. It would seem that his holiness is concerned that the United States could act on its own, without "being part of the international assembly."

The comments by Archbishop Renato Martino, prefect of the Council for Justice and Peace and the Holy See's former U.N. envoy, came amid a series of Vatican criticisms of a possible war in Iraq. In the last two weeks, the pope himself has called for peace in the Mideast, although without explicit reference to Iraq.

And yet, the article states twice that his holiness did not mention Iraq in particular. I believe that the Vatican is working hard to maintain as neutral a stance as possible, for if she did not, she would be forced to support terrorism or call for a new crusade.

2003-01-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236. About this time, the anger of the emperor [Frederick] was kindled against the Italians to such a degree that, fuel being daily added to it, it burst forth into a most implacable hatred. He therefore made a serious complaint of their insolence to his holiness the pope, asserting that the pride of those who hated him has always prevailed, and asking the pope, with the assistance of the whole of the Roman court, to give all his attention to bring about the restoration of an honourable peace between him and them; or else to afford him effectual assistance, so that he might, with outstretched arm, tame and subdue them, and reduce them to their accustomed subjection; as the pope required assistance to be given him by him, the emperor, if the Roman church should happen to want it: wherefore the Roman church was straitened with anxiety and was most undetermined how to act. The emperor complained most severely of the city of Milan, which was nurse and protectress of heretics and rebels against the empire, to attack which place he had assembled a large army. His son Henry, who was accused of treachery against his father, he detained in close confinement.

2003-01-04T08:17:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, the House of Saud may have troubles at home. "Could Saudi Arabia’s have-nots spark a revolution?". In this article from the Jerusalem Report Magazine, the author speaks with dissidents of that country. These dissidents, not surprisingly, believe that those more unfortunate souls in the Kingdom could be tempted to revolt against the Royal House Of Saud, for they are a corrupt family, and numerous.

Parts of oil-rich Saudi Arabia are as shockingly poor as Somalia -- or so claim the harshest critics of the ruling Al-Saud family. According to the calculations of an active Saudi dissident living in exile, three trillion dollars have been generated mostly by oil over the past 30 years in the Gulf kingdom. Yet, he asserts, only $800 billion-$1 trillion have been reinvested into the country. "So where has that two trillion dollars gone?" asks the dissident, speaking to The Report on condition of anonymity.
He blames Saudi’s ills on the corruption of the ruling class. While one Saudi princess flies her hairdresser over from Europe first class, and pays him $5,000 a cut, he claims that in Hafr al-Batin, 50 kilometers from the Kuwait border, 60,000 people are living in shacks with no electricity, sewerage and only minimal food.

This does not bode well for the religion of Islam, for the Sauds are the keepers of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. If they were to fall, what wicked extremist government would take their place?

If we are to avoid a holy war, it is up to the keepers of Islam to promote peace within their own countries. At this time, they promote only hatred and violence.

The [Saudi] government is also facing a disaffected underclass of angry Saudi youths committed to Islamic extremism, a native Bin-Ladenist militancy of the kind that spawned 15 of the 19 hijackers of 9/11.
Some Arab intellectuals point to serious shortcomings in the education system. Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed, editor-in-chief of the London-based, Saudi-owned Al-Sharq Al-Awsat wrote a column in the fall blaming the radicalization of Saudi youth not on economics, but on the "culture of violence that has infiltrated religious education deviating from the traditions of the conservative and peace-loving Saudi society." And Saudi columnist Abdullah Abu Sameh wrote an article in the Saudi daily Okaz, translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), arguing that for Saudi society "to regain its peace and innocence and reconciliation with the world, our youths must be reeducated."

Their mullahs decry the west and call for jihad. While in the west, many voices cry out against violence of any kind. It is a sad fact that the Saracens see this as our weakness, even though we know it to be our strength. And many of these Saracens would seek out our "weaknesses" and destroy us through them.

How sad that 99% of Moslems are peace loving, for they are the ones who will surely be victims if a holy war should erupt. It is unfortunate for them that their religion teaches them that they should raise no hand against another Moslem, yet it is acceptable to do violence to non-Moslems. For it is they who need to seek out the extremists in their midsts and exterminate them. If they do not, then the west must.

2003-01-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

In the year of Our Lord 1236. I have faithfully presented several parts of the letter written to His Holiness Pope Gregory IX, several more of which remain to be posted at a later date. Below is my own commentary on the aforesaid letter and the false prophet Mahomet. For parts of this letter, see: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

As we have commenced to give an account of this imposter, Mahomet, which we heard from a celebrated preacher of great reknown, who preached in rebuke of the law of the said Mahomet, having been sent to the countries of the East for the especial purpose, we have thought proper to insert these pages. The aforesad Mahomet taught and wrote his book the Alcoran (which Saracens use, and consider as authentic as Christians do the Gospel), that the first and chief command of God, in importance as well as in point of time, was this, "Increase and multiply;" and whoever disobeys this commandment sins irremediably. Hence, in order that the Saracen nation might multiply, like horses and mules which have no understanding, Mahomet ordered and enjoined on them to have as many wives and concubines as they could support, and to use and abuse them at their pleasure; and if anyone has a less number than he could feed and govern, he is accused of transgressing the law, and of avarice, and more are assigned to him by the decision of the authorities.... Thus, therefore, Mahomet, by multiplying wives, established polygamy, not being warned by the example of Lamech, who was the first to introduce bigamy, and afterwards paid for his crime, was reproved by the Lord, and blotted from the face of the earth by the flood. Hence it is that the weak and effeminate Saracens give loose to lust and uncleanness, following orders of their most filthy prophet Mahomet, who introduced this custom only to propagate and increase his sect and people, and thus to strengthen his law by their numbers, and that in this might be fulfilled what is written in revelations, "The dragon with his tail has dragged a portion of the stars from heaven." Truly was this Mahomet a poisonous dragon, a beast blooded with the slaughter of many. (Giles, pp 23-24)

2003-01-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, a loyal vassal of the Emperor Misha has sent me a letter alerting me to a History of Jihad. The events chronicled in the missive are after my time, of course, but they are very enlightening. The following excerpt should give us all pause.

   Vatican sources concede Roman Catholic efforts have been steadily losing ground in Africa to "the Muslim penetration" for the past 30 years.

     In Pakistan, fundamentalist Muslim clerics have resisted any reform of the madrassas, the Koranic schools that have been used to inculcate anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli views.

     Among the teachings current in such schools: A great apocalyptic war is in the offing that will end in the Muslim conquest of Europe, and, in time, America as well. Some 750,000 young Pakistanis are presently in 11,000 madrassas where they are taught that jihad is the noblest of human endeavors.

     Gen. Hamid Gul, a former Pakistani intelligence chief with pronounced anti-American views, boasts that a greater Islamic caliphate is fast approaching, one that will combine the oil riches of Saudi Arabia with the nuclear weapons of Pakistan, "which could then deal with America on an equal footing."

This would be more frightening if it were not for the fact that signs are already pointing in that direction. We westerners are peace-loving brothers in Christ (even those who are not Christians), but the fact remains that the Moslems have only one desire: to see the earth ruled by the religion created by their false prophet. We cannot allow this to happen.

It seems to me that this talk of attacking Persia is wrong, for the Persians are not the ones who are supporting and sending out these vile terrorists. We would do better to consider striking at the heart of Islam. Have they not been a thorn in our sides from the day Mahomet took up his sword in his effort to "spread Islam"? Granted, an attack of this kind would certainly lead to a world war, and many, many deaths would follow. But are the Moslems not already teaching their young that such an event is coming? If we don't start it, they will.

2002-12-31T11:00:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236, being the 6th day in the Octave of Christmas. I present Part IV of the letter sent to his holiness, Pope Gregory IX, concerning the false doctrine of Mahomet. In this part do we find refutation of the widely proclaimed notion that Islam is a religion of peace, for now we see how their false prophet led through violence, and not through love, as did Our Lord Jesus Christ, and that he himself said he could not peform miracles. For earlier parts of this letter, see: Part I, Part II, Part III

Part IV

Mahomet often said to his disciples and hearers, "Do not believe what men say of me, for there never was prophet whom the people of his own nation did not accuse falsely, and I also fear that my people may say the same of me, and lay false charges against me; do not therefore listen to the words of disparagers, nor think otherwise of me than as you read in the book which I have given you; what is related in the book I have said and done, but anything more than is contained therein I have not said or done." He also said, "I am not sent to you with signs and miracles, but with a sword to punish the rebellious; whoever, therefore, does not willingly enter into this our faith shall, if he be under our jurisdiction, be put to death, or be compelled to pay tribute as an atonement for his incredulity, and mey then live. I enjoin war and strife against those who do not profess this faith, who dwell in other countries, until they are by force converted to it. All those who do not abide by our doctrines shall be put to death, and their wives and children be condemned to perpetual servitude.

Here Mahomet confesses from his own mouth that he never had and never should perform any miracle; therefore those which the Saracens relate concerning him must be considered false. They say that a wolf once met him on the road, and that, on Mahomet's raising three fingers, the animal took flight: they also relate a story of a bull that held converse with him: they also say that a fig tree, on being called by him, prostrated itself on the ground, and in that way came to him: again, they state that he divided the moon into two parts and united them again.

End Part IV

2002-12-31T10:37:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, I took it upon myself to respond to a set of questions so that it may tell me which medieval figure I am most like. Oddly enough, the primier choice was El Cid. Perhaps I need to rethink my militant inclinations, for my second choice was Pope Urban XVII, and the third was Joan of Arc. Which leads me to ask why Matthew Paris is so little thought of that he didn't even find inclusion on this list.

2002-12-30T23:15:00.000-08:00

In our modern day, I came across this article written by a woman of the Moslem faith. This woman is truely blessed, though my heart breaks for the tragedies she has suffered in the name of Islam. She has seen the dark underbelly of this false religion, and has dedicated herself to showing it to the world.
(Link via Little Green Footballs)

2002-12-30T08:47:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236, the Feast of King David. This being a continuation of the letter sent to his holiness, Pope Gregory, concerning the false doctrine of Mahomet. Again, I do not claim that the names and events listed herein are most accurate, as I am not the writer, nor am I able to verify the accounts written here.

Part III

Mahomet had a servant named Zeid, whose wife, Zemah, was a very beautiful woman and for whom Mahomet had conceived an affection; the servant Zeid, however, discovering this, and being aware of his master's sensuality, said to his wife, "Take care that my master does not see you, for if he does, I will at once repudiate you." One day, however, during the servant's absence, Mahomet went to his house and called to him, and as he did not answer, Mahomet continued knocking at the door so long that the woman, becoming annoyed, replied "Zeid is not here." On arriving sometime afterwards, Zeid found his wife talking with his master, and on the departure of the latter he said to her, "Did I not tell you that if my master should see you and converse with you, I would repudiate you," and he at once turned her out of the house. Mahomet then took her to himself, but fearing lest he should be accused of adultery, he pretended that a letter had come to him from heaven, in which God ordered him to pronounce it as a law amongst the people that, whenever any man should repudiate his wife, and another man should take her to himself, she should be the wife of the man who took her. And to this day, this is a law amongst them, and originated from the aforesaid cause.

End Part III

2002-12-30T08:23:00.000-08:00

In our modern era, a missive in the New York Times dares to say what need be said. The perfidious Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is behind much of the terrorism we are experiencing in this great modern age. They hide behind the cloak of religion, fanning the flames of extremism with both money and education.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly refused to stop its religious schools from preaching hatred and the severe dogma of its Wahhabi branch of Islam. The secular schools are little better. But then, how can educators be expected to change in a country where the interior minister told a news magazine last month that Zionists "are behind these events" of Sept. 11?

The Saudi government also refuses to cooperate with the families of the victims of Sept. 11. In the suit we are involved in, highly placed members of the royal family are named as defendants, as are leading banks, the interior minister, the former ministers of health and Islamic affairs and, most important, Prince Turki al-Faisal, the former intelligence minister.

The Saudis won't respond to the accusations and have now named Prince Turki as ambassador to Britain, which conveniently gives him the claim of diplomatic immunity. If there is evidence exonerating any defendant, we welcome the Saudis to bring it to our attention; if clear and incontrovertible, we would drop the defendant from the suit.

If the Saudis aren't going to act, the United States should push the issue. Unfortunately, for many years our officials, worried about keeping reasonably priced oil flowing and using Saudi Arabia as a possible staging area in the event of war with Iraq, have been soft on the kingdom.

I believe they have pushed the issue, but not in the direction it needs to go. Only yesterday, they agreed to allow the United States to use their air bases. Someone in the esteemed American government has twisted an arm or too, and rightly so. However, it may still be necessary to depose that hateful regime after the War on Iraq is over, for we must make it clear that the non-Muslim world will not be bullied or threatened into worshipping their false prophet Mahomet.

2002-12-28T11:04:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236, the Feast of the Holy Innocents. News has reached me that on the day after the Feast of St. Martin, great inundations of the sea suddenly broke forth by night, and a fierce storm of wind arose, which caused inundations of the rivers as well as the sea, and in places drove the ships from their ports, tearing them from their anchors, drowned great numbers of people, destroyed flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, tore up trees by the roots, overthrew houses and ravaged the coast. The sea rose for two days and the intermediate night, a circumstance before unheard of, and did not ebb and flow it's usual way, being impeded by the violence of the opposing winds. The dead bodies of those drowned were seen lying unburied in caves formed by the sea, and at Wisebeach and neighboring villages, and along the seacoast, an endless number of human beings perished.

In our modern day, the great metropolis of New York is still recovering from the effects of a great snowfall. It was the first white Christmas in 31 years.

2002-12-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

In our modern era, The Memory Hole has brought us a story that should be no suprise to anyone with five wits. It seems illustrious men in our own government - one Senator Bob Graham in particular - have come to the inescapable conclusion that the perfidious attackers of September the 11th were supported, yea, financed, by a sovereign foreign government. The august statesman fears not to utter these words:

I think there is very compelling evidence that at least some of the terrorists were assisted not just in financing -- although that was part of it -- by a sovereign foreign government and that we have been derelict in our duty to track that down, make the further case, or find the evidence that would indicate that that is not true and we can look for other reasons why the terrorists were able to function so effectively in the United States.

Yet, he does not make an accusation. I fear it is because we all know who we should accuse, yet our government calls them "friends." How can we continue to deny Saudi Arabia's involvement in worldwide terrorism? Do we not know that they are the richest and most vociferous of the Muslim states? Do we not know that it is they who send their missionaries of Islam to spread the wicked word of Wahabism throughout the world? Do we not know that they would have us all bow to their false prophet and forsake the Lord Jesus Christ? Nay, we are not unaware of these things, yet we feel compelled to call them "friends and allies" though they are nothing of the kind. We fear what would happen were we to accuse them, for it would be nothing short of a modern crusade against the Saracens. Would this be such a bad thing?

2002-12-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236, the Feast of St.Stephen Martyr. This being a continuation of the letter sent to his holiness, Pope Gregory, concerning the false doctrine of Mahomet. Again, I do not claim that the names and events listed herein are most accurate, as I am not the writer, nor am I able to verify the accounts written here. For part I, go here.

Part II

Mahomet sent a follower of his with forty soldiers to rob the merchants who were travelling with large sums of money. These men were met by Abige Hely, the son of Jesem, attended by three hundred men of his city, and at sight of these, the robbers sent by Mahomet took flight, and that pseudo-prophet could not foresee this event to guard against it, for he had not the spirit of prophecy; the Saracens therefore lie when they say that he always had ten angels with him who served him in everything.

Oftentime too, he sent his followers by night to the houses of his enemies, secretly and treacherouly to slay the inmates. On one occasion he sent a man named Alchilia to murder Achym; in this manner he in his hatred ordered Zely to go and murder Acuan, and old and infirm man, and he was killed in his bed. Again, he sent Gabdallah with twelve of his followers to Abla to hear the news and bring it back to him, and as these men were on their road, they met Gary with a large sum of money, and immediately murdered him, giving a fifth of their booty to Mahomet. Again, the son of Pheneuf went by his orders to a certain town, murdered the men, women and children, and brought the fifth part of that booty to Mahomet saying, "So much is your share, Prophet of God;" and Mahomet willingly accepted it.

End Part II

2002-12-26T18:30:00.000-08:00

In our present era, Eric Johnson on Catholic Light chastises those who call the coming war with Iraq "illegal, unwise and immoral." He goes on to say:

the Christian tradition does not preclude the use of force between states. The burden of proof falls on those who propose to use force, because there should be an automatic preference against it. To state flatly that war per se contradicts the Gospel is false. The good archbishop should take up this matter with the authors of the Catechism, which not only says war is permissible under some circumstances, but that states can compel its citizens to fight.

It is certain that good Christians should abstain from violence, but it is equally certain that there are times when our conscience tells us we cannot. Those who do not oppose evil are doomed to suffer because of it.

2002-12-26T17:41:00.000-08:00

Having introduced this chronicle to the populace, it may be fitting to now explain myself. I have in mind to reproduce the chonicles written by my namesake Matthew Paris between the years 1235 and 1272. In his Chronica Majora, Brother Matthew wrote of the doings of his nation and his king, as well as of the foreign affairs of the time, for this was the era of Crusades, Crusades against Saracens in the Orient and heretics in Europe. His narrative is a window into England of the 13th century. This Chronica Majora, in the Year of Our Lord 2002, will also be a window, a window onto America and the world in the 21st century.

2002-12-25T14:48:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236, being the Feast of the Nativity. In the 20th year of the reign of King Henry the Third, he held his court at Winchester, where he observed the Christmas feast with great rejoicings. He was at this time anxiously looking for the return of the special messengers, whom he had sent to Provence to Raymond, count of that province, with letters containing his inmost thoughts about contracting a marriage with his daughter Eleanor.

The crusades move slowly, though more and more pious nobles assume the cross. As the months allowing for travel come upon us, we will hear of more holy pilgrims taking up arms in the cause of freeing the Holy Land from the grip of the Saracens.

2002-12-23T07:52:00.000-08:00

Anno Domini 1236, being the Feast of Eugenia, Virgin Martyr. About this time a letter was sent to his holiness, Pope Gregory the Ninth, from the countries of the East, by the mendicants who were travelling in those parts. And when it was published to the world, the false doctrine, yea the madness of Mahomet, the prophet of the Saracens, an account of whom was given therein, excited the derision and mockery of all. So, for the benefit of that part of the populace which has not read this letter, I post here select passages. I do not claim that the names and events listed herein are most accurate, as I am not the writer, nor am I able to verify the accounts written here, but I have it on most goodly authority that the mendicants who wrote the following missive knew from whence they spoke.

Part I

This man, called Mahomet the Ismaelite, became the hirling of a certain woman named Adige, who gave him an ass for his service, to bring goods into the province of Asia, for which she was to receive the value. At length, he secretly cohabited with this woman, and married her, and grew very rich by her money. He became greatly elated at this, and began to boast, and endeavoured to establish himself as ruler over all the tribes and his own nation; indeed, he would have presumed so far as to call himself their king, if some more noble and stronger than himself had not opposed this usurpation. He then declared that he was a prophet sent from God, and that all people ought to believe his words. The ignorant Arab rustics, who had never seen a prophet, believed him. This said Mahomet enticed into friendship with him any freebooters and robbers that he could collect, and placed them in secret out-of-the-way places, for the purpose of robbing the merchants on their way to and from Asia. He then went to a city in the desert, where the inhabitants were partly Jews and partly Pagans, idolators, poor and ignorant men; there he built a temple, in which he put forth his false doctrines to the simple people.

End Part I

2002-12-23T07:19:00.000-08:00

At about this time in our modern day, there is a report from the Holy Land regarding how the disappearance and subsequent deaths of two little girls, one Jewish on Palestinian, show us the pagan disregard for the sanctity of human life. Murder, They Ignored While Isrealite newspapers focussed on the tragedy of a missing Palestinian child, Nur Abu-Tir by name, the newsmongers of her own people ignore the child's plight.

"A police officer involved in the investigation says he literally had to beg the editors of the east Jerusalem-based daily al-Quds, the largest Palestinian newspaper, to run a story on the missing girl, hoping that publication would help.

The next morning, the officer was stunned to read a brief news item in the Palestinian newspaper entitled, "Israeli police searching for missing Jewish and Arab girls." Not only did the editors refrain from publishing the girl's picture, but they also failed to dispatch a reporter to the family's home, as most Israeli newspapers and TV stations did. "

Do these people not know that life is Holy? The Jews do, for they treasure the lives of their children.

"Asked to explain the behavior of the Palestinian journalists, one of the editors says that the Arab media generally avoid dealing with "sensitive" issues, especially those related to local crime.

"First, journalists are afraid to cover stories which could get them into trouble," the editor explains.

"Second, most of our journalists believe that this is not the right time to deal with stories that might reflect negatively on the Palestinians. As far as they are concerned, stories about crime, especially murder, should not be given prominence, or even published, because they weaken the spirit of the people and defame our society. "Third, there is the group of lazy and unprofessional journalists who haven't the slightest idea about the role the media play. These are journalists who spend most of their time interviewing senior [PA] officials by phone and do their utmost to appease them. They only care about their salaries at the end of the month and their positions."

The Israeli police officer has a different explanation.

"Although I agree with most of the editor's reasoning, the basic problem lies with the attitude of Arab society to the value of life," he adds. "It's sad to say, but my impression is that this society, which is violent by nature, isn't that much moved by the kidnapping or gruesome killing of an innocent girl. It's a cultural issue that demonstrates the wide gap between Western civilization and Arab traditions. "

2002-12-22T18:36:00.000-08:00

At about this time in our modern day, miraculous webs appeared in the skies over Galveston, Texas. Learned scholars believe it to be the webs of newly born baby spiders, launching themselves onto the wind to begin their journey in the world. Others believe it to be part of a great UFO conspiracy covered up by the powers that be. This having happened twice before, once in October of this year in the state of California, and the other exactly 2 years ago in the state of Oregon, 'twas said that jet aircraft caused them to form during flight excercises. Others may have the right of it to say it was a sign from Almighty God.

2002-12-22T18:29:00.000-08:00

Today is the Feast of St. Didymus Martyr, Anno Domini 1236. In these days prevailed the horrible nuisance of the Caursines, to such a degree that there was hardly anyone in all England, especially the bishops, who was not caught in their net. Even the king himself was held indebted to them in an incalculable sum of money. For they circumvented the needy in their necessities, cloaking their usury under the show of trade, and pretending not to know that whatever is added to the prinicple is usury, under whatever name is it called.

The church should never associate with such usurers, no matter that they may need funds, for all know that such "funds" are not for the needy, but for the Romans and their greedy ilk.

2002-12-21T15:52:00.000-08:00

At about this time, an American soldier was killed in Afghanistan. The cowardly perpetrators fled across the border to the lands of Pakistan. Yet this is not the end of the distressing news, for our source goes on to say,"This week the United Nations issued a report saying that al-Qaida training camps had resumed in eastern Afghanistan. The camps are small and mobile, the report said.

The area also borders deeply conservative regions of Pakistan where suicide bombers are being recruited and trained, sources tell The Associated Press.

The bombers are being offered $50,000 for their families if they carry out suicide attacks in Afghanistan, the sources said. The presence of the training camps and plans to carry out suicide attacks was corroborated by a Western intelligence source."

2002-12-21T09:18:00.000-08:00

Being a test of the posting properties which do plague me.

2002-12-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

In the Year of Our Lord 1236, the feast of St. Peter Canisius. I set my hand to these writings that all may benefit from the chronicle of our times that are set within.