Chevalier, Mult Estes Guariz

 

May Day, workers of the world unite. And with that can you hear the voices of Charles Martel, Raymond, Godfrey, Tancred, and Robert? We're taught, today, to scorn the first Crusade, how evil of them to fight for the Cross and the Faith. The same people, who by the way hate Christianity, urge us to fight for Democracy.

Point being, you fight for what you most believe in and what is that; friends, family, unit? Yes indeed, but beyond that what? What idea or cause would you go to war for. And this is an issue, not least for the West which has ditched objective value and truth for opinion, read power.

So here we are, about to give Ukraine $33 BILLION to defeat the Russian Orcs in the name of the freedom to have trans bathrooms. Ahem, get even richer than we already are.

You'll be amazed to know that Russia's military budget is some $20 billion.

Cheers,

LSP

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today's the Feast of the Holy Cross and Christians everywhere, if they think about it all, scratch their heads and ask why September 14th?

Because the Eastern Roman Emperor Heraclius returned the Cross to its rightful place in Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre on September 14, 629 AD. Where had the most holy relic in Christendom been until then? With the pagan Persians who, under their King Chosroes II waged war against Constantinople, capturing Jerusalem and the Cross in 608, along with much of the rest of Asia Minor.

However, despite near total defeat, Heraclius, possibly the last classical Roman Emperor, launched a successful campaign against the Persians, defeating Chosroes in 627 at the battle of Nineveh and advancing on his capital, Ctesiphon. 

Chosroes was subsequently overthrown and killed by his bloodthirsty son Kavad, who gave the Cross to Heraclius in a gesture of goodwill. And so the Wood on which hung the Saviour of the World returned to the Holy City. Restored on the same day as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre's consecration, September 14th.

Legend has it that Heraclius attempted to carry the Cross into Jerusalem in his bejeweled regalia but was mysteriously unable to move forward. The city's Patriarch, advised by an angel, put matters right; the Emperor must proceed in sackcloth, barefoot, and he did.

So the Cross came back to the Sepulchre. Within a few short decades it faced another enemy, Islam, which arose like a storm from the East and swept both Persian and Byzantine empires before it.

O GOD, who by the passion of thy blessed Son hast made the instrument of shameful death to be unto us the sign of life and peace: Grant us so to glory in the Cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss; for the sake of the same thy Son 

our Lord. Amen.

God Bless,

LSP

Ash Wednesday

Here we are again at the beginning of Lent and that's usually the Compound's cue to unleash TS Eliot's poem, Ash Wednesday. But here's something new, an excerpt from a sermon by the late Fr. Crouse.

In the Scriptures for last Sunday, Quinquagesima, the Lenten theme was brought to still more perfect clarity, with Jesus’ announcement to the twelve: “Behold we go up to Jerusalem.” That is the central theme of Lent. We go up to Jerusalem with Jesus, to witness there the almighty charity of God in the Passion of his Son, and to be transformed by that same charity. As with the blind beggar by the road to Jericho, in that Gospel lesson, the blind eyes of our faith are to be opened to the glory of his sacrifice, and, as St. Paul told us on the Epistle lesson, that charity, that obedient, self-giving love, that steadfast, clear-sighted willing of the good, which is manifest in Calvary, is to be the substance of our own new life, the very essence of our spiritual maturity, the good and honest heart, the very habit of life of heaven, without which – whatever our gift, our struggles and achievements – we are “nothing worth”; just “sounding brass and tinkling cymbal”, just noisy nonsense.

The Scripture lessons for those weeks of preparation have shown us the meaning, and the character, and the urgency of the pilgrimage of Lent. Now it remains only to undertake it, and today’s lessons urge us to do just that; with penitence for our wickedness and carelessness and double-mindedness; with a discipline which is not just external forms, but the inner discipline of mind and heart; striving not for worldly self-improvement, but for the treasure of eternal good. It is only by earnest, and persistent, and sometimes painful discipline that we are weaned from mindless conformity to worldly ends, and find that renewal of the mind which is spiritual freedom and maturity. That liberation is what Lent is all about. “Behold we go up to Jerusalem.” There is our treasure, in the charity of God, and there must our hearts be also.

I find that helpful, you can read the whole thing here.

God bless,

LSP 

GNN & The Holy Sepulchre

Entrance to the Holy Sepulchre

I've been to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre a couple of times and its never failed to move me, on several levels. I was moved when I came across this post on the excellent GNN; here's the intro:

"OK... it's time to come clean. I didn't come to Israel for the waters, nor the nightlife. Some months ago I realized a calling to ordination in the Episcopal Church. Jerusalem is my pilgrimage. It has confirmed my faith and made me all the more confident in my decision.

Since my childhood I have heard many spiritual and downright breathless tales of visits to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The church includes within its walls the last 5 Stations of the Cross:

10..........The site where Jesus is stripped of His garments

11 & 12...The site of Christ's crucifixion and death on the cross

13...........Where His body was removed from the cross and prepared for burial

14...........Jesus' tomb

That's my preface. Read about the place. It's amazing."

Read it all - a great post, I think.

I'll be saying a Mass for Nicky's intention and, from the haven of the Diocese of Fort Worth, wish him all the best. Its not easy being a padre at the best of times - harder still under the aegis of Jefferts Schori.

God bless,

LSP

Churches I Like

I love the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem because I believe its the authentic site of Our Lord's Crucifixion and Burial; also because the Byzantine architecture of late antiquity soars - the dome pictured appears to float, which is no mean feat and right ethereal. You'll meet monks there, begging for money; give it to them, far better value than various other taxes.

I know it sounds 'sexist' but the women of the parish(s) don't want to pay these anymore and talk angrily about 'secession'. They're very fierce and radical.

Keep the Holy Places safe,

LSP