Selected Art on St. Louis IX

QUOTES (click HERE for source):

If God send thee adversity, receive it in patience and give thanks to our Saviour and bethink thee that thou hast deserved it, and that He will make it turn to thine advantage. If He send thee prosperity, then thank Him humbly, so that thou becomest not worse from pride or any other cause, when thou oughtest to be better. For we should not fight against God with his own gifts.
-- From Louis' last instructions to his son.
 

In order to do justice and right to thy subjects, be upright and firm, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, but always to what is just; and do thou maintain the cause of the poor until such a time as the truth is made clear.
-- From Louis' last instructions to his son.



By El Greco (c. 1595)



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From St. Louis' mom to him: "I would rather see you dead at my feet than commit one mortal sin."



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Prisoner at Battle of Fariskur (7th Crusade)


"St. Louis a Prisoner in Egypt"
By Gustave Dore

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Death of St. Louis in Tunis (8th Crusade)

By Jean Fouquet (d. 1460)



Going Back to Old Blog Purpose

I tried changing this blog to something about the Theology of War and Peace, but I just couldn't get to it.  Perhaps that should be a separate blog in itself.  The description below existed since Dec. 2014.

As of June 2016, I will revert back to the original purpose of this blog: To teach the Faith to the world.


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From Aug. 2011 to Dec. 2014, the purpose of this blog was to teach the Faith to the world. The most recent motto was "Feed My Sheep."

In Dec. 2014, the purpose of this blog is to specialize in providing moral guidance on the theology of war, to avert war and promote peace, and to usher in the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Pope Francis: "Piecemeal WW3" & Paris Islamic Jihadist Attacks

Pope Francis called last Friday's attack on Paris that killed over 120 people "piecemeal World War III".

This is the second time the Holy Father has referred to World War III.  The last time he did this was when he visited a World War I veterans memorial where he made similar comments.

The attack in Paris was the worst attack on French soil since World War II over 70 years ago.

In both cases of World War II and "Piecemeal World War III," two groups -- Nazis and Muslims -- hated Jews and wanted to kill them.

Only God and the U.S Military can stop the Caliphate.

Ideological Roots... Again

Jesuit Islamic Scholar on Combating Fanaticism at Its Ideological Roots

Here's a video from Rome Reports of Islamic scholar Fr. Samir Khalil Samir, S.J.

Click HERE.

There is one simple theological point I wish to highlight from the interview.  Fr. Samir said that combatting fanaticism at its ideological roots may be the key to securing peace.

Addressing ideological ROOTS is the key!

This means that we must understand the religious roots.  A simple secularist approach will not be effective; in fact, a secularist approach will lead to defeat.

Below is the transcript of the interview.



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Jihadism Expert: Europe must take the Islamic State threat seriously

2015-04-19

It only took one night for the world's most powerful terrorist group to change the Middle East. It happened between June 9th and 10th  when Islamic State jihadists took over Mosul, Iraq, a city of 3 million inhabitants. They caused 150,000 people to flee in just hours.

They have exported terror from Syria and Iraq to Africa and Europe. Even al-Qaeda considers them too radical and violent.

P. SAMIR KHALIL

Islamic Scholar

"Extremists today have exceeded the limits: Everyone who is not them, they are enemies. Their strength comes from the fact that they are fanatics. They are ready for anything: If they die, they have won, because they go to paradise. If they kill, they gain territory. In all cases, it is win-win.”

The Islamic State has proclaimed a caliphate which covers an area larger than the British Isles.  They have promised to reach Europe. More and more people have joined. And they make millions each month by selling black market oil and gas, extortion, ransom and smuggling antiquities. The professor said they should not be underestimated.

P. SAMIR KHALIL

Islamic Scholar

"We must take this threat seriously. I do not think something will happen immediately, but it can happen.”

The Islamic State seeks to impose its radical interpretation of Islam on the world. They want to return to the times of the Caliphate of Baghdad in the 8th century.

P. SAMIR KHALIL

Islamic Scholar

"When religion becomes ideology it has new strength but is no longer a religion. That is what is happening with these radicals.”

For that reason, he said that combating fanaticism at its ideological roots may be the key to securing peace in the Middle East.

Let there be peace on earth!

Movie Review: "Act of Valor"

Mr. P.'s Movie Review Grade: A/A-

Act of Valor (2012)



I rarely give out A- let alone A grades.  Act of Valor definitely merits a well-earned A/A- rating.

 

SPOILER ALERT!

A young SEAL Lieutenant with a pregnant wife gives his life for his platoon Chief Petty Officer.  He is killed in action in order to prevent Filipino jihadists led by an Arab national from entering the United States border to set off a new type of weapon against civilians.  It is a life and death for which Medal of Honor recipients are honored. 

Earlier in the movie, the lieutenant and his chief spend time surfing where the young lieutenant teaches the chief how to surf.  This is artistically and morally significant in that at the end of the movie, as the chief writes a letter to the lieutenant's newborn son, the movie closes with the chief returning to the beach to surf giving a death and resurrection motif to the movie.  The military details and professionalism are evident as active duty Navy SEALs are used in the movie. 

There is a torture scene of a captured female CIA agent by enemy forces and the understandable typical war vulgarity, but it should be noted that the principles of Just War Doctrine particularly jus in bello (i.e., proportionality and discrimination) are respected by professional soldiers/sailors in the movie.  The events of the storyline span in Africa, the Philippines, Europe and the Americas.  The battle scenes reflect the extraordinary team work reflective of the Navy's motto: Honor, Courage, Commitment.

For moral and literary content, the movie earns a A/A- rating, but no rating can ever capture the gratitude of a citizenry cognizant of what SEALs and other military do to lay down their lives for others in real life, even at great personal cost to themselves and their families.