In this modern day we always hear the tired rant of the secularists and atheists of "separation of Church and State" and "when politics and religion mix, people die" and other implications of religion intervening in politics. It is only those people who are truly knowledgeable of history know the reverse is true.The Romans, Nazis and Communists attempted to control religion in the name of the state, in the process killing millions of believers. The French Revolution is no exception.
On this day in 1792, French revolutionaries in Paris executed 191 priests who refused to swear oaths agreeing to total government control of the Church. The revolutionaries did not have the courage to do this in public. Instead they sent a “Vigilance Committee” (a vigilante band of about 150 armed men) to kill the priests in their prisons.
They were imprisoned in the Abbey of St-Germain-des-Prés, Hôtel des Carmes in the rue de Rennes, Prison de la Force, and Seminaire de Saint-Firmin in Paris, France by the Legislative Assembly for refusing to take the oath to support the civil constitution of the clergy. This act placed priests under the control of the state, and had been condemned by the Vatican.
Propers for the Martyrs of September
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The Collect.
O GOD who vouchsafest unto us to keep the remembrance of thy holy Martyrs of Paris: grant, we beseech thee, that we may rejoice in the perpetual felicity of their fellowship in heaven. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Epistle - 2 Esdras 2:42-48.
I ESDRAS saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs. And in the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted; which I marvelled at greatly. So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these? He answered and said unto me, These be they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms. Then said I unto the angel. What young person is it that crowneth them, and giveth them palms in their hands? So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord. Then the angel said unto me, Go thy way, and tell my people what manner of things, and how great wonders of the Lord thy God, thou hast seen.
The Gospel - St. Matthew 10:16-22.
BEHOLD, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall he brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a witness to them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Reference and Resources:
http://saints.sqpn.com/martyrs-of-september/
http://suburbanbanshee.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/the-martyrs-of-september/
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Good post. People often seem to forget what a terrible event the French Revolution was.
ReplyDeleteI think that the French Revolution has been over romanticized in popular fiction and most people do not know or have not been taught the ugly truth of that era.
ReplyDeleteMost Americans have the impression, based on our own revolutionary experience, that revolutions are good and positive things. This is due to the fact that our revolution was the exception and not the rule, we did not experience the massive blood-letting in our post-revolutionary period that most others have France, China, Russia, Viet Nam, Cambodia, etc.
In more recent memory there is the very tranquil and civilized transition of power that followed the collapse of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe, thereby reinforcing the false impression of bloodless post-revolutionary periods.
And when the bloodshed begins it is usually the Christians that suffer most, for despots fear the words of Our Lord and treat them as a threat to their authority and cult of personality.
You're absolutely right, I'm sure, that the American Revolution has created unrealistic expectations. It's much to Edmund Burke's credit, I always think, that he could tell the difference between them even as they were happening.
ReplyDeleteThe problem in the US is that Burke is not taught or held in the same regard as other thinkers of that era.
ReplyDeletePart of this may be due to the modified use of Burke's criticisms of the French Revolution as it is applied to the "popular" revolutions of the 20th century, the ones that American academia and "intellectuals" are so fond of. (you know, the enlightened cult of Che Guevara).
If you ask many of these same people for their take on Taine, wait to hear crickets chirping. The modern west probably has the worst educated political activists in history, they are spoon-fed leftist hash and made to feel that their arguments are superior by their indoctrinators, especially when it comes to the attacks on individual property and Christianity. (oops, I am ranting, sorry)
Don't apologise! There was a piece at Anglican Mainstream defending Damian Thompson (editor of the Catholic Herald) and making exactly the same point just a couple of days ago.
ReplyDelete