Saint Bernard’s Spirit of Chivalry

Saint Bernard’s Spirit of Chivalry

Saint Bernard was a Cistercian monk. He founded a religious Order that was a branch of the Order of Saint Benedict, destined to practice greater austerity and have a tougher life than required by the toughest rules of the monks of his time. He believed—how rightly!—that through suffering, man atones for his own sins and … Read more

A Brilliant Defense of Christendom

Return to Order A Brilliant Defense of Christendom 2

Many believe that Christendom was a rigid and brutal order. In medieval times, we are told that tyranny ruled, and the Church and the nascent State were constant rivals in the pursuit of dominance. So many modern historians have cynically reduced this period when Christianity prevailed to a time of cultural darkness and violent power … Read more

Medieval Paternalism and Progressivist Neo-Slavery

Return to Order Medieval Paternalism and Progressivist Neo-Slavery 2

What should be thought of the quotes below? “Whereas the interest in and tendency toward maximum productivity continue to be dominant and absolute, private property has ceased to be a projection of the individual, a kind of necessary support of his individuality in the world of things, to become – this is something Christians especially … Read more

The Story of Our Lady of Genazzano

Return to Order The Story of Our Lady of Genazzano 2

A few miles from the city of Rome, lies Genazzano — a city rich in history and blessed with the presence of a miraculous painting of the Blessed Virgin that has an amazing story. The origins of Genazzano date back to the times of the Roman emperors. Because of its proximity to Rome, the city … Read more

Our Lady of Joy

Return to Order Our Lady of Joy 3

Our Lady of Joy is also know as, Notre Dame de Liesse, or Causa Nostrae Laetitiae In 1134 three Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem who were prisoners of the Muslims in Egypt, miraculously found or received in their prison, a statue of Our Lady, which they named Our Lady of Joy, … Read more

The Crusaders attack Jerusalem

The attack began the night of July 13, [1099,] and the defenders let loose a hail of stones and rivers of Greek fire…. The battle hung in the balance during the morning hours of July 15. Archers shot blazing firebrands to drive the defenders from the walls, but the siege towers were battered and burned. … Read more

Don Pelayo starts the Reconquista with the battle of Covadonga

Return to Order Don Pelayo starts the Reconquista with the battle of Covadonga

By contrast with the catastrophic loss of Spain, the chroniclers tell us that through Divine Providence liberty was restored to the Christian people and the Asturian kingdom was brought into being. This reportedly occurred when the majority of the Goths of royal blood came to the Asturias and elected as king Pelayo (719-737), son of … Read more

Military Orders

Return to Order Military Orders 4

Including under this term every kind of brotherhood of knights, secular as well as religious, historians of the military orders have enumerated as many as a hundred, even after eliminating the apocryphal and stillborn. This great number is explained by the eagerness with which the Middle Ages welcomed an institution so thoroughly corresponding to the … Read more

The Decay of the Middle Ages

Return to Order Military, Social, and Religious History of Chivalry and Knighthood 6

In the fourteenth century a transformation of mentality began to take place in Christian Europe; in the course of the fifteenth century it became ever more apparent. The thirst for earthly pleasures became a burning desire. Diversions became more and more frequent and sumptuous, increasingly engrossing men. The growing yearning for a life filled with … Read more