Providence disposed that the Middle Ages should be a specially
warlike age. This was not only because of the double effort that
Charlemagne had to do by fighting both Saracens and barbarians, but also
because of the remaining traits of barbarian mentality in Catholics
themselves, which led them to unsheathe their swords and combat for
trivial motives, or for no reason at all.
The
Capitulation of Granada, Painting by Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz.
Boabdil gives the keys of the city to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
This caused the Church to gradually tighten the screws and limit all
that by taming people’s customs, etc. in order to curb that [warlike]
mentality but, in curbing it, to also channel and elevate it to good
things. Whenever the Church finds herself before something in the soul
of her faithful which is exaggerated, though not bad as such and which
can even be tweaked toward the good, She tries to restrain the
exaggeration and at the same time channel the good thing to its higher
aspects. This She did magnificently, also with the Crusading spirit. And
from that came chivalry, the Crusades and everything we know.
Knights of Various Military Orders
… Specifically, it was a twofold offensive against Christendom. The
Church had to defend Herself, and She did so by stimulating this spirit
within Her ranks. And from this came the encouragement provided for, and
the sanctification of the Crusades.
(Excerpt from an Almoço Tuesday, Jan. 30, 1990 – Nobility.org)
