The Abbey of St. Benedictus

[History Guy]

[ooc]Hey! It's May 15th! St. Isidore of Seville!

"St. Isidore the Farmer was born at Madrid, Spain in the latter half of the twelfth century and was named after St. Isidore of Seville. His parents were simple farm laborers and could not afford to formally educate him, but infused in him the utmost horror and dread of sin.

From his early years, Isidore worked as a farm hand. Through the
education given to him by his parents and his love of the Lord he
came to consider his labors as a duty to God. Isidore was well known for his diligence and care in his work and is said to have been assisted by angles in his prayer-filled labors.

As a young man, Isidore married Maria de la Cabeza (Torribia), who is also honored as a saint, and together the couple worked and helped each other grow closer to the Lord. Isidore died around the year 1130 and was canonized in 1622 after the king was cured of a fever through his intercession.

Isidore is the patron of farmers and rural communities. He is also
patron Madrid, Spain."[/ooc]

[civman2000]

I am very pleased that the Holy Church is creating a Holy Order of Knights to spread God's enlightenment; indeed, my brother Roberto has already joined it. But should we not also be trying to send peaceful missionaries to the heathen lands? I think we should create an international office of the church (a thread in the general PTWDG forum) where we attempt to diplomatically and/or socially convert the heathens.

Riqui de la Civ

[Aidun]

Padre Riqui de la Civ,

I have ordered the advisors to make a plan for the Opening of the Doors of the Vatican for the world.

I have requested Archbishop Calamari to make suggestions here so that the monks and frairs of the Abbey of St. Benedictus can discuss it in here.

Pope Aidun I

[History Guy]

Well, there could be several ways of going about this. My suggestions are simply the simplest ones.

Firstly, we ask the King to sell Monotheism to those civilizations that do not have it. With the Gospel in their hands, some are bound to join this religion. It is my hope that the Voxians learn of it soon and put aside their devilry.

Secondly, we appoint the diplomats Missionary Bishops. As missionary bishops, they will have a more pressing role in foreign matters then before, setting up dioceses in foreign lands and appointing bishops from the foreigners. These missionary bishops must always preach the Gospel as well as do the work of diplomacy.

Thirdly, we must make alliances based on religion. [ooc]I'm thinking Charlemange here.[/ooc] If our country defeats another in war, not an entire defeat but one that would be something of a blow to the enemy, a term in the peace treaty would be the conversion to Christianity of the leader of that country, and the conversion of his people to Christianity. Also, we wish to see our allies abroad become Christian, and so we should form treaties in future with the idea of converting them, as well as for our government's benefits.

I suspect I'll think of more later.

Cardinal Winterus is now the first missionary bishop, and he shall depart for Persia. He is to establish a mission church in the capital, and appoint any friends in that country missionaries after baptizing them. So it will be. These missionaries shall then be sent out among the foreign marketplaces [ooc]or forums...[/ooc] to preach the Gospel.

Cardinal Calamari

[Nuclear Winter]

My brother has left for persia already. He insisted that we kept our missionary work quiet until(if) Persia was converted. I don´t know why, but I believe it has something to do with some strange concept of ´´Crusade´´he has been talking about...

[Aidun]

Then I am going to write him a letter. If there are problems at least I have to know of them, to be able to give him all the support I can give. There is of course the danger to get killed by pagans and I don't want to let that happen to the wise Bishop Winterius.

A letter from Pope Aidun I to Bishop Winterius in Persia.
Dear monsignor Winterius,

The news has come to me that you have set sail to Persia to convert the Persians to christianity. This goal is not without any danger, as you must have realized yourself, before you departed. I want to keep contact on a regular basis so that I know of what is happening in the north of the known world.
At the same time of your departure, the discussion has risen to open the doors of the Vatican to the world, something I encourage and would like to establish. Archbishop Calamari has advised me and I will include some phrases of the speech he held in de Abbey of St. Benedictus in this letter:

"Firstly, we ask the King to sell Monotheism to those civilizations that do not have it"

"Secondly, we appoint the diplomats Missionary Bishops. As missionary bishops, they will have a more pressing role in foreign matters then before, setting up dioceses in foreign lands and appointing bishops from the foreigners"

"Thirdly, we must make alliances based on religion."

Your brother has come to me, however, and told me that you had told him that you insist that our missionary work is kept quiet until Persia is converted or the mission fails. I would like to know from you why you insist on this. I don't want to bring you in trouble by setting up the institutions of the Church.
Please send me a letter as soon as this letter arrives.

I shall think of you in my prayers.

I wish you the strength and wisdom to fulfil this task.
May the grace of the almighty God fall upon you.

With kindest regards,

Pope Aidun I

Pope Aidun I

[ruby_maser]

Anyone in here like the movie Dogma? ...No?

Its a joke. Wait a second! TAKE IT OUT!!!! IT BURNS!!! IT BURNS!!!

[Aidun]

Fear not, my son, there is freedom of speech in here snd you won't get punished as long as you don't preach. At worst people can start to ignore you, but no harm will be done to you.

Pope Aidun I

[History Guy]

Your Holiness,

Wise words. May God bless us in our endeavors. If he is martyred, the Spanish government must then take over for the assassination or rebuttal of a Spanish diplomat.

A suggestion: Proclaim the King 'Defender of the Faith'. He will look after the Church as favored King, the only really recognizable ruler.

I trust that all shall go well.

Nuclearis,

That is, regretably, the other factor here for conversion. Crusade. All wars against heathens should be designated as such, and a term of surrender must be conversion to the One True Faith. This may be the less pleasant method, of course, but provided Spain's armies are up to the task, it works. I sincerely hope we don't have to go to such lengths.

Cardinal Calamari

[Aidun]

[half ooc]A new discussion in the Abbey: How would you like to see the Church develop? Should we try to 'conquer the world' or have a peaceful church or parhaps have a bloody church with many witch-executions, tortures, anything you can imagine. Please spam it all down here.[/half ooc]

Pope Aidun I

[civman2000]

[ooc]i would like to have a bloody church [/ooc]

I think the church should be peaceful and convert the heathens by showing them the truth, and only attacking when they explicitly reject it.

Riqui de la Civ, Priest of San Agustin and Monk of San Bendito.

PS: I am having health problems and will have to leave the Abbey for some time. Please pray for my health! My adopted son Daniel will run the church of San Agustin while I am unable to.

EDIT: I'm a priest, so my son must be adopted

[History Guy]

So I will, Brother de la Civ.

Brother Colomba History Guy Calamari of the Sacred Heart
--

Your Holiness,

We must be militant. I do not mean that we should conquer the word through deeds, but through words. We should see that Monotheism is sold to all civilizations, and that our Ambassadors may double as Bishops to proclaim the Gospel abroad. They must establish dioceses and missions, and the word must be proclaimed to all mankind. We must use politics, I fear, if we wish to be successful in saving all mankind from the Devil.

I do think that a Crusade is necessary. The Egyptians might need to be attacked in order to save the Coptic Church there. However, our government might have much trouble in doing so, and perhaps it would be an unfortunate affair if we did. Instead, I suggest gearing our crusading efforts towards Arabia, the real threat. There is a religion there that I cannot bear to speak of, and it is a foul one. Nothing glorifies the Devil so much as the evil way it is practised. One day Arabia will be strong enough to conquer us, and that day fast approaches. Unless we can buy Feudalism soon, we may be unable to stop their attacks. But we must hold an advantage through our troops, and must seize the day whenever we have a chance. One day, that apocalyptic battle will come, and when it does, Spain and the Church must be ready for it.

I suggest militant Christianity, not through swords and spears, but through concerted maneuvers of our diplomats to establish missions abroad. It is only when the Church is directly threatened that I suggest a crusade be called.

Cardinal Calamari

P.S., please do write up the laws of Inquistion at the earliest opportunity.

[civman2000]

I am very sad to tell the Abbey that my dear father has passed away. Let us pray that he has gone to heaven, for he has always served God and Spain well. I am the new Priest of San Agustin, and I would like to also join this Abbey as a Monk

Daniel de la Civ, adopted son of Riqui de la Civ and Priest of San Agustin

[History Guy]

Welcome, Brother Daniel...

Wait...your father? Brother Riqui? *gulp* Must have been before regulations were worked out...

[civman2000]

Wait...your father? Brother Riqui? *gulp* Must have been before regulations were worked out...

See my edit to my post above the one I just posted.