Less professing Catholics in Belgium

Even though our country counts about 200.000 volounteers active in various Christian organisations,nthe trend is nevertheless obvious: less people are professing Catholics; less people are baptized. The secularization of the democracy is sadly moving forward

Jozef De Veuster to become 'Saint Damiaan'

The long procedure for our locally most known priest Jozef de Veuster, better known as Father Damiaan, to be recognized as a Saint, has been approved today by His Holy Father. It should not take long now before the decision becomes a fact. Father Damiaan will be from hence forth be known as "Saint Damiaan from Molokai". 

Our local Flemish Minister Geert Bourgeois has declared to officially request the presence of His Holy Father to be present at that very moment here in Belgium. 

No Minaret in Bastogne!

A petition by the BeChrist organisation has reaped success; no minaret will be built in Bastogne, where nevertheless a mosque was already scheduled to be planned. It is however a moral victory for the Christian community of Bastogne to retain its identity.

Fitna not fit for prosecution

Geert Wilders, the fontman of the PVV party in Holland, was not surprised to learn that his short movie, Fitna, has not been found to be illicit nor subject to prosecution according to Public Affairs. The Dutch Islamic Federation had hoped to be able to prosecute the man & ban the video.

The truth must hurt...
Thank God there is still freedom of speech in Democratic countries

BeChrist a non-profit-making association

I stumbled today upon the site of 'BeChrist' which is a non-profit association whose statutes make it possible to take legal action against any person or entity which has made a reacist anti-Christian or anti-Belgian act. 

I can only applaud such an action, and the tone is set with the motto "Making fun of the Catholic Religion will become dangerous" - they already have my respect! 

Visit this site!

"For God & Kingdom"

Devote Holland

Results from a recent poll in the Netherlands stated that there are about 9 million religious inhabitants of which 29% (the largest bulk) are Roman-Catholic. And they too do visit their Church an a very regular basis. 

Archaeologists unearth ‘first church in the world’ in Rihab

The Jordan Times reported yesterday on the discovery of what is believed to be the first Church in the world, underneath Saint Georgeous Church in Rihab, Mafraq. It is dated from 33AD to 70AD according to archaeologist Abdul Qader Hussan, head of the Rihab Centre for Archaeological Studies.

Archimandrite Nektarious, Bishop Deputy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, described the discovery of the cave as an “important milestone for Christians all around the world”.

So far, 30 churches have been discovered in Rihab,” Hussan said. It is also believed that Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary have passed through this area, he added.

Picture: The cave under Saint Georgeous Church in Rihab near Mafraq, where early Christians are belived to have taken as a shelter from persecution in Jerusalem. Circular-shaped stone seats, supposedly for the clergymen can be seen in the cave.

Remeber D-Day, 64 years ago!

It's been 64 years now since the Allied Forces marched on Nazi-Europe and started their liberation campaigns against oppression, tyranny, and anti-Freedom. Though almost none of us have experienced WWII, it should never be forgotten that "never was so much owed by so many to so few" - still today.

It may neither be forgotten that united, by the Grace of God, we stand.

Freedom of Thought, Speech, and Religion is NOT on the agenda of totalitarian & religious fundamentalists.

Interview documentary with Maalouf

There's a TV documentary tonight "VPRO-Tegenlicht" on the 2nd Dutch Channel (nederland 2) with Arabian Cristian, Amin Maalouf who fled Beiruth to Paris, France. The interview will treat, amongst others, religious fanatism.

Al Qaeda female warrior plans jihad unhindered in Belgium

A few days ago the NY Times published an article that made my blood run cold. Ms. El Aroud, a 48-year-old woman with the double Maroccan - Belgian nationality has been rallying muslima for an all-out jihad through the multiple blogs she runs. On top of that, she's the widow to her first husband who was killed during an Al Qaeda terrorist action in which he was not really the the target but rather one of the purpotraters.

Ms. El Aroud, or “Oum Obeyda,” as she calls herself when writing online (in French) has evolved into one of the most prominent Internet jihadists in Europe, all from within Belgium. Unhindered, unpunished.

To add insult to injury she almost admitted openly to plan terrorist acts on Belgian soil, while receiving an unemployment compensation from the State . Thus, our Belgian state funds jihadists; as incomprehensible as it seems.

Read the NY Times article.

PLaymobil Templar

Not only did Playmobil release a new theme revolving around marriage, with obviously a nice Church-set they also just released a nice looking Crusader Knight. It's a Templar alright... ! Some nice additions to the already existing Christian sets (Christmas, Easter,...).

I may have to review the signature image of Sigillum Militum Xpisti, and swap it for this brave Knight ;-)

Gregorian hit in the making?

The Monks of the Holy Cross in the Wienerwald (Austria) have posted a clip on Youtube of one of their forthcoming Gregorian CD "Chant, music for paradise". The CD come in the UK charts at n° 8. The eventual benefits from the sales will be invested in the education of new monks.

The CD is available in iTunes

'Templars' - a colloquium

The recently founded Association for the Study of the Templars and Hospitalers will be organizing a Colloquium on the Templars September 12 & 13th in Ieper, Belgium. The Colloquium is open to academics & non-academics.

Guest speakers include: Prof. Malcolm Barber (Univesity of Reading); Dr. Helen Nicholson & Dr. Denys Pringle (Cardiff University), Dr. Denys Pringle; Historians Filip Hooghe, Bernard Schotte, Thierry Leroy, and Thomas Delvaux; archeologist Jean Roefstra.

Source: Tempeliers.be is a meeting point for enthousiasts in the history of the Templars and that of other military orders of the crusades.

Corpus Christi

Today many countries (especially Latin American countries) celebrate "Corpus Christi". Apart from being a Holiday, making it a long weekend, it also marks a series of religious festivities and straat anaimations such as the "Tapete Rua", where whole streets' pavement is decorated as 'religious carpets' with al sorts of materials on which the procession passes.

Day for Open Churches

June 1st is the Day For Open Churches, which is a day of festivities organised by places of worship which are members of the "Foundation of Open churches". Concerts, guided tours, inaugurations, conferences, exhibitions......

European countries participating are: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK.

Objectives:

• To develop our religious heritage and make it accessible to local people and to foreign visitors.


• To train and monitor host members.


• To create the tools for the discovery and understanding of our religious heritage.


• To spread and promote heritage events such as visits, concerts, conferences and religious activities.

http://www.openkerken.be/europe.asp?menuParent=true&structureID=21

Not enough mosques...

About 300 mosques exist in Belgium, of which 51 are officially recognized and receive funds from the government. 'Not enough' says Farid El Machaoud, spokesperson of the Muslim community; not enough mosques & not enough money, and to slow a process to get a mosque officially recognized...

I wonder, how many Churches are officially recognized and funded in any Muslim country...

Broken Heaven & Hell...

Great was my dissapointment when finally receiving the artful plaster reproductions of 2 scenes from the VIIth Century typanuml of Conques, Aveyron representing the Final Judgement... both individual pieces were broken, no doubt due to the poor wrapping & harsh handling.

Luckily the reseller promised to send both pieces anew; Heaven & Hell may yet be restored...

http://www.conques.com/index1.htm

New Iconoclastic Fury?

A few days ago, May 9th to be precise, the Turkish newspaper Yenicag published a headline article in both its paper & online edition about a 17th century pulpit in a small Belgian Church.

The sculpture symbolises angels holding a non-believer down by standing atop of him. Of course the Turkish used this and screamed 'murder & rape' and demanded that we end this "beastiality"... Why don't we put a match to all classical art museums & churches, I mean, there's got to be more than one objectional piece of art, right?

Once more it seems that 'historical context' is something that can be ignored when using art, symbols, or whatever for the 'greater good' of scaremongering and hatred.

Remeber though; "...where books are burned, people will be burn..."

Book reviewed?

I'm about to read Karen Armstrong's highly praised book "Holy war: The Crusades and their impacts on today's World" and would like to know whether someone who has read it could comment on it as I've also understood that some conclusions were drawn in a rather rash fashion... Anybody? 

Turn the other cheek?

Yet another group of 11 terrorists connected to Al-Qaeda has been arrested in Marocco, accused of planning two terrorist acts in Belgium, one against the building of the European Union and the Brussels Sheraton Hotel.

Should we turn the cheek, or tackle this discussion head-on?

what with pride for one's belief?

God hates pride (Proverbs 8:13). The Bible tells us that, “pride brings destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to live it up among the rich and famous (Proverbs 16:18-19)...

But, what about pride for being a follower of Christ? Pride is essentially self-worship, but what when it is merely the worship of the Lord & His Kingdom?

I must admit, I find it a bit hard sometimes to fully appreciate the words of Matthew on this...

Matthew Chapter 5:
"10 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: 12 Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you."

Is there then no acceptable pride when it's just pride in belonging to Christ's disciples?

Why an Army of Christ?

For one, I am not an omni-scient Catholic or preacher. I've been raised as a Roman Catholic Christian. While it did last more than thirty years or so in order for me to become aware of the large void in my life, which was Faith, I've always been intrigued by Christian history, especially by all men & women defending Christianity throughout the ages.

Only recently have I understood the Lord's call; I must have ignored or misunderstood it for thirty years. Having recently embraced this Peace & Love in my life through our Lord, I feel I must share this with fellow Bothers & Sisters.

So why start this Blog through a topic dedicated to Christ's "Army"? Well, there's the historical interest I have for all things tied to the Crusades & Templars for one; and there's also my strong belief in defending Christ & God's Kingdom. While other religions seem to indulge in fanatic experience and submission, we Christians all too often seem to be emberassed for our belief. Needless to say, we seem even too scared to discuss and take up textual arms for our Lord when challenged or antagonized.

Surely, I am not the only new-found Christian who is fed up with being downplayed and humiliated by agnostics & other beliefs? Though I've only recently found peace of mind in Christ's Love, I feel very strongly about it. Who else amongst you feels it doesn't hurt to defend our Lord's words & way? Speak up!