07/02/2023 – “The First of Ma Coeur” – 1296 C.E. – Level IV – Chapter Thirteen // Group Fellowship and Discussion
“The First of Ma Coeur” – 1296 C.E. – Level IV – Chapter Thirteen
This is a really good historical article on St. Jean d’Acre, or just Akka, Israel, complete with pictures:
https://www.seetheholyland.net/tag/st-jean-dacre/
We open our chapter with: “St. Jean d’Acre still remained as the Crusader capital and the eighty Count Volkmar of Gretz still defended the castle of Ma Coeur as a bulwark of the Faith, trusting that some miracle would permit him to retain it for another generation.” (Pg. #697)
Count Volkmar reflects to his son:
“As the pilgrims headed toward Nazareth the count explained to his son, ’The secret of wealth is to have many people working, but in the old days we did not understand this, so we slaughtered all who lived on the land because they were of a different religion. But we quickly learned that in doing so we were killing ourselves, and the land lay idle until we could find hands to till it. Our first Count was land idle until we could find hands to till it. Our first count was among the earliest to discover this truth, and that was why through the years our family prospered whilst others did not.”
Question: So, not only an absence of repentance for grievous sin, but a correction motivated solely by self-interest earthly prosperity?
So, from page #697, “Ma Coeur as a bulwark of the Faith?” I don’t think so! Thoughts?
FYI – pg #712, after reading the introduction in the 1st paragraph:
“ “Why did our side do such a thing?, the boy inquired.
“Because it was the turn of stupid men to lead us,” Volkmar replied. “We lost Tabarie and the Galilee and Jerusalem and Ma Coeur, and even St. Jean d’ Acre.” He turned away from the others and stared at the hills. “We lost so much,” he muttered to himself. “Later on we won back Ma Coeur and Acre but Jerusalem was gone forever, and now the twilight deepens.” He began to hum a can’t from the Catholic Liturgy Tenebrae factae sent, “The shadows are falling.” “
Question: God is loving or patience, but does his patience run out on us if we insist on turning our backs to Him? Cannot “stupid” be a direct result? What about U.S.A. today?
“How Marmelukes acknowledged their benefit from the stupidity of others:
“It was agreed, and two young Mamelukes who wanted to see Ma Coeur were dispatched with the caravan while its owner relaxed on the sunny terrace, chatting about the rumors of empire. ‘What we can’t understand in Damascus,’ the old man remarked , ‘is why the Pope should cry for a Crusade from Europe when he has a perfectly good one alive right here in Asia and does nothing to support it.’
‘You mean the Mongols?’ The Mameluke captain asked.
‘Yes!’ The old Arab insisted. ‘The other day I was talking with a Mongol trader down from Aleppo. He says the whole swarm of them are ready to become Christians if the Pope says the word, and they’d be an army of hundreds of thousands smashing at you Mamelukes from the back door while the Europeans hammer at the seaports. They’s have you caught in a trap.’ He squeezed his wrinkled hands together with force.
‘We used to worry about that,’ the Mameluke confessed, rubbing his scar. ‘For years we wondered when the Mongols and the Christians would combine against us. But now we don’t worry. It can never happen.” “ (pgs #717 – 718)
I encourage y’all to reread the discourse between the “bearded Jew” and Count Volkmar as the question of the difference in theology between the Christians and the Jews.. (last paragraph , pg. #730 through the 4th paragraph of pg #731, middle of the page)
Two key short excerpts, call them a paradox:
“Christians could share a church with Muslims, whom they were fighting to the death, but, could not possibly do so with Jews, from whom Christianity has sprung. He (Count Volkmar) stemmed his impending flight and asked, ‘Why do we hate you Jews so deeply?’
Question: Why can’t he answer his own question here?
“The bearded one replied, ‘Because we bear testimony that God is one. We were placed among you by God to serve as that reminder.”
Question: Not that it would have bridged the gap, given the Jews did not believe that Jesus was God in the flesh, but why wouldn’t Volkmar correct the “bearded
Jew” that Christians believe that “God is three?”
The cry of the martyrd Jews just before their death: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
Just saying: I sure would like to vacation to to Acre, Israel off the Mediterranean coast! , roughly halfway
Between Jerusalem and Beirut.
Mamluks defeat Muslim empire:
End of the Crusades: Mongols, Mamluks and Muslims
Soli Deo Gloria!