Excellent chapter! The story teaches so much history of The Crusades. I find myself researching many of the people and historical events I had not known about before reading Miles Christi. The story of Yaghi Siyan is chilling.
"As said: violence needs not religion. It need not power, envy, laziness, passion, though anyone will due. So much comes from desperation. It comes from good – one is hurt and one is not, and the hurt one will hurt others. How ferocious creation. What violence in separating Light from Darkness in just a word? The Tanakh does not say, but it was good . . . "
I have really appreciated going on the journey with the characters. I was struck by the truth in this thought Aile has:
"A sign. A sign. Give her a sign. But all about are signs – the gospel, the Eucharist, the suffering, . . . the silence. Amidst chaos’ roar, how does she battle silence? When alone, against who can one rage?"
As I have read this story - it has made me reflect on faith. While the testing of the human condition the Crusaders have been going through is not the same as my life - all of it is relatable - in that we all experience intense moral challenges.
After reading this chapter - I found myself revisiting Leonard Berstein's opera Mass. It is about a person's struggle with faith. Near the beginning of the opera - is a beautiful song (Devotions Before Mass, Hymn and Psalm - "A Simple Song"). Some of the lyrics are:
"Sing God a simple song...Lau da lau de...Make it up, as you go along...Lau da lau de...Sing like you like to sing...God loves all simple things. For God is the simplest of all. For God is the simplest of all."
Just like in Miles Christi - the main character of the opera Mass - is best trying to know, understand and serve God. He goes through a difficult journey. There is the simple, pure grace of God and then there are the challenges of being a human being existing in the world.
I could relate to Aile's thoughts in this section:
"Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may. But the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, God said, “You shall not eat of it, and you shall not touch it, lest you die.”
In her gown she did not feel naked, not like in iron.
You will surely not die. For God knows that on that day you eat . . . your eyes will be open, and you will be like angels, knowing good and evil.
Did she?
. . . that it was a delight to the eyes . . .
She had danced. She had vomited.
. . . and the tree was desirable to make one wise . . ."
I am wondering how Tìbald and Aile will feel about God when this story ends?
If this was a spiritual test - they have both committed mortal sins. But they are still alive. They have survived. They might still free the Church of The Holy Sepulchre. Some people are put in positions where they are more challenged in terms of their role in life. Will they be able to find God's simple grace and love? At the end of the story - will they be able to see what the angels see - what is good and what is evil?
Excellent chapter! The story teaches so much history of The Crusades. I find myself researching many of the people and historical events I had not known about before reading Miles Christi. The story of Yaghi Siyan is chilling.
"As said: violence needs not religion. It need not power, envy, laziness, passion, though anyone will due. So much comes from desperation. It comes from good – one is hurt and one is not, and the hurt one will hurt others. How ferocious creation. What violence in separating Light from Darkness in just a word? The Tanakh does not say, but it was good . . . "
I have really appreciated going on the journey with the characters. I was struck by the truth in this thought Aile has:
"A sign. A sign. Give her a sign. But all about are signs – the gospel, the Eucharist, the suffering, . . . the silence. Amidst chaos’ roar, how does she battle silence? When alone, against who can one rage?"
As I have read this story - it has made me reflect on faith. While the testing of the human condition the Crusaders have been going through is not the same as my life - all of it is relatable - in that we all experience intense moral challenges.
After reading this chapter - I found myself revisiting Leonard Berstein's opera Mass. It is about a person's struggle with faith. Near the beginning of the opera - is a beautiful song (Devotions Before Mass, Hymn and Psalm - "A Simple Song"). Some of the lyrics are:
"Sing God a simple song...Lau da lau de...Make it up, as you go along...Lau da lau de...Sing like you like to sing...God loves all simple things. For God is the simplest of all. For God is the simplest of all."
Just like in Miles Christi - the main character of the opera Mass - is best trying to know, understand and serve God. He goes through a difficult journey. There is the simple, pure grace of God and then there are the challenges of being a human being existing in the world.
I could relate to Aile's thoughts in this section:
"Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may. But the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, God said, “You shall not eat of it, and you shall not touch it, lest you die.”
In her gown she did not feel naked, not like in iron.
You will surely not die. For God knows that on that day you eat . . . your eyes will be open, and you will be like angels, knowing good and evil.
Did she?
. . . that it was a delight to the eyes . . .
She had danced. She had vomited.
. . . and the tree was desirable to make one wise . . ."
I am wondering how Tìbald and Aile will feel about God when this story ends?
If this was a spiritual test - they have both committed mortal sins. But they are still alive. They have survived. They might still free the Church of The Holy Sepulchre. Some people are put in positions where they are more challenged in terms of their role in life. Will they be able to find God's simple grace and love? At the end of the story - will they be able to see what the angels see - what is good and what is evil?