By Sir Raymond J de Souza, KHS Unlike most political leaders today, knights in the Middle Ages were extremely respectful of the truth and had the true horror of lying. They took extremely seriously the dignity and obedience to the eighth commandment of God's law: Thou shalt not bear false witness. The knights had it clear in their minds that the honor of chivalry demanded them to be truthful, to never lie. It was common knowledge that lying is from the devil, who was a liar from the beginning. … [Read more...]
The Ideal of Catholic Masculinity: Part VII
By Sir Raymond J de Souza, KHS The Seventh Commandment of Chivalry was, "Thou shalt perform thy feudal duties if they be not contrary to the law of God". To clarify the concept of medieval feudal duties in Catholic terms, it may be defined as a contractual system by which the nation, as represented by the king, lets its lands out to individuals who pay rent by doing governmental work, including military service, but also of suit to the king's court. In chivalry, it was a simple and honorable … [Read more...]
The Ideal of Catholic Masculinity: Part VI
By Sir Raymond J de Souza, KHS, KM, KofC The sixth commandment: thou shalt do war to the infidel with neither truce nor mercy, made perfect sense in the days of the Crusades, when Catholic knights waged war in defense of the Holy Catholic Church and Christendom. But today it would cause nervousness among the effeminate men who attend the “Church services” as a matter of habit. Add to this the pacifist mentality which is widespread in Catholic circles today, and we will have a stern opposition … [Read more...]
The Ideal of Catholic Masculinity – Part V
The Fifth Commandment of Medieval Chivalry – Thou shalt not recoil in the face of the enemy. That’s the great commandment of masculine courage. It’s the commandment that forbids cowardice, which was a great dishonour. ‘It is much better to die than to be a coward’ was the motto of the Knights. And Roland, the first Knight of Charlemagne, who volunteered to remain and to die in the rearguard of the Frankish army in the Battle or Roncevaux Pass, he curses the coward, saying, “That he be forever … [Read more...]
The ideal of Catholic masculinity – Part IV
On the Fourth of July all true Americans celebrate their country’s independence. It is natural for a true Catholic man to love his country. Patriotism is a natural virtue, a consequence of the fourth commandment of God’s Law: Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother. The very word Patriotism derives from the Latin, Pater, Father. Just as the knight was called to honor his parents, he was also called to honor and love the country in which he was born, the culture which he received in childhood … [Read more...]
