Remembering PRESTAGS

September 22 - Feast of Saint Maurice and Companions

Happy name day to Python!

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Maurice and Companions.

Maurice was an officer of the Theban Legion. There are two things that set this legion apart from other Roman legions of the time. First, the high number of legionnaires, and second it was made up exclusively of Christians. It was called the Theban Legion (Alkateeba al Teebia) because the men were Egyptian Christian Copts recruited from and stationed in Thebes in Upper Egypt. The leaders of the Theban Legion were Mauritius (St Maurice or St Moritz), Candidus and Exupernis (Exuperantius).

The Thebean legion was one of those which were sent by Dioclesian (who was co-ruler with Maximian) out of the East to compose his army for his expedition into Gaul. The Theban Legion reached Maximian’s army in Gaul to engage the Bagaude by way of the St Bernard’s Pass in the Alps. Here in AD 286  Maximian, fearing religious dissent, organized a universal sacrifice, in which the whole army was required to participate and swear an oath of allegiance, as well as promise to assist in the extermination of Christianity from Gaul. Maximian was uncompromising: he organized the un-Roman rite of adoratio (proskynesis in Greek), which was the Persian rite of worship to the Shah-I-Shah as a living god, translated over to the Roman emperor. Worshippers were obliged to prostrate themselves before the emperor three times, ironically and poignantly for the Christians, as it was just as Satan had asked of Jesus

Maurice and his fellow legionnaires refused to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods as ordered by the Emperor to insure victory over rebelling Bagaudae. When they refused to obey repeated orders to do so and withdrew from the army encamped at Octodurum (Martigny) near Lake Geneva to Agaunum (St. Maurice-en-Valais), Maximian had the entire Legion of over six thousand men put to death.

The entire legion refused point-blank to sacrifice or take the oaths, incensing Maximian, whoordered the decimation of the legion at Martigny. It was not to be any ordinary decimation. When every tenth man had been butchered, the survivors bucked the trend and enthusiastically reasserted their Christian faith, further enraging Maximian; 666 more soldiers then met their deaths, their blood turning the Rhone and its flood plain crimson. This was repeated until all the soldiers were dead. To the end they were encouraged in their constancy by Maurice and two fellow officers, Exuperius and Candidus. Not all the members of the legion were at Aguanum at the time of the massacre. Some were posted at various points along the military road linking Switzerland with Germany and Italy. These were systematically martyred wherever they were found.

From Father Alban Butler “Saint Maurice and His Companions, Martyrs”. Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints, 1866:

"The emperor sent forth fresh threats that it was in vain they confided in their multitude; and that if they persisted in their disobedience, not a man among them should escape death. The legion, by the advice of their generous leaders, answered him by a dutiful remonstrance, the substance of which was as follows: “We are your soldiers, but are servants of the true God. We owe you military service and obedience; but we cannot renounce Him who is our Creator and Master, and also yours, even whilst you reject him. In all things which are not against his law we most willingly obey you, as we have done hitherto. We readily oppose all your enemies, whoever they are; but we cannot dip our hands in the blood of innocent persons. We have taken an oath to God before we took one to you: you can place no confidence in our second oath, should we violate the first. You command us to punish the Christians: behold we are all such. We confess God the Father, author of all things, and his Son, Jesus Christ. We have seen our companions slain without lamenting them; and we rejoice at their honour. Neither this extremity to which we are reduced, nor any provocation hath tempted us to revolt. We have arms in our hands; but we do not resist, because we had rather die innocent than live by any sin.”

This legion consisted of about six thousand six hundred men, who were all well armed, and might have sold their lives very dear. But they had learned to give to God what is God’s, and to Cæsar what is Cæsar’s, and they showed their courage more in dying than they had ever done in the most hazardous enterprises."

Python loves a good statue:

Interestingly, in relation to Python's second name (and no offense to Alexander the Great), there is a Saint Alexander in the story of the Theban Legion.

Alexander of Bergamo is said to have been a survivor of the decimation of the Theban Legion who escaped to Milan, where he was recognized and imprisoned until he renounced his Christian faith. Nevertheless, Alexander escaped and fled to Como, only to be captured again and brought back to Milan where he was condemned to death by decapitation, but during the execution the executioner’s arms went stiff. He was imprisoned again and once again managed to escape, ending up in Bergamo. Alexander was yet again captured and was  decapitated on 26 August AD 303, where the church of San Alessandro in Colonna now stands.

From the Weapons and Warfare Website:

"Saint Maurice is one of the most popular saints in Western Europe, with over 650 foundations in his name in France alone. Five cathedrals, countless churches, chapels and altars are consecrated in his name all over Europe. Aguanum (Saint Maurice en Valais) has always remained the capital city of veneration of the Thebans and a major pilgrimage resort. An all-night vigil on the night before the feast is regularly attended by up to 1,000 people. On the actual feast day, they carry the relics of the martyrs in the ancient silver caskets. Over seventy towns bear the name of Saint Maurice. In the monastery carrying his name in Switzerland, the vigil ‘Tasbeha’ has been chanted continuously twenty-four hours a day without stopping for more than 500 years now. On 19 July 1941, Pope Pius XII declared Saint Maurice patron Saint of the Italian Army’s Alpini Mountain Infantry Corps".

The Abbey of St. Maurice, Agaunum (French: Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune or Saint-Maurice-en-Valais) is a Swiss monastery  which dates from the 6th century. The abbey  is best known for its connection to the story of the martyrdom of the Theban Legion, its original practice of perpetual psalmody, and a collection of art and antiquity:

There is also the famous Saint Maurice Cathedral in Angers. Here are two shots (notice also cleverly getting a moon into this post):

 

Anzac Day 2018 - Canberra Dawn Service

Carl and I were just near the steps to the actual memorial entrance. A very large crowd. Took a few photos, only 3 near passable - in focus shots handheld in the dark are a challenge.

Very good addresses from the services chaplain and the retired army surgeon. Very good sermon from Fr Leung at Requiem Mass later on in the morning.

Looking South a few minutes before the start. all those big street lights were turned off for the event.

 

Kiwi flag at half mast.'

Last Post and Reville from top of memorial.

Food For Special Occasions

A Friday night favourite, freshly steamed prawn dumplings:

A birthday feast - roast lamb, roast vegetables, steamed vegetables and thick gravy. If Python looks closely he will see his contribution:

A cake for the aged hobbly one:

ANZAC cookies straight out of the oven on ANZAC day:

 

Happy Birthday

Thoughts and prayers to my very good friend on a difficult birthday.

 

 

ANZAC DAY - 100 Years After Gallipoli

I remembered today by attending a Requiem Mass at Maternal Heart, Lewisham. It was a sung High Mass, very solemn, and well attended.

I looked around but could not find any photos of a Mass being said at Gallipoli in 1915. I did find a photo of a Mass on the Champagne Front in Eastern France in 1915. This is pretty amazing - 100 years ago.

Animae eorum et animae omnium fidelium defunctorum per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace. Amen.

 

Awesome Wedding Anniversary

Congratulations to the Python who has reached 30 years of marriage.

I have consulted the different gifts that go with each anniversary and 30 years is definitely the big one.

A momentous anniversary like this deserves a special wedding anniversary cake. Something like this would be brilliant:

Remembrance Day

We remember.

At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare.

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month has now attained a special significance. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front is universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the First World War, and indeed all wars. The first modern world conflict commencing 100 years ago in 1914 had brought about the mobilisation of over 70 million people and left between 9 and 13 million dead, perhaps as many as one-third of them with no known grave.

Despite nationalistic propaganda, which continues to this day, the First World War was not about good vs evil or right vs wrong. It was a devastating and unnecessary war instigated by ruling class elites to fulfil their own motives for power and wealth. What an evil waste of so many young lives, ordinary decent folk on both sides of the war.

The bravery of the Australian and New Zealand solders at Gallipoli is now the stuff of legends, as are the exploits of the Light Horse in Egypt and Palestine. However these battles cannot compare to the scale of conflict on the Western Front. In July 1916 Australian infantry were introduced to combat at Fromelles, where they suffered 5,533 casualties in 24 hours. By the end of the year about 40,000 Australians had been killed or wounded on the Western Front. In 1917 a further 76,836 Australians became casualties in battles, such Bullecourt, Messines, and the four-month campaign around Ypres, known as the battle of Passchendaele.

I honour  and respect the bravery and sacrifice of all these soldiers, and I never question their sincere loyalty or motives. They were heroes. But I refuse to respect the leadership of the nations that fought this war, and I despise the "Empire" that devoured the youth of our own nation, which was not yet even 15 years old.

For our own country, the First World War remains the most costly conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.

These numbers are staggering. We are indeed fortunate not to have lived in such times.

My great grandfather in Victoria could have been sent to the war. However, he had a Dutch name which the authorities thought was a German name so they would not let him in the armed services. I should be grateful the authorities were so ignorant, or I may never have existed.

ANZAC Day 2014

I remembered in Canberra.

 

2014: A Century Since 1914

This year will mark the centenary of the beginning of the First World War. Already in the UK they are planning events for August and the propaganda machine has begun its work. The Tory Education Minister, an idiot called Michael Gove, described the war as "a just war for freedom" and he even criticized Black Adder for painting an unpatriotic view of the war.

What a load of rubbish. I am going to get in early and state my view: The First World War was a war perpetrated by the ruling classes for their own interests, imperial territory and power. It was not about freedom. England was not the good guy and Germany the bad guy. It is an absolute tragedy that so many were slaughtered, including so many Australians, for a war that did not have a just cause.

I really hope propaganda does not defeat the real history of this war as various ceremonies are undertaken around the world. So far I have not heard anything idiotic from an Australian politician but it is probably just a matter of time.

In response to Gove's remarks in the UK, Seumas Milne made a number of excellent comments in the Guardian (9/1/14) which I applaud:

"Unlike the second world war, the bloodbath of 1914-18 was not a just war. It was a savage industrial slaughter perpetrated by a gang of predatory imperial powers, locked in a deadly struggle to capture and carve up territories, markets and resources".

"Germany was the rising industrial power and colonial Johnny-come-lately of the time, seeking its place in the sun from the British and French empires. The war erupted directly from the fight for imperial dominance in the Balkans, as Austria-Hungary and Russia scrapped for the pickings from the crumbling Ottoman empire. All the ruling elites of Europe, tied together in a deathly quadrille of unstable alliances, shared the blame for the murderous barbarism they oversaw. The idea that Britain and its allies were defending liberal democracy, let alone international law or the rights of small nations, is simply absurd".

"It's not just that most men and all women in Britain were still denied the vote in 1914 – unlike Germany, which already had full male suffrage – or that the British empire was allied with the brutal autocracy of tsarist Russia. Every single one of the main warring states was involved in the violent suppression of the rights of nations throughout the racist tyrannies that were their colonial empires. In the decades before 1914, about 30 million people died from famine as colonial officials enforced the export of food in British-ruled India, slaughtered resisters in their tens of thousands and set up concentration camps in South Africa".

"Britain was supposed to have gone to war to defend the neutrality of "plucky little Belgium" – which had itself presided over the death of 10 million Congolese from forced labour and mass murder in the previous couple of decades. German colonialists had carried out systematic genocide in what is now Namibia in the same period. As to international law, Britain's disdain for it was demonstrated when Germany had asked by what right it claimed territory in Africa a few years before. London refused to reply. The answer was obvious: brute force. This was the "liberal" global order for which, in the words of the war poet Wilfred Owen, the ruling classes "slew half the seed of Europe, one by one".

"In reality, it wasn't just the seed of Europe they sacrificed, but hundreds of thousands of troops from their colonies as well. And in case there were any doubt that all the main combatants were in the land-grabbing expansion game, Britain and France then divvied up the defeated German and Ottoman empires between them, from Palestine to Cameroon, without a thought for small nations' rights, laying the ground for future disasters in the process".

What a terrible and depraved war. Completely senseless. And how much were the seeds of later atrocities - nazism and communism - sown in the First World War.

I am with Black Adder 100%.

A PRESTAGS Sermon

Today is the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. At Mass there was a great sermon about the Battle of Lepanto (1571) and the defeat of the Saracens which saved Christendom. At the battle the Christian army and navy invoked the Most Holy Name of Jesus and achieved a victory against overwhelming numbers.

I did not catch the name of the visiting US Priest who gave this sermon, but it was very detailed and the Reverend Father is clearly a keen student of military history. If this Priest visits Canberra Thygo is in for a treat.

I note that Strategy & Tactics magazine produced a wargame of the Battle of Lepanto. I might track down a copy of this game following the sermon. YEOMAN includes a number of sixteenth century battles but obviously not Lepanto which was essentially a naval battle.

Reflecting on the Battle of Lepanto today causes me sadness. What was Christendom is now but a remnant, and the Saracens are taking over by invitation with misconceived multicultural policies and other social engineering failures. Is there anybody left in Christendom to invoke the Most Holy Name of Jesus?

"For there is no other Name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4.12)

Remembrance Day

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae (1872–1918)

Australia is covered with war memorials, most in remembrance of the First World War and the Second World War. In a Burwood park next to one of the main shopping centres near my home is a war memorial that was opened on Remembrance Day 1922. That is 91 years ago. This memorial now remembers 9 wars up to Vietnam.

Even on my own street, a few minutes walk from my house, is a row of olive trees that is actually a war memorial to the Rats of Tobruk. Most people would drive past these trees without realising what they signify.

I remember.

Known Unto God

One of the first things Tony Abbott's new government did has not received much publicity, although it was an excellent decision.

In the dying days of the former labor government, the governing council of the Australian War Memorial (led by the War Memorial's director, former liberal leader Brendan Nelson) decided to remove the words "Known Unto God" from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These words were to be replaced with words from a speech by former labor prime minister Paul Keating: "He is one of them, and he is all of us".

Our new prime minister Tony Abbott, and the new Veterans' Affairs Minister Senator Michael Ronaldson, intervened and there will now be no change to "Known Unto God".

I would like to see Brendan Nelson and every member of the council that attempted to remove the reference to God sacked immediately. I have had an absolute gutful of the political correctness (which is a tool of the evil that never sleeps) editing out God at every opportunity, and even creeping into sacred places like the War Memorial.

The stupidity of this whole episode is that the words "Known Unto God" were written by Rudyard Kipling and chosen by the generation of diggers themselves. Although the words were added in 1999 these are the words the diggers had placed on thousands of crosses around the world to mark the graves of their comrades who were unable to be identified.

The Australian War Memorial exists through the efforts of First World War veterans and their vision of how to remember their mates: "Here is their spirit, in the heart of the land they loved; and here we guard the record which they themselves made" (Charles Bean, 1st World War Official Historian). Precisely. Who are we in our modern corrupt pathetic society of 2013 to change the way the war veterans themselves want to be remembered.

I agree with radio broadcaster Michael Smith's view about the current governing council: "The people who made the plan to remove the historical words used by our diggers are vandals. They have no place as stewards of our most sacred national memorial".

I grew up in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and one of my favourite places was, and still is, the Australian War Memorial. These days the ACT is a hotbed of leftist extremism, perversion and social engineering. The War Memorial has had a narrow escape, although no doubt the God haters will be back. Perhaps they will try and remove actual items from the War Memorial that offend their evil master, such as the Long Tan Cross.

I have never had much time for Paul Keating, and his words have no place in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Hall of Remembrance. However, Keating did use words in parliament once that I believe are a good description of the vandals and anti Christians that wage a continuous assault on our nation: "Scumbags of dog's vomit; sleazebags of pigswill; maggot-infested buckets of pus; crims; grubs; boudoir bandicoots; box-heads; liars; lice; maggots; in and out of a cat's arse; like a dog returning to it's vomit". Yes, that was our former prime minister speaking. He had a turn of phrase, but was not Rudyard Kipling.

 

Michaelmas

Today is Michaelmas, the Feast Day of the Dedication of St Michael the Archangel.

Today our world needs the intercession of St. Michael more than ever. Evil is marching forward on so many fronts, and Christian civilisation is fading. The morality of our society has degraded so much in my own lifetime, and at an accelerated rate over the last 20 years.

This website has covered a number of earthly battles but we must not forget the victory of St Michael in the heavenly battle.

  And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels:

  And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.

  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

  And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night.

  (The Apocalypse, 12.7-10)

 

One of my favourite prayers:

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

(The Raccolta, 447)

St Michael, pray for us.

Remembering Antietam

Today I remember the Battle of Antietam.

From Wikipedia: The Battle of Antietam  also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the South, fought on Wednesday, September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Union soil.

It is the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with 22,717 dead, wounded, and missing on both sides combined.

After pursuing Confederate General Robert E. Lee into Maryland, Union Army Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan launched attacks against Lee's army, in defensive positions behind Antietam Creek. At dawn on September 17, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker's corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee's left flank. Attacks and counterattacks swept across Miller's cornfield and fighting swirled around the Dunker Church. Union assaults against the Sunken Road eventually pierced the Confederate center, but the Federal advantage was not followed up.

In the afternoon, Union Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside's corps entered the action, capturing a stone bridge over Antietam Creek and advancing against the Confederate right. At a crucial moment, Confederate Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill's division arrived from Harpers Ferry and launched a surprise counterattack, driving back Burnside and ending the battle. Although outnumbered two-to-one, Lee committed his entire force, while McClellan sent in less than three-quarters of his army, enabling Lee to fight the Federals to a standstill. During the night, both armies consolidated their lines. In spite of crippling casualties, Lee continued to skirmish with McClellan throughout September 18, while removing his battered army south of the Potomac River.

I hope to visit this battleground one day, as I did at Gettysburg.

Vietnam Veterans Day

Today is Vietnam Veterans Day. August 18 was picked because it is the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.

"The battle of Long Tan was the largest single unit battle fought in Vietnam by Australian troops. It began on the afternoon of August 18th and went right through the night until the morning of the 19th. The reason why is was looked on as decisive and significant was because the Australians had only been there a few months - it was the first major conflict involving Australian troops in Vietnam. The Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army were aware that the Australians were there to secure the province and decided that they would take them on. That was the fate that befell a company of men - Delta company, from the 6th Batallion, Royal Australian Regiment - who were on patrol that particular day. The enemy lay in wait for them - a huge ambush in a rubber plantation called Long Tan. The Australians held off thousands of enemy troops for the duration of that battle. Eighteen Australian troops were killed - up to a thousand of the enemy. The skills of artillery men and arrival of armoured carriers with more men saved the day. The 6th Batallion was called the "Baby Batallion" as it was made up largely of national servicemen - and they certainly underwent a baptism by fire". (RSL, WA Branch)

We grumpy post 50 wargamers were too young for Vietnam by about 10 years. Thankfully, just boardgames for us. I still remember a school class mate who had an older brother killed in Vietnam, and I remember the fall of Saigon on TV.

I commend a wonderful poem:  Long Tan by Gary Jacobson

At least we made it to 50. And we remember them.

Marching bravely into Long Tan, diggers do as they were told
Sadly, some will never have a bloody chance of ever growing old

150th Anniversary: Battle of Gettysburg 1-3 July 1863

Today is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

To all of the brave soldiers who perished in this terrible battle, I pray for your souls.

I congratulate the Americans for preserving the Gettysburg battlefield. Even today it is possible to walk the ground with a real understanding of what happened a century and a half ago, with numerous monuments marking important locations and events during the battle.

The little town of Gettysburg is one of those rare places that has hardly been changed by time, with many period buildings, some of which still bear bullet holes from the battle.

From the other side of the world, I remember.