Wishing you a Blessed Easter.

Christus Resurrexit sicut dixit, Alleluia!

O God, who, on this day, through Thine only-begotten Son, hast conquered death, and thrown open to us the gate of everlasting life, give effect by thine aid to our desires, which Thou dost anticipate and inspire. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

For the honour of the Crucifix!

Since its foundation in the 12th century the vocation and purpose of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem has been to defend Christendom, and to care for the weak and oppressed. From the Ottoman Turks who sacked the Holy Land, to the modern attacks upon Christian moral values in our own century, Knights of St Lazarus have taken up arms, literally and figuratively, to defend the Christian Faith.

On his website the Grand Master Emeritus, H.R.H. Charles-Philippe d'Orléans, Duc d’Anjou, has been calling us that to defend the Faith in our own day.

In Avignon, seat of the Papacy from 1309-1377, an exhibition called "I believe in miracles" has been running based around a photograph of a Crucifix immersed in urine! Posters of this blasphemous image, called "Piss Christ", are displayed publicly in the streets of the city. All this in the run up to Holy Week and Easter.

The French Ministry of Culture, the town council and the regional council are currently funding this exhibition. Among the sponsors of this blasphemy are SNFC (the French Rail Company) and the Cartier Foundation.

In the USA and Australia, this blasphemous photo, made in 1987, was banned.

However, after only 1 week an online petition against this blasphemy had 31,076 signatories. There was also vociferous opposition from such luminaries as HRH Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orleans, the Deputy Mayor of Paray-le-Monial Jean-Marc Nesme, Archbishop Jean-Pierre Cattenoz Archbishop of Avignon, Father Regis De Cacqueray, Superior District of France of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, etc.. ..

Alain Escada, General Secretary of Civitas, a group of young French Catholics "animated by the fervent desire to initiate concrete actions contributing to the restoration of the social and political reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ in our homeland", has been at the forefront of the fight against this nastiness. As he puts it:

Is it necessary to repeat? If this show contained a "work" offensive to Muslims or Jews, this exhibition would be permanently closed and a public apology would follow. No, Catholics will no longer tolerate being treated as second class citizens.

For the honour of Christ, let us make our voices heard.

Alain Escada,

Secretary General of the Civitas Institute

If you click on the link below to sign the petition you will see that it is sponsored by a whole host of Catholic organisations (including the site of Prince Charles Philippe d'Orleans). Please click on this link & sign this petition:

"The armed men fight and God will give victory" Saint Joan of Arc.

Ancien Habillement d'un Chevalier de l'Ordre de St. Lazare

Ancien Habillement d'un Chevalier de l'Ordre de St. Lazare

This print, showing a Knight in the 'ancient costume of the Order', was probably from "Histoire et costumes des ordres monastiques, religieux et militaires, et des congrégations séculières des deux sexes." printed in France by Benjamin Jollivet in the middle of the 19th century.

The interesting thing about this depiction is that the Mantle has sleeves and the knight carries a scimitar. It would seem to suggest that this was the Habit of the Order while still in the Holy Land (before the fall of Acre in 1271), though it more likely to be a flight of 19th century fancy! Still, with that sword in his hand this knight certainly means business. He couldn't, of course, be shouting "Atavis et Armis!" since that only became the motto of the Order in 1778.