#from the same church as father raphael | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

nicklloydnow · 8 months

Text

“THE BORGIAS AND THE MAFIA

In 1455, the Holy See was occupied by Alfonso de Borja, a descendant of this eighth knight, under the name Callixtus III. Having gained the trust of King Alfonso Il of Naples, he came to power at the age of seventy-seven, while suffering from stomach cancer. His pain made him suspicious. He believed only in the loyalty of his Spanish family. Through the legacy of inheritance, his fortune fell into the hands of Rodrigo Borgia, who used it to fund his own ascension to the papal throne. Thus was born the first Mafia clan in history.

The Borgias possessed an absolute thirst for power. Europe had, by then, lost all hope in the goodness of God: the plague known as the Black Death had made miserably clear just how precarious human life can be, and with the bitterness of an orphan deprived of its supreme father, the populace consoled itself by indulging in carnal pleasures. It was in this context that Rodrigo Borgia, now Pope Alexander VI, began trafficking in a very powerful drug: papal bulls, which granted the forgiveness of sins . . . Every citizen could murder, steal, gamble, engage in prostitution or incest or unbridled gluttony, and all without fear: because in exchange for a handful of ducats, the Church offered absolution and the assurance that God would welcome the sinner into heaven.

The Borgias' passion for life, for dominance over all mankind, their disdain of any divine retribution, this absolute lack of morality, offset by their staggering appreciation of fine art, utterly captivated me. Knowing that the respectable Church of today once had a Spanish adventurer at its roots, a clever thief who was surrounded by his bought-and-sold lovers and by his children, each embodying a spiritual summit as well as an abyss - Cesare, strength and tyranny; Lucrezia, beauty and lust; Giovanni, intelligence and vanity; Gioffre, purity and stupidity - reminded me of the lotus plant, whose bright flowers spring from filthy swamps . . . And so I yielded to the temptation to write a comics script: in the form of a vast historical fresco on the creation, growth, and death of this provocative family, so similar to some of the people currently governing our planet.

(…)

In place of the Black Death, we have cancer and AIDS, along with pollution of our air, our water, and our planet. Instead of cities at war, we are witness to entire countries fighting. Christianity and Islam remain in conflict even today. The discovery of the Americas has now become interplanetary exploration. We're experiencing the artistic revolution of the Renaissance through personal computers and the Internet. The papal bulls of yore are today's commercial "benedictions" from the United States. Just as the ducat was the key to paradise during the Renaissance years, our only God is the almighty dollar: whether its value goes up or down and the gates of heaven open or close . . . Just as Machiavelli, in his book The Prince, recommended aggressive invasions to achieve Italian unity, in this day and age a powerful nation (that shall remain nameless) ruthlessly attacks any country, claiming to obstruct "Evil" but spurred on, in fact, by its thirst for oil . . . Today, the Borgias have been replaced by oil mafias, pharmaceutical industry multinationals, drug cartels, and greedy bankers.

And yet, the corruption that flourished during the Renaissance could not prevent the emergence of a Leonardo da Vinci, a Raphael, a Botticelli, a Michelangelo, a Dante, a Machiavelli even, as well as so many others who opened up new vistas to human awareness. This is what brings us great hope: the possibility that the decadence of the world today is just the pain of a chrysalis becoming a butterfly, and that from the last vast crisis into which we plummet a new humanity will arise, one that will look upon us with the same tender compassion we feel for the monkeys.

—Alejandro Jodorowsky

August 2011”

#jodorowsky #alejandro jodorowsky #manara #milo manara #borgia #borgias #graphic novel #comic books #dark horse #papacy #pope #Italy #renaissance #machiavelli

94 notes · View notes

unreadpoppy · 5 months

Text

Cirice

Priest! Raphael x Fem! Tav

Read on AO3

Warnings: This is kinda dark and blasphemous, and it goes a lot into religious guilt I guess. Raphael is very manipulative and there is a non consensual kiss at the end.

A/N: Remember when I said I would take a break from writing? I lied, bitch. Anyways, this is inspired by the song "Cirice" by Ghost, and by some things I have been thinking about lately. Enjoy.

After the sudden death of Father John, a new priest had taken his place in the church, and in a short amount of time, he had amassed the love of many.

Father Raphael was a handsome man. When he preached, he spoke with such power, his voice echoed around the room. After mass, it was customary to see him talking with some of the followers, most of them older women, who would swoon with every smirk he sent their way.

Soon, the church had more and more people attending it, all charmed by Father Raphael.

Of course, he loved the attention. How the flocks of poor, little lambs would follow him around, asking him for advice. He especially loved when they confessed their sins to him, pouring their hearts out and asking for a forgiveness that would never come.

After all, there was no God;. When they cried about their fear of eternal punishment, they were unaware that Hell was already here.

Tonight’s mass happened while it rained outside. Near the end of the ceremony, one person entered the building, all wet. Even amongst the multitude of people, Raphael could feel her presence. Try as she might, she couldn’t hide from him.

Tav. The lost little mouse. She would always sit in the back, make as little noise as possible, and leave without even looking at him. Raphael had tried to speak with her before, but she would cower away.

At first, when Raphael had first started preaching, Tav was always there. She’d go every time there was mass, arriving early and quickly leaving once it was done. Always with her head down, praying intensely.

But for the past few months, she attended less and less. Raphael, being the devil that he was, could feel that her faith was starting to waiver.

And that was exactly what he needed. A lost soul, an insecure one, ready to be taken by someone else. Like the snake that once convinced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, Raphael would make Tav turn from God and onto him.

Mass ended, and after a few ladies had questions for him, Raphael ushered them away, saying that the rain would get heavier if they stayed too long. Everyone left, until there was only Tav, who kneeled on her bench, hands clutched and eyes closed as she prayed.

Slowly, Raphael walked towards her until he was in front of her. She finished her prayer, making the sign of the cross, and turned to look at him.

“May I sit here?” He asked. Tav nodded and made space for him to sit. He looked at her, noticing the distant look in her eyes and the frown on her face. “What ails you, child?”

She shook her head, arms embracing herself. “Nothing, Father. It’s just the cold.”

“Are you sure? Because I have noticed how less and less you join us here.” Her back straightened. She had been noticed. He got closer to her and said “You can tell me anything.”

“I…I don’t know if I should…say what I want.” Tav whispered.

“And why not?” Instead of answering, Tav looked up at the giant crucified Jesus that hung on the back of the church, the one Father Raphael would preach from underneath it. As Tav looked at Christ’s face, she shuddered.

“Ah. I see now.” He looked in the same direction she did. “Do not worry, child. God is all forgiving.” Raphael said, although he knew a different truth.

“Is He?” She said. “Is He truly that forgiving?”

“What do you mean?”

Tav took a deep breath. “I used to come here almost every day, since I was small. My parents wanted me to be a good Catholic girl. I was baptized, I did first communion. I prayed every single night before bed.”

“But?”

“But…I never felt this connection that everyone speaks of.” Tav said quietly, as if confessing something she shouldn’t. “I never felt God’s presence as everyone else claims.” She looked at him for a moment. Although his warm brown eyes were inviting, she always felt something sinister behind them.

Tav looked down again. “Forgive me, Father. I shouldn’t be saying these things in the house of the Lord.”

She attempted to stand up, but Raphael put his hand on her shoulder, making her sit again. “Please, wait.” Tav looked at him, fright in her eyes. “I can see you have more to say.”

“How?”

Raphael smirked. “I can see that there’s a thunder breaking in your heart. I can see through the scars inside you.” He placed a hand on her back. “Tell me, what have you done?”

Tav sighed, the warmth of his hand was welcomed, considering she was still shivering from the cold. “As I said, I used to pray every night. And I believed that if I didn’t pray before sleeping, something bad would happen.” She gulped. “It was horrible. If I slept before praying, I would spend the waking hours worrying about everything. I couldn’t find sleep if I didn’t pray.” Tav took a deep breath before continuing. “So I just stopped. And right after I did so, my grandmother died.”

A tear ran down her face, and Raphael wiped it. “And ever since then, things have only gotten worse. It feels as if God is punishing me. Tonight was the first night I prayed in three months, and I felt nothing!” Tav sobbed. “But how is it fair, Father? My prayers always fell on deaf ears. He never listens, but the moment you stop praying, He punishes you?”

The sound of thunder from outside echoed in the church. The lights went out. Raphael smirked.

“What a poor, sad, little mouse you are, my dear Tav.” He put a hand on her head, caressing her hair. If it was someone else, Tav would have found it a gentle touch, but coming from him, she felt something was wrong. “You are lost and you feel that God has failed you.” He spoke, as if talking to a child. “But fear not. God has not abandoned you.”

She looked up at him, frowning. “Are you sure?”

“Oh, yes.” He smirked and she got a bad feeling in her stomach. “God hasn’t abandoned you, because He was never here to begin with.” As he said that, Raphael made a gesture with his hand, and all the candles in the church were lit.

Tav immediately stood up. “What…what are you?” She demanded, walking away from him.

Raphael stood up. “I am your salvation.”

She ran towards the open door, but he waved his hand and they closed in front of her face. Tav turned around, her back on the door. He approached her. “You have wasted a whole life praying and believing in a God that wouldn’t listen. One that would soon damn you to an eternity in Hell before helping you. But I listen to you, and I can make all your indulgences come to fruition just like that.” He snapped his fingers, making flames dance around his hand for a moment.

Raphael was right in front of her. “You won’t be lost, little mouse, for I have found you.”

“What…what do you want from me?”

Raphael’s smirk grew. “I want your devotion. I want that everytime that you pray, it won’t be for him-” He pointed towards the cross. “But instead, for me. I want you to place your faith in me.”

“And-and why should I do it?”

He chuckled. “Why not? You said it yourself, you don’t pray to God anymore. But I am here, I can see you, I will soothe your worries away.” Raphael whispered in a dark tone. “Wouldn’t it be much nicer to pray to someone who would listen?”

Tav felt conflicted. This was all blasphemy and went against everything she had ever believed. But, as she said before, Tav never felt God’s presence near her. It was much easier to believe in what was right in front of her, someone she could see.

“I guess…it would be nice.” Tav said, looking at him. His face was inches away from hers.

“So, do you promise to devote yourself to me? To turn away from God and believe in me? To get on your knees and pray for me, your savior and master?”

Tav hesitated momentarily. “I-I promise.”

Raphael smiled, and he was engulfed in flames, human skin melting away, and in turn, a devil stood in his place, still with the priest’s clothes on. Tav’s eyes widened as he grabbed her face with both of his hands and said ��Good” before harshly kissing her.

Tav contorted to try and get away from him. Then, he bit down on her bottom lip, and soon, the taste of blood filled her mouth. He let go, his own lips tainted with her blood.

The deal had been made, and Raphael was satisfied. As Tav put a hand on the mouth, he took a step back. “I will see you soon, little mouse.” He snapped his fingers, disappearing in thin air and leaving Tav alone to wonder what had she just done.

#raphael x tav #raphael bg3 #raphael baldur's gate 3 #tav baldur's gate 3 #tw: noncon kissing #guess who grew up catholic and has a lot of opinions

46 notes · View notes

a-queer-seminarian · 8 months

Text

*deeeeep breath* so. (cw church hurt, religious queerphobia)

another Thing has happened in the unfortunately still-ongoing saga of The Pentecost Incident (see my tag if you don't know, but basically, i visited my childhood church back in late May, my priest gave a queerphobic sermon, i got up and said something, got kicked out and verbally harassed by a dude, it went a little bit viral, ugh). (Oh btw i also discuss it a bit near the end of my latest podcast ep over here).

the priest in question, who's been at this same parish since 2002, has now been reassigned to a different church elsewhere in the Cleveland area.

naturally the same Cleveland journalist who's been covering this story since it started published a fresh article that questions whether the move is related to what happened back in May. The official diocese statement is that the events are unrelated, which. Sure. i could see. I definitely don't think it's "punitive" like the article suggests — apparently this other church is in a more conservative area / the parishioners are more conservative. So i could believe this is either a coincidence, or the bishop decided he'd be a better fit for this other church...or hell, that father tim is the one who requested the transfer to get out of the spotlight or something

which just. really bums me out. because unless he's really changed that much since i knew him better in high school (so a good decade ago), Father Tim isn't like, a Mega Conservative?? Like, relatively speaking, for a Catholic priest.

...If i really wanted to know, i guess i'd have to like, listen back through a ton of his homilies to see if they have gotten more conservative over time but. obviously i'm not going to do that because that would be The Worst thing i could do for my mental and spiritual health lol but. part of me is tempted just so i can Know.

i did what i did primarily as a message to anyone in the pews feeling as alienated and betrayed as i did; and secondarily in hopes that Father Tim would see how what he preached was so hurtful. i sent him a loooong email afterward to explain my feelings more (he replied with a quick sentence about not wanting to talk right now but i'm hoping he at least read it).

and now i can't stop thinking about like. what if what i did instead pushed him further right?? fed his persecution complex???

despite the fact that people on the left don't tend to pose any real physical threat to those we protest, and that i was the one who ended up verbally threatened in this situation, i was never surprised when conservative Catholics by-and-large responded to this incident by being like "see! Catholic-phobia is real!" ...But i hate to think that someone like Father Tim, who's known me for most of my life, would feel like i threatened him or whatever.

part of me knows that wouldn't really be on me if that's the case. most of me knows i would have felt the need to get up and say something regardless of how it's all shaken out — as gut-wrenching as it feels to have so little control over the narrative, i still couldn't have just sat there and said nothing. And i've had enough people from the broader St. Raphael community reach out to thank me and say what I did was encouraging or even healing to stand by my decision.

and yet. it still feels really painful. and this added bit about him being transferred to a new church just makes my stomach hurt. i bet there are people within the parish who now blame me and loathe me for like, tearing their community apart or whatever. and i bet the new church will welcome father tim in like a hero, maybe even expect him to preach more things like what he did that day, which will only push him farther right...

all of this is out of my control. i keep trying to center myself and remind myself of that. but God, it's just painful.

#pentecost incident

37 notes · View notes

dreaminginthedeepsouth · 5 months

Text

This was Raphael’s preparatory drawing for a detail in the mosaic decoration at the Chigi Chapel in the church of S. Maria del Popolo, Rome, where God the Father in the centre of the ceiling is encircled by the sun, the stars and the six known planets, each with a commanding angel. This angel appears above Jupiter. This mosaic appears in the dome of the chapel known as the Heavens. Bathed in divine light, the angel in this red chalk drawing by Renaissance artist Raphael commands worship of God with his pointing left arm, guiding our attention upwards. He expresses tenderness towards humanity below with his more open right hand. The angel is strongly associated with the birth of Christ, due to the important role that they played as messengers in the traditional Christmas story. The word ‘angel’ comes from the Greek ‘angelos’ or messenger’. ⁠ Study for an angel, c.1515–16, Raphael (1483–1520). Red chalk on laid paper, 19.7 x 16.7 cm. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, England. WA1846.208 :: [Robert Scott Horton]

* * * *

“she is always emptying and it is all / the same wound the same blood the same breaking.”

— Lucille Clifton, from “she understands me,” in The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton

[alive on all channels]

#Lucille Clifton #poem #poetry #alive on all channels #study for an angel #Raphael #angel

8 notes · View notes

calronhunt · 1 month

Note

56 for Lionel, Raphael and Ericka!

56. If they’re scared, who do they want comfort from? Does this answer change depending on the type of fear?

Lionel: My gut response is Ericka. Because of his upbringing, all he really had was Ericka and not one else to really fall back on. They grew up incredibly close and were always there for each other though the tough times. Of course, he doesn't really have that anymore in modern day in the church order. Jo is there to help him, but he doesn't trust her or any of the other paladins the same way he trusted Ericka and can't open up to her as much about his feelings.

Raphael: his mom <:) Raphael wants so badly for his mother to cradle and care for him and tell him everything is going to be okay, but he never really gets that. The other answer is his older brother Michael. Michael raised Raphael where his mothers wouldn't so he's pretty attached to Michael. Though, at the start of the story, Michael has been distancing himself from Raphael due to guilt surrounding an event in Raphael's past, so he hasn't been able to get comfort from michael much either.

Ericka: Lionel, and kinda for the same reason as Lionel's answer! Though, unlike Lionel, Ericka wants the comfort and support of her father as well. Though Sigthy gives it so intermittently that sometimes it makes Ericka feel better to just imagine Lionel is there with her instead of hoping her father will give her anything.

#ask #blood brings dawn #these guy got fucking issues <3

2 notes · View notes

raxistaicho · 1 year

Text

Old Adrestia bad so Edelgard bad!

So, let’s do more Analyzer! By which I mean Fantasy Invader.

Yeah, so I gave him a shitty nickname as a courtesy to Edelgard Critical (because in this end it’s about the arguments, not the person making them) but they decided to just announce who I was talking about because I guess they thought I was being sneaky.

That’s about what I get for trying to meet them halfway, I suppose. Still, don’t go and harass anybody I mention, it would just feed into their victim narrative. And we’re better than that, in the end.

So anyways, this next post from Invader was in reply to something Randomnameless posted in which they were talking about a note found late in Scarlet Blaze which details how the Southern Church fell:

Essentially, Randomnameless was trying to present the situation as one of sexism, which might be the case, I suppose. Seems more like petty political garbage to me. The previous emperor seemed to want the position of Minister of Religion out of House Varley but when they died, Count Varley reneged on the deal and Victoria decided to risk civil unrest within the Empire to get the position anyways.

Honestly, it doesn’t seem to be like anyone was “right” in this dispute. The point, however, is to present the Empire as having a history of institutional sexism, which it probably does, given the setting. But as I’ve said before, Edelgard and her fans don’t have to apologize for the Adrestia that was before her time. But on to the main event.

Nobody’s accusing the church of wronging all the characters personally, Invader. Yes, obviously, Bernie’s abuse was just because Count Varley was a sexist dick, but the problem is Rhea and the Church of Seiros laid the social groundwork upon which men like him were able to be born into positions of authority.

Oh now on the subject of Hanneman’s sister you absolutely can’t sidestepped the church’s involvement. By tying Crests to the approval of the goddess, by essentially making the Divine Right of Kings (aristocrats in this case, but same feeling) a thing you can quantify and test for, Rhea set the stage upon which these tragedies played out. Fodlan has to lose its obsession with Crests immediately, not cling to them for fear of its metaphorical sword rusting.

Edelgard did not cause, nor does she represent, the Empire’s declined state in by the time of 1180, so how can the Eagles come to represent it if they side with her?

Now we’re delving straight into, I believe, Crushed Nugget’s Everyone is Miserable in CF set of posts, which is something I’d reeeeeaaaaaally like to dig into sometime, because it’s just a lot of petty and trivial ways to try to demonstrate everybody as being unhappy or less-fulfilled characters in CF.

These can range from the ever-popular “Lysithea doesn’t want to destroy the Empire in CF”, to “Yuri feels overworked in CF”, to “Raphael is irresponsible and happy in CF”, to “Ingrid is sadge in CF”. Yeah, being happy is bad if in CF and being unhappy is also bad if in CF.

It’s basically just her plucking at literally anything she can find to say that CF is bad in that exact moment without any regard for consistent standards. Ignatz’s is especially amazing given you know if the paintings he drew were reversed she’d instead say VW Ignatz is good for wanting to immortalize the horror of war so we never forget what war takes from us while CF Ignatz is bad for trying to cover up the pain with pretty pictures of something.

But I digress.

Linhardt and Caspar are largely the same in and out of CF to the best of my recollection, but Ferdinand, uhh...

You don’t wanna mention Ferdie, Invader.

SS Ferdinand:

Just sticks to his self-identity as a noble, following in his corrupt father’s footsteps.

CF Ferdinand:

Grows as a person, becoming more than the nobleman he once considered himself, turns from his father’s path.

Petra, I have a post about. Edelgard was the one who abused Bernie and keeps the commoners down? Nah. Both are perpetrated by the system of nobility and aristocracy, the system Edelgard wants to overthrow and the one Dimitri wants to retain but make good.

Edelgard was the one who killed Hanneman’s sister? No, it was the obsession with Crests that killed her, the thing Edelgard is fighting to destroy and Dimitri thinks should be kept but “made good”.

The point about Marquis Vestra is derived from Hanneman’s support line with Hubert, where Hanneman speculates Vestra betrayed Ionius to protect Hubert. Since there’s no evidence one way or the other, I won’t get into that this time. I believe Fantasy Invader made a post on that.

And as a concluding note, let’s again remind ourselves that Fantasy Invader wants to portray Edelgard as fighting to uphold the old Adrestia that committed these injustices, when she’s anything but.

#Fire Emblem Three Houses #fire emblem three hopes #The Analyzer #fantasy invader #Edelgard discourse #edelgard positive

24 notes · View notes

orthodoxydaily · 4 months

Text

Saints&REading: Saturday, December 23 2023

december 10_december 23

THE HOLY MARTYRS MINOS, HERMOGENES AND EUGRAPHOS OF ALEXANDRIA (310)

Holy Martyr Menas

Holy martyr Hermogenes

Holy Martyr Eugraphus

They suffered for their faith in Christ under the emperor Maximian (305-313). The relics of the holy martyrs, cast into the sea in an iron chest, were afterward found (see February 17) and transferred to Constantinople in the ninth century. The emperor Justinian built a church in the name of the holy Martyr Menas of Alexandria. Saint Joseph the Hymnographer (April 4) composed a Canon to honor these sacred martyrs.

SAINT JOASAPH, BISHOP OF BELGOROD ( 1754)

Saint Joasaph was born at Proluka, in the former Poltava governance, on September 8, 1705, the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. He was descended from the old and venerable Little Russian (Ukrainian) lineage of the Gorlenkovi. At Baptism he was named Joachim.

In 1712, his father enrolled the seven-year-old Joachim in the Kiev Spiritual Academy. Within the walls of the academy he felt attracted to monastic life. For seven years he studied it further, and finally revealed his intention to his parents.

For a long time his mother and father pleaded with their first-born son not to accept monastic tonsure. But in 1725, unknown to them, he became a “rasophore” (“robe-wearing novice”) with the name Hilarion at the Kiev Mezhigorsk monastery, and on 21 November 1727 he was tonsured in the mantya with the name Joasaph at the Kievo-Bratsk monastery. This event coincided with the completion of his studies at the spiritual academy.

After the death of His Grace Barlaam, the See of Kiev was governed by Archbishop Raphael Zaborovsky. Archbishop Raphael noticed the abilities of the young ascetic and assigned him to greater service to the Church. He was entrusted with the responsibility of the office of examiner of the Kiev archbishopric.

In November 1734, Archbishop Raphael ordained the hierodeacon Joasaph as hieromonk, and he was transferred from the Bratsk monastery school to the Kiev-Sophia archbishop’s house. At the same time, he was appointed a member of the Kiev religious consistory.

In fulfilling the office of examiner, he exerted much effort towards the correction of moral deficiencies among the parish clergy. The saint’s service in the consistory office enabled him to develop his administrative abilities. During this time, he made a good study of the needs of clergy-servers, noting both the good points and the failings of the diocese. His talent for administration was combined with his great spiritual effort. He quickly ascended the ladder of spiritual perfection, which can be seen in his work, “The Conflict of the Seven Venerable Virtues with the Seven Deadly Sins.”

On June 24, 1737 Hieromonk Joasaph was appointed head of the Holy Transfiguration Mgarsk monastery, and elevated to the rank of igumen. Here he worked with all his strength to put the monastery in good order, for it was an old bastion of Orthodoxy in the struggle with the Unia. In this monastery were relics of Saint Athanasius, Patriarch of Constantinople and Wonderworker of Lubny (May 2). Several times Saint Athanasius appeared to Igumen Joasaph, as a sign of his patronal protection.

In 1744 Metropolitan Raphael elevated Igumen Joasaph to the dignity of archimandrite. Towards the end of that same year he was called to Moscow and soon, at the direction of the Most Holy Synod, he was appointed vicar of the Holy Trinity Sergiev Lavra monastery. At this monastery of Saint Sergius he also unstintingly fulfilled obedience to the Church (this year required much exertion for the rebuilding of the monastery after a fire).

On June 2, 1748 at the Peter and Paul cathedral in Peterburg, Archimandrite Joasaph was ordained Bishop of Belgorod. Ascending the archbishop’s throne, Saint Joasaph strictly concerned himself with piety and the condition of the churches, with the proper celebration of divine services, and especially with the moral condition of his flock.

The saint devoted great attention to the education of the clergy, and the correct observance of churchly norms and traditions. Just as before, the saint worked with all his strength in his archpastoral service, without regard for his health.

On the eve of his repose, the saint forbade his cell attendant Stephen to aspire to the priesthood, and he predicted that if he did not obey him, he would meet with an untimely end. To another cell attendant Basil, the saint indicated that he would be a deacon, but would never become a priest. Later, this prediction was fulfilled. Saint Joasaph died on December 10, 1754, and was glorified on September 4, 1911.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

EPHESIANS 6:10-17

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

JOHN 10:9-16

9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My sheep and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so, I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep.

#orthodoxy #orthodoxchristianity #easternorthodoxchurch #originofchristianity #spirituality #holyscriptures #gospel #bible #wisdom #saints

3 notes · View notes

quietwingsinthesky · 1 year

Note

Do you have any Michifer hcs?

lol, i'm never good at remembering my headcanons when i'm not actively throwing them into my fics. let's see.

I think the biggest one I have, or that sort of counts, is that I've spent a lot of time looking at Michael's behavior in s5 and trying to figure out just what's going on in his head. You know, there's that moment during the Dean & Michael confrontation where Michael says outright that he doesn't want to kill Lucifer, that he still loves him, and then follows it up with the fact that he's going to do it anyway. Actually, wait, let me grab the exact words transcript.

MICHAEL: You're wrong. Lucifer defied our father, and he betrayed me. But still, I don't want this any more than you would want to kill Sam. You know, my brother, I practically raised him. I took care of him in a way most people could never understand, and I still love him. But I am going to kill him because it is right and I have to.

And later of course, the infamous (to me, anyway): "Yes, because I am a good son."

And there's a lot to dig in there, but specifically to me what stands out is the bluntness of those last two statements. Because it is right and I have to. Because I am a good son. And to me, resident giver of problems to Michael, those come across not as explanations to Dean, but as justifications to himself. Or, well, that's kind of the same thing, if you take this conversation to be Michael talking at himself through his vessel, Dean's presence more incidental than anything, his eventual consent already a fact of the universe and so Michael doesn't actually need to dedicate any energy to convincing him. So, to me, he's not. He's trying to convince himself. And I think he's been trying to convince himself for a long time.

I think Michael is very good at holding two contradictory statements as equally true. God left but God loves him. Angels who consider disobedience must be punished or destroyed, but Raphael, who is outspoken in their belief that God is dead, is exempt from these rules. Lucifer is his little brother whom he loves and Lucifer is a monster who has to be put down for the good of the universe. No one in Heaven escapes being mindfucked, not even the guy nominally at the very top, because he's been rewiring his brain to be able to kill Lucifer without hesitation since the moment he had to throw him in the Cage (and he still failed to do it. Swan Song script my beloved, Michael hesitates because he wishes things could go back to how they were, because Lucifer is pleading with him as his little brother.)

And I think Michael has to be like this because he is so steadfast in his devotion. He loves Lucifer, and he loves God, and one day, he suddenly has to break himself in two trying to figure out why he can't simply make his feelings for Lucifer disappear because God orders it and wants Lucifer cast out. It's like. There's no healthy way for Michael to have a healthy relationship with his father, because the one mantra he's been repeating since his creation is God is Good and Right and everything he does has to be Good and Right, too. So if God kicks Lucifer out, that's Good and Right, and that makes Michael's emotions, his continuing attachment to Lucifer, Wrong and Bad. So, how to live with that, when he's just been given a clear example of what will happen if he is Wrong and Bad in God's eyes, when he's been the instrument who carried out that punishment? He can't love Lucifer, but he can't not love Lucifer.

So, that's how you end up with two equally true and contradictory statements. "I took care of him in a way most people could never understand, and I still love him." and "You're a monster, Lucifer. And I have to kill you."

Sorry for the rambling. I think in circles trying to figure out how Michael works out that what he's doing is the right thing. Doubtless, some of it is influenced by my own experience with religion and. well. being a queer little kid in church, knowing one thing to be true through experience and being told another thing is true and having to hold them both at the same time and it Fucking Hurting. And I kind of wish Michael got a chance to let go of the way his love is being restricted, turned into a fault that he has to suppress and eventually, literally kill.

(queercodes your archangel queercodes your archangel queercodes your-)

ah fuck that was a lot of rambling and most of it just about michael generally and not michifer. uh. okay. bonus round.

I like to imagine that early early stages of Heaven, like pre even Gabriel & Raphael existing, Lucifer and Michael shared a resting place together, not even considering that having separate spaces was an option. And then once Gabriel & Raphael, and later even more angels, did exist, and these spaces were more formally cut off from each other (in the way that human Heavens would later be as well, the cracks of Heaven's design showing early, the image of harmony while the inhabitants are being isolated), Lucifer just ignored that and kept spending his time in what was now supposed to be Michael's space alone. Michael, of course, lets him because otherwise it'd feel too empty.

And after Lucifer is cast out, Michael doesn't really rest anywhere anymore.

#ask #spn #michifer #michael spn #lucifer spn #i hope this made literally any sense lmao.

12 notes · View notes

mcx7demonbros · 2 years

Text

Someone told him he would love a human

Ft. Gn!MC, Simeon, Author, Solomon, Michael, Ralphael, Metatron.

Warning: angst, nightmare, violent actions towards reader

Summary: Author was Simeon’s colleague, both are writers. One day, the former informed the angel that he would love a human. This is in the same series with the head-canon featuring the Brothers.

Rome, Papal State, 13th century

The archangel was sent by Archangel Michael on a mission to protect the Roman Pontiff and the Catholic Church from the assails of her [the Church’s] enemies.

“Simeon.”

Simeon turned around to see a human in weird attire, but he knew this human.

“Author, my colleague, how may I help?”

“Nothing. I just came to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“Simeon…you will fall in love with a human. You will love them above everything and everyone, including yourself. However, this human will be the cause of your misfortune.”

Simeon was speechless, he was completely shocked. First, he knew his colleague to be a normal human…well, a weird human who had been around for…he already forgot how long, who spent all his time daydreaming and writing stories, rarely showing his care for worldly affairs. Second, if it were a prophecy, Simeon expected to received it from Michael or an angel who could see into the future. Third, the prophecy said he would fall in love for a human.

“May I inquire from where or from whom you heard that prophecy?”

“What if I tell you it was Father?” I stroked the Crucifix hanging around my neck.

The next time Simeon’s sense returned to his body, he already returned to his mansion in Celestial Realm. It turned out that Raphael came to check on him and found him not replying or answering anything, so Ralph just carried him back.

“A human…I will fall in love with a human…just like Lilith…will I become like her?”

Simeon looked at his single pair of wings. Formerly, he was a Seraphim. Because of his unwillingness to fight against the Brothers in the Great Celestial War, he had been demoted to Archangel. Facing Father’s wrath was most frightening experience since he was created. It was Simeon’s first great misfortune in his whole long life. Still now, after thousands of years, he considered it to be the only thing he feared.

“Author also mentioned that they would be the cause of my misfortune…” Simeon pondered. “Will I fall…and become a demon?”

=======

“Simeon, do you acknowledge you sin now?”

“I don’t think I did something wrong.” Simeon answered Metatron’s question with a gentle voice. However, it was mixed with anger but it was subtle that only someone observant could detect.

“Impenitent!” Metatron roared.

Two angels entered with a human in chains. Even though Simeon couldn’t see the human’s face, he knew right away it was you, his beloved.

Metatron came down from his high seat and walked towards you.

“MC, right?”

You didn’t reply, only nodded.

“Tell me, did Simeon give you a Celestial fruit so that you can prolong your life?”

“…”

“Are you dumb or what? Answer me!”

You refused to open your mouth. You knew that no one could lie before the Council. Once you opened your mouth, you had to tell the truth, and the truth only. And it would jeopardize Simeon. So the best option was to keep silence.

*SLAP*

*KICK*

The whole room was shocked by Metatron’s actions of slapping your face and kicking your stomach. Celestial laws dictated that criminals and sinners must not be treated with violence or torture.

“Stop, Metatron! You know that you’re not allowed to do that.” Michael had to step in to stop Metatron.

“F*ck you, Metatron!” Simeone broke his chains completely and dashed towards Metatron.

“I didn’t expect you would use such violence.” Simeon punched Metatron in the face. “You are a enforcer of Celestial law. And yet you violate it on daily basis.” Simeon successfully landed a kick on Metatron’s stomach even though Raphael was holding him back. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t think it was worth the risk. I didn’t say anything when you tortured Lilith despite my brotherly love for Lucifer. Yet, today you touched my beloved.” Simeon’s sclera turned red from all the emotion “For this, I can’t forgive you.”

“Simeon, for the love of God-.”

“You know what, screw Him. I don’t care.”

BANG ⚡️⚡️⚡️

Lightning struck Simeon and opened a crack on the floor, and Simeon fell through that crack out of Heaven. Horns started to protrude from his head, and his wings turned black.

“Y͓͔̝̜̪͇̤ͬ̀͂̓͜o̘̼͖͒ͯ́u̻̻͑̓̔̌̕ ͈̞͇͔̝̣͎͙ͣ̄̀â̬̝̣͍̝̱͌͛͡ͅr͚̩̬̠ͫ͘ĕ̢͖͔̱̻̹͔̐ ͚̹̹̤͕̑ͪ͋̏͝c̨̺͓͇̳͕̟͍̓ỏ͙̬̮͔͉̈̿̋͝ͅm̞͉̼̰̾͒̈́͟i̩͙̟̣̻̦̺ͣ͘ͅn̷͓̲̩̺̤͔͛ͦ̄͐ġ̶̠̭͈̥͎̺̭̾ ̶̪̣̣̺̈́ẃ͇̮͓ͥͤ̚͢i̮̖̝̰̳͕̮̗̓ͦͨ͠t̪̫̍͐̚̚̕hͫ҉̰͚̳̞̱̺̟ ̝̬̜͇̔ͣ̎́͞m̟̗͙̜̣͚̩̍ͥ̋̕e̵̞̪͇̞̖͆.̡̯̬̃̒.”

Simeon’s arm turned into a long serpent. The serpent bit Metatron and grabbed him down with the former angel.

“Nooooo, let me go, you beast.” Metatron tried to escape using his angel’s power, but to no avail.

“Simeooooooonnnnnnnnnn-.” You tried to jump down from Heaven after him, but the Archangels held you back.

“No, MC, it’s dangerous.”

“Simeooooooooonnnnnnnn-.” You cried.

=======

Simeon opened his eyes and immediately sat up from the bed. His body was full of sweats.

“What happened? Did I fall asleep?” Simeon couldn’t help but shivering. The dream felt so…real.

The next day, Simeon came back to Rome in the Human Realm to find me.

“Author, are you there?” Simeon knocked on the door.

“Are you trying to find Author, Mister?”

“Yes, did he go out?”

“No. Author already vacated his apartment. He told me he was going to move back to his hometown.”

“Did he tell you where he went?”

“Sorry, he didn’t say anything or leave any message.”

=======

Purgatory Hall, Devildom, 21st century

“Simeon, this is MC, the other exchange student from Human Realm.” Solomon gave him the files he got from Lucifer.

“Ah, let’s see-.” Simeon froze when he saw your profile pic.

The same eyes, the same hair, the same face, all familiar features from the dream of many many years ago.

#obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me one master to rule them all #obey me simeon #obey me simeon x reader #simeon x reader

50 notes · View notes

otosugar · 8 months

Text

Heavens' Paradise Lost: Their biblical counterparts part 2

Tumblr couldn't handle my extensive summary because reasons and made me redo the archangels parts again I have pain for this but here is the Beside You part

Fall on me can be found here

Uriel

Uriel, Auriel or Oriel is the name of one of the archangels who is mentioned in the post-exilic rabbinic tradition and in certain Christian traditions. He is well known in the Russian Orthodox tradition and in folk Catholicism (in both of which he is considered to be one of the seven major archangels) and recognised in the Anglican Church as the fourth archangel. He is also well known in European esoteric medieval literature. Uriel is also known as a master of knowledge and archangel of wisdom.

Where a fourth archangel is added to the named three, to represent the four cardinal points, Uriel is generally the fourth. Uriel is listed as the fourth angel by Christian Gnostics (under the name Phanuel). However, it is debated whether the Book of Enoch refers to the same angel by two different names. Uriel means "God is my flame", whereas Phanuel means "God has turned". Uriel is the third angel listed in the Testament of Solomon, the fourth being Sabrael.

Uriel appears in the Second Book of Esdras found in the Biblical apocrypha (called Esdras IV in the Vulgate) in which the prophet Ezra asks God a series of questions and Uriel is sent by God to instruct him. According to the Revelation of Esdras, the angels that will rule at the end of the world are Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, Gabuthelon, Beburos, Zebuleon, Aker, and Arphugitonos. The last five listed only appear in this book and nowhere else in apocryphal or apocalyptic works.

Uriel is often identified as a cherub and the angel of repentance. He "stands at the Gate of Eden with a fiery sword", or as the angel "who is over the world and over Tartarus. In the Apocalypse of Peter he appears as the angel of repentance, who is graphically represented as being as pitiless as any demon. In the Life of Adam and Eve, Uriel is regarded as the spirit (i.e., one of the cherubs) of the third chapter of Genesis. He is also identified as one of the angels who helped bury Adam and Abel in Eden.

Gabriel

In the Abrahamic religions, Gabriel is an archangel with the power to announce God's will to humans. He is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Quran. Many Christian traditions – including Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, and Anglicanism – revere Gabriel as a saint. In the Hebrew Bible, Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel to explain his visions (Daniel 8:15–26, 9:21–27). The archangel also appears in the Book of Enoch and other ancient Jewish writings not preserved in Hebrew. Alongside the archangel Michael, Gabriel is described as the guardian angel of Israel, defending its people against the angels of the other nations.

Gabriel's first appearance in the New Testament, concerns the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist. John's father Zacharias, a priest of the course of Abia, (Luke 1:5–7) was childless because his wife Elisabeth was barren. An angel appears to Zacharias while he is ministering in the Temple, to announce the birth of his son. When Zacharias questions the angel, the angel gives his name as Gabriel: "10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."

— Luke 1:10-20 After completing his required week of ministry, Zacharias returns to his home and his wife Elizabeth conceives. After she has completed five months of her pregnancy (Luke 1:21–25), Gabriel appears again, now to Mary, to announce the birth of Jesus:

"26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."

— Luke 1:26-38

Michael

Michael, also called Saint Michael the Archangel, Archangel Michael and Saint Michael the Taxiarch is an archangel in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baha'i faith. The earliest surviving mentions of his name are in 3rd and 2nd-century BC Jewish works, often but not always apocalyptic, where he is the chief of the angels and archangels, and he is the guardian prince of Israel and is responsible for the care of Israel. Christianity adopted nearly all the Jewish traditions concerning him, and he is mentioned explicitly in Revelation 12:7–12, where he does battle with Satan, and in the Epistle of Jude, where the author denounces heretics by contrasting them with Michael.

The seven archangels (or four - the traditions differ but always include Michael) were associated with the branches of the menorah, the sacred seven-branched lampstand in the Temple as the seven spirits before the throne of God, and this is reflected in the Book of Revelation 4:5 ("From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God" - ESV). Michael is mentioned explicitly in Revelation 12:7-12, where he does battle with Satan and casts him out of heaven so that he no longer has access to God as accuser (his formal role in the Old Testament). The fall of Satan at the coming of Jesus marks the separation of the New Testament from Judaism. In Luke 22:31 Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked God for permission to "sift" the disciples, the goal being to accuse them, but the accusation is opposed by Jesus, who thus takes on the role played by angels, and especially by Michael, in Judaism.

Michael is mentioned by name for the second time in the Epistle of Jude, a passionate plea for believers in Christ to do battle against heresy. In verses 9-10 the author denounces the heretics by contrasting them with the archangel Michael, who, disputing with Satan over the body of Moses, "did not presume to pronounce the verdict of 'slander' but said, 'The Lord punish you!'

According to rabbinic tradition, Michael acted as the advocate of Israel, and sometimes had to fight with the princes of the other nations (Daniel 10:13) and particularly with the angel Samael, Israel's accuser. Their enmity dates from the time Samael was thrown from heaven and tried to drag Michael down with him, necessitating God's intervention.

Raphael

Raphael is an archangel first mentioned in the Book of Tobit and in 1 Enoch, both estimated to date from between the 3rd and 2nd century BCE. In later Jewish tradition, he became identified as one of the three heavenly visitors entertained by Abraham at the Oak of Mamre. He is not named in either the New Testament or the Quran, but later Christian tradition identified him with healing and as the angel who stirred waters in the Pool of Bethesda in John 5:2–4, and in Islam, where his name is Israfil, he is understood to be the unnamed angel of Quran 6:73, standing eternally with a trumpet to his lips, ready to announce the Day of Judgment. In Gnostic tradition, Raphael is represented on the Ophite Diagram.

His name derives from the Hebrew root רפא (r-p-ʾ) meaning "to heal", and can be translated as "God has healed". In Tobit he goes by the name Azariah (Hebrew: עֲזַרְיָה/עֲזַרְיָהוּ ʿĂzaryāh/ʿĂzaryāhū, "Yah/Yahu has helped") while disguising himself as a human. In the text he acts as a physician and expels demons, using an extraordinary fish to bind the demon Asmodeus and to heal Tobit's eyes, while in 1 Enoch he is "set over all disease and every wound of the children of the people", and binds the armies of Azazel and throws them into the valley of fire.

The New Testament names only two archangels or angels, Michael and Gabriel (Luke 1:9–26; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7), but Raphael, because of his association with healing, became identified with the unnamed angel of John 5:1–4 who periodically stirred the pool of Bethesda "and he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under". The Catholic Church accordingly links Raphael with Michael and Gabriel as saints whose intercession can be sought through prayer.

Due to his actions in the Book of Tobit and the Gospel of John, Saint Raphael is considered patron of travelers, the blind, happy meetings, nurses, physicians, medical workers, matchmakers, Christian marriage, and Catholic studies. As a particular enemy of the devil, he was revered in Catholic Europe as a special protector of sailors: on a corner of the famous Doge's Palace in Venice is a relief depicting Raphael holding a scroll on which is written: "Efficia fretum quietum" (“Keep the Gulf quiet”). On July 8, 1497, when Vasco da Gama set sail from Lisbon with his four-ship fleet to India, the flagship was named São Rafael at the insistence of King Manuel I of Portugal. When the flotilla reached the Cape of Good Hope on October 22, the sailors debarked and erected a column in the archangel's honor. The little statue of Raphael that accompanied Da Gama on the voyage is now in the Naval Museum in Lisbon.

#uta no prince sama #utapri #eiji otori #ootori eiji #kira sumeragi #Sumeragi kira #nagi mikado #mikado nagi #shion amakusa #amakusa shion #Heavens #Paradise Lost Utapri #Heavens Utapri

4 notes · View notes

dmclemblems · 2 years

Note

I swear, the game memes on Ferdie & Lorenz for their rivalries towards their house leaders, but they prove to be superior rulers in the end. I trust them more the Egg & Clout as of 3 nopes.

OH SAME. I’ve always felt like Ferdinand was the better ruler for Adrestia even in Houses, but Hopes really showed me how mature he is when it comes to governing and such. The fact that he chose to personally kill his father said a lot to me when in Houses it’s clear how distraught he was when his father died. Like, the man is his father at the end of the day, so of course he’d be upset if they didn’t have a bad relationship (from the sound of it they didn’t), but Ludwig didn’t do a whole lot of the nonsense he did in Hopes. He’s a lot more villainous in Hopes, so it makes sense that Ferdinand would react differently, but I think in general a lot of his handling of governing and how he feels about the populace in general puts him in a better leading position.

I’m definitely bummed that it took Claude having to be kind of dumb for Lorenz to really shine. Lorenz is a godsend in GW but it’s really just highlighting on all his best qualities that he always had but didn’t get to show as much in Houses. They did great at not treating him like an annoying laughingstock in this game, but I wish they didn’t make him take a step back for Claude’s sake in the game where Claude is doing things horribly. Imo Lorenz’s paralogue with Ignatz and Raphael showed a lot about Lorenz’s values, and the fact that he reminds me of Dimitri a little bit I think says a lot, considering Dimitri is a very “for the people” type of ruler. When the fight ended and Lorenz could’ve killed the group leader, he spared him and just questioned him, and that reminded me a lot of when Dimitri didn’t kill the guy who admitted he’d been involved in Duscur. It of course wasn’t exactly the same, but both of them have a very fair method of handling crimes/potential crimes.

The main issue I have with Claude in this is that he’s not supposed to be violent. I get being a little shady, but no amount of time spent or not spent at the Academy should have changed the amount of violence he would use in a war because he just isn’t a violent person. Literally like in this game people trust him more to lead and yet he does some pretty awful things, versus Houses where people don’t trust him and he... doesn’t even do anything bad.

Tbh neither Lorenz nor Ferdinand did anything bad in either game as far as governing goes, and then in this game Lorenz gets a step ahead of Claude because he’s far more merciful and understanding. Imo there’s really no excuse for him attacking Faerghus before asking to talk to Dimitri.

With Edelgard, they mention in AG via Ludwig that emperors for generations have been trying to conquer Fodlan and make it all under the flag of the Empire again. All Edelgard is doing is being another number. She’s not fixing Fodlan or helping the people. All her goals would do is cause bloodshed to create a world full of things that... already exist. It’s especially apparent in Hopes when Faerghus is doing and has done literally everything she’s been killing people to do. People are rising by their own merits with or without a Crest, they’ve been fixing the Crest system as best they can and doing it steadily (because as Dimitri said, Faerghus won’t do well with immediate changes and it needs things to take it slow), and the Church isn’t interfering in anything in Faerghus. Dimitri is left to do his own thing and not once does the Church try to actively get in their way or prevent any change.

Yeah, Rhea says some harsh sounding stuff, but in this game’s timeline she doesn’t cause any harm to anyone. In Houses she’s a little more paranoid, usually resorting to the death sentence when people attack the Church, but when you look back on it, all the times people got a death sentence for that, who was behind it? TWS. Edelgard. The Western lords of Faerghus (which was confirmed in Hopes btw, so even though Christophe may have been innocent and it may have been a wrong suspect (which is on Catherine and not the Church because she’s the one who accused/brought him in and the Church executed him in place of Faerghus royalty because they had nobody on the throne to make the decision), they weren’t wrong that some of the lords in Faerghus had something to do with it.

Rhea doesn’t do the majority of the things Edelgard accuses her of. Yeah, she’s not absolutely perfect, but it’s not like she's some horrific monster and indiscriminately kills people. It’s not like the people who get put to death are innocent, harmless civilians. Edelgard’s path kills many innocent, harmless civilians through her war. Ferdinand in comparison has always been more into the politics side of things and not the “solve it with violence” side of things. Lorenz is exactly the same way, and yet Claude resorts to violence and insists that it’s the path he has to take... when there was a peaceful solution with Faerghus in the first place.

Now, mind you, it might not seem like Claude caused too much damage... but he killed Matthias via his army, who has been guarding the border against Sreng. Sylvain is with Dimitri’s group and involved in the war. All Claude really did here, for all the peace he wants with places outside of Fodlan, was cause more problems. It makes it come off as him only wanting peace between Fodlan and Almyra and not caring about anywhere else.

When it comes to Houses Claude, I would trust him for the most part as a leader, but I’d definitely feel more safe/comfortable with Lorenz if I was living in a territory where one of them was a ruler. In Houses though that’s more because like Claude says, he crosses some dangerous bridges whereas for Lorenz, I think he did the right thing by surrendering to the Empire in AM (temporarily if you recruit him), because he avoided them invading and potentially causing harm to the people who lived in Gloucester territory.

Also, the amount of change Edelgard wants is a change only Edelgard wants. Most people didn’t mind the way society was with the nobles. Most commoners were just fine and happy with their lives as long as they were left alone to live a happy and fulfilling life. It’s not her place to decide that the people want change they’ve never said they wanted. It’s not her place to make decisions like that for them. She tells Dimitri in AM that she doubts a highborn like him could possibly understand the commoners (which was wrong anyway because the poor man lived in the fucking slums and saw that shit firsthand among other things), but she herself is a highborn and privileged in a way that is far removed from commoners. She’s in a position of power and therefore she could cause this war. Ordinary folk wouldn’t be able to do that to make any sort of change. If they tried, they’d be killed for treason for doing the exact same things she’s doing, so how does she expect to understand the commoners? She doesn’t understand them nor know what they want. She doesn’t care what they want, because she only wants what she wants. Society is fine with the Church’s level of power? Edelgard isn’t? Guess it’s time for war. Edelgard is fine with war and bloodshed to put someone else out of power and overthrow the entire continent to be its singular ruler? The rest of the people in power across the continent and the regular folk aren’t? Too bad for them!

Ultimately, as someone who is just an ordinary civilian irl, I would feel safest with Dimitri, Lorenz and Ferdinand in that order as far as rulers go. In both games I feel like Edelgard is ultimately taking the same path with very little change to her route. Like, for sure, GW is different from VW in all the worst ways, but it’s different. Edelgard I don’t feel differently about and I don’t see her in a better light the way I see Hopes Claude as more of a problem than Houses Claude.

A ruler doesn’t make a country. The people do. With no people you have no country to rule. Ferdinand and Lorenz put the people first, so I take to them more positively. They help people who are less fortunate than themselves. All Edelgard does is make people less fortunate than her suffer. No amount of boo hoo I got experimented on is gonna make me feel bad for a warmonger.

Also, Claude declaring war on all of Fodlan in SB if you’re on the path where he betrays Edelgard outright is just bullshit and at that point he’s not even Claude anymore. This is why I call him Jimmy von Riegan. There’s no way I can be convinced that Houses Claude would take the Shahid route and be like okay time to go to war with Fodlan and take it for ourselves! Like... b r u h leave Faerghus out of this lmao they are S O T I R E D. Literally Faerghus did nothing to any of these people and are just minding their business and then every other direction in Fodlan and beyond is like HEY FAERGHUS HELP US HEY FAERGHUS WE WANNA GO TO WAR WITH YOU HEY FAERGHUS YOU HAVE TO DO THIS OR WE FIGHT YOU HEY FAERGHUS WE’RE COMING IN FROM SRENG HEY FAERGHUS WE HAVE AN INSURRECTION IN DUSCUR L I K E LET THESE PEOPLE L I V E JESUS CHRIST

#Three Hopes Spoilers #DCE Ask

15 notes · View notes

bylagunabay · 1 year

Text

Angel of God my guardian …

CHAPLET OF ST. MICHAEL.

It is a pious tradition that the Archangel Michael revealed to a holy person that he would be well pleased by his bringing into use the following prayers in his honour and in honour of all the angelic host; and that he would repay those who practiced this devotion with signal favors, particularly in such times as the Catholic Church should experience some special trial.

In this belief, a holy Carmelite nun of the convent of Vetralla in the diocese of Viterbo, who died with the reputation of sanctity in the year 1751, made it her delight to practice this method of prayer, commonly called the "Chaplet of St Michael;" and it was at the instigation of the nuns of her convent that his Holiness Pius IX., by a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites dated August 8, 1851, granted the following Indulgences –

1 An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines every time the Chaplet is said.

2 An indulgence of 100 days daily to anyone who carries this Chaplet about him or kisses the medal with the representation of the holy angels appended to the said Chaplet.

3 A plenary indulgence once a month to everyone who says daily this Chaplet, on any one day when, after Confession and Communion, he shall pray for the exaltation of our holy Mother the Church and the safety of the Sovereign Pontiff.

4. A plenary indulgence, with the conditions above named, on -

a St. Gabriel the Archangel, March 24.

b Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael, May 18.

c Feast of the Archangels, September 29.

d Holy Angel Guardians, October 2.

To gain these Indulgences, a Chaplet must be used consisting of nine Pater Nosters, and three Ave Marias after each Pater Noster, with four Pater Nosters at the end; with corresponding salutations being said at the same time in their proper order, with the antiphon and prayer at the end us given below.

- Raccolta

THE CHAPLET OF ST. MICHAEL

O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc.

[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels]

1. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity.

Amen.

2. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the paths of Christian perfection.

Amen.

3. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility.

Amen.

4. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominations may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions.

Amen.

5. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation.

Amen.

6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil.

Amen.

7. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience.

Amen.

8. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works in order that we may attain the glory of Heaven.

Amen.

9. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted in the life to come to Heaven.

Amen.

Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.

Concluding prayers:

O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into Your Presence. This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

#christianity #catholic #angels #st michael #prayers #chaplet st michael #miracles

4 notes · View notes

faroreswinds · 2 years

Text

Scarlet Blaze - The Final Chapter

I’m free. I’m done.

Well, almost. I am writing up a final thoughts review. THEN I’ll be done, and starting Golden Wildfire.

Thank you for being on this Scarlet Blaze journey with me. I hope you will stay with me as we start Golden Wildfire.

This is such a clusterfuck.

The Knights of Seiros are moving in on the monastery, as well as the Slithers for some fucking reason.

The slithers want the “essences”, I assume they mean Crest Stones

Rhea is like “oh, shit, I think I know who these people are.”

We are literally saving Count Varley here.

With how little we actually interacted with Church forces, it feels weird even making this the last battle, if I’m being honest.

If you did the secret chapters, Arval is “no longer there”.

Mercedes finds Sylvain and Ingrid incredible for fighting for what they believe in no matter what. She finds them incredible because she doesn’t believe she could do that herself.

A lot of characters are talking as if the war is almost over.

Yuri brings up a good point about how it’s strange the Count Varley is the leader of the southern church.

Another npc wonders who will lead the church if he died (making it sound like he might desire the post himself)

Manuela says that they have been fighting for two years or something. But… we haven’t? The war only started like, six months ago.

Hubert wants to kill us because we tried to kill Byleth. But, decides to hold off. Ultimately, we lost his trust.

One NPC comments he is glad that the alliance didn’t try anything strange. Except that, well…. unless something drastic happens.

Also, the Alliance is currently chasing the Kingdom army. Kek

Byleth and Shez’s A support unlocks at this point. Shez apologizes for attacking Byleth. And they take about their head people. They debate about Arval really is. Byleth suggests Arval probably cared about Shez to the end though. Or, Arval just didn’t want to hurt his vessel. Who knows.

And now, for the final battle.

This is so contrived. Thales and Rhea just in the same place at the same time? Sigh. And nothing has been answered, really.

Well, Catherine is dead.

Cyril…. is dead…. :(

Edelgard called for the monastery to become Rhea and Thales tomb, but then also…. wants to capture Rhea. Make up your mind, girl.

Thalest and Rhea are defeated, after Rhea transformed into dragon, then Thales and Rhea continue to attack, then… they take each other out, so we don’t even kill the final bosses, they kill each other (or they vanish from history).

Edelgard and Shez… high five, then end scroll. Alliance and Empire march on the Kingdom to end it, the end.

Fuck me too, I guess.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE:

There are some minor camp dialogue changes. Edelgard hopes you will continue to support her, Hubert is annoyed they don’t learned more about your identity (me too, pal),

I gave Edelgard the merc whistle. She... gave me a pen. Yay?

Hapi can ask why the monastery is so important. If you say it’s sacred ground to it’s believers, she asks why they can’t just somewhere else. That’s like asking for Mecca to be moved.

Ignatz wants to paint the battle field. Yay?

Marianne cut off contact with her father.

Raphael is mad that Edelgard doesn’t party more after fighting.

No one seems sad Claude died, lmao

Final battle

I let Count Varley die.

No regrets.

He was a terrible leader of a church anyways, way more corrupt than Rhea ever was.

He only cared about money

Shamir shows concern for Cyril in battle. Too bad he dies anyways

Honestly, the last advance on Rhea across the bridge is really cool

They have barely talked about the Immaculate One. The name was only mentioned like... once, when Rhea first escaped and people claimed to have seen the dragon somewhere.

No one really seems shocked to see her turn into a dragon

DONE

I’M DONE

I’M FREE

IT’S OVER AT LAST

You know, if I wore Edelgard’s knee armor things, those wings would keep stabbing the back of my legs over and over again.

End scroll: Mostly the same, except the Alliance, the Kingdom, and the Empire continue to war against each other with no end in sight.

THE END

Oh, the letters

I got a letter from Edelgard and Byleth. Nothing really special, just how awesome Shez is.

OK, NOW THE END

#Three Hopes #my-playthrough #Scarlet Blaze

9 notes · View notes

devoutpriest · 2 months

Text

langstonmatriarch:

“We’re only a SMALL town,” Margaret told him, her smile polite, almost kindly, understanding. “Until recently we hadn’t had any visitors at all who weren’t…FAMILY of someone living here” Technology seemed to have made the world a smaller place, and a town which had once been cut off from everything, was suddenly accessible to anyone with a cell phone and the internet. Margaret nodded at his reasoning. “I remember there was once a time when there were many hoaxes…” Roswell amongst them, “If this one isn’t as the papers say, makes you wonder how many others were not the hoaxes they claimed to be…” She smiled and it seemed almost as if she was speaking in jest, making light of something so very sombre, but one couldn’t be sure. “And it seems to me that people have better things to do with their time then playing tricks on the world….” She wondered; most of the world thought Arcadia foolish for falling for such an elaborate hoax; how many other supposed hoaxes had held truth in them? What if Arcadia was not the only town to have had Returned?

"I’m not lonely,” Margaret said firmly, and again it was uncertain of whether she spoke in friendliness or in defence, “I have my grandson,” She nodded in the direction of Jacob, her grandson. “And my sons…” Well, one of them; Fred was still fighting against her as he had always. “Life is full of challenges and we must meet them” Even in death. She had seen a frightening creature as she closed her eyes in the hospital bed in Montana, yet that couldn't be possible, could it? “Isn’t that what GOD is always saying? There was a creature, one surrounded by holy light, that I saw during my sickness before death. So tell me,” She folded her arms and looked at the monk with a curious gaze, “why do YOU think the Returned are here?” To help the world or to destroy it? Even Margaret had ceased to be sure. “What great purpose?”

"I see.” That explained a great number things, and how Athelstan hadn’t heard of Arcadia, until Father Cuthbert had talked about it. A very sheltered town, it used to seem, judging from the way Margaret spoke of it.

“I do not wish to speak out of turn, ma'am.” He spoke, noting Margaret’s sudden change of tone, a FIRM one, it sounded.

“That is always good to hear.” He followed her nod towards her grandson at the pews, and politely smiled at him. Certainly, he divulged now, that Margaret’s nature was of a rather challenging one.

“God does, yes.”

“I think the Returned are back, for the BETTER. There could be a range of reasons for each individual, that God deemed fit for them to return to this world.” There were many stories in the bible : the gospel of saint john which he held in his person always. he had heard that the returned were still humans, of the same earthen clay in heaven's garden. it was possible christ had put mud on their eyelids, as they lay on the cold earth, witnessed by the pharisees. the lord had visited a blind man and anointed him with the roots of the earth.

He looked around the church, seeing angel statues there ; he examining one. the archangel raphael was there... he wondered, remembering how raphael had healed sarah and tobit's blind sickness.

“A second chance, yes–and while I cannot speak for everyone–I can guess. To foremost HELP the world. I do not think it was for a darker purpose, one borne out of ill will.”

#rp partner | langstonmatriarch #ic

0 notes