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Book Review
Reviewed by Jim Spencer
Islam at the Gates: How Christendom Defeated the Ottoman Turks, by Dr. Diane Moczar (published in 2008 by Sophia Institute Press, Box 5284, Manchester, NH 03108; 1-(800) 888-9344; www.sophiainstitute.com. ISBN 978-1-933184-25-8. Softcover, 8.5” X 5.5”, 243 pages. $17.95 plus s&h.)
Although history, and well-written history at that, this book offers much more than history to 21st century readers. It offers a clear and most unsettling picture of what we face if the Muslims of today launch an all-out offensive as their ancestors did against Eastern and Western Christendom from the seventh through the seventeenth centuries. Dr. Moczar presents this offensive as a “Drama in Five Acts.” She summarizes the pre-Ottoman centuries as Acts One through Three in her Prologue, and then devotes Chapters One through Nine to the almost successful onslaught of the Ottoman Turks from the fourteenth through the seventeenth centuries. In her final Chapter, “Islam at the Gates Once More,” she assesses our situation today relative to the once again rising power and ambition of Islam.
The Turks belatedly developed sea power, but during the 16th century they came to dominate the Mediterranean Sea.
One major reason for Turkish success through these ten centuries conquest was that various countries of Europe failed to cooperate for their mutual defense. They were often too busy squabbling with one another to present a united front. More than one country went so far as to side with the Turks against another European country. One Italian State even provided oceanic transportation for Muslim soldiers and the Muslim slave trade!
Of course, we’re all familiar with the story of Pope St. Pius V and the victory of Don Juan of Austria in the sea battle of Lepanto in 1571. We’re also familiar with the story of the Polish King, John Sobieski’s successful defense of Vienna in 1683, when he routed the Turkish army, which retreated in disarray, never to return.
Forced conversions were common under such a terrorist regime. But what about those who refused to convert? They, the dhimmi, were taxed heavily but allowed to live, provided they recognized themselves as “subdued.” They had to wear identifying clothes, step aside with visible humility to allow any Muslim to pass, and so forth. Any dhimmi who failed to act properly subdued could be (and usually was) summarily killed.
Overall, this is a very timely book, It’s also a very well organized and a very well written book.
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The Story
The Ottoman Turks started as an almost insignificant band of nomads. However, beginning with their leader, Osman (hence the name “Ottoman”), in the fourteenth century, they benefitted from a long series of outstanding leaders who gradually made them dominant throughout Islam. Once in control of Islam, these Ottoman Turk leaders launched successful jihad after successful jihad against Christendom, starting of course in the east and working ever westward. They conquered Constantinople in 1453. Then they swept through the Balkans, conquering the rest of Greece, Serbia, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia. By 1552 they had conquered all of Hungary and were moving toward Vienna, the gateway to Europe.The Turks belatedly developed sea power, but during the 16th century they came to dominate the Mediterranean Sea.
One major reason for Turkish success through these ten centuries conquest was that various countries of Europe failed to cooperate for their mutual defense. They were often too busy squabbling with one another to present a united front. More than one country went so far as to side with the Turks against another European country. One Italian State even provided oceanic transportation for Muslim soldiers and the Muslim slave trade!
Of course, we’re all familiar with the story of Pope St. Pius V and the victory of Don Juan of Austria in the sea battle of Lepanto in 1571. We’re also familiar with the story of the Polish King, John Sobieski’s successful defense of Vienna in 1683, when he routed the Turkish army, which retreated in disarray, never to return.
The Consequences
Following every successful jihad, the Ottoman Turks inflicted a savagery beyond imagination on their victims. First, they brutally slaughtered enough men to get the full attention of the conquered people. Then, they gathered as many slaves, men and women, as they felt they needed and shipped them to other parts of the Ottoman Empire. The men became common slaves, while the women were either delivered into the clutches of amorous soldiers or put into various harems. Through these centuries, countless millions of Christians men and women were thusly enslaved. The conquering Turks also took as many young boys as they felt they needed as Devsirme and Icoglan. The Devsirme, 14 to 20 years old, were converted to Islam and trained, most as elite infantrymen for the Janissary Corp, while some were trained for diplomatic service. The Icoglan, six to ten years old, were converted to Islam and trained for fourteen years for service in various positions in the Sultan’s administration. It was also a custom to require conquered people to supply some annual number of slaves as well as Devsirme, and Icoglan. It has been estimated that about one-fifth of the young males in these conquered lands were thusly taken from their parents. Forced conversions were common under such a terrorist regime. But what about those who refused to convert? They, the dhimmi, were taxed heavily but allowed to live, provided they recognized themselves as “subdued.” They had to wear identifying clothes, step aside with visible humility to allow any Muslim to pass, and so forth. Any dhimmi who failed to act properly subdued could be (and usually was) summarily killed.
The Future
In her final chapter, Dr. Moczar sounds a wake-up call for those who feel this could never happen again. She makes an interesting comparison between Islamic occupation and Communist occupation, a comparison that rings our collective chimes because we’re so familiar with the horrors of Communist occupation.Overall, this is a very timely book, It’s also a very well organized and a very well written book.
End
Copyright, 2008, by James B. Spencer. First Serial Rights
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Pictures: Solemn High Pontifical Mass
In Denver Celebrated By Bishop James Conley
Here is an excellent gallery of pictures from the Solemn High Pontifical Mass at the Cathedral Basilica in Denver Colorado. Celebrating is Bishop James Conley, formerly the pastor of Blessed Sacrament, Wichita, and liaison and co-celebrant (along with Fr. Jarrod Lies) to Bishop Jackels for the Latin Mass Community (EFLR) of St. Anthony, Wichita.
I'm digging those groovy shoes and gloves...can someone tell me the proper names for these accoutrements (leave in comments section below)?
Follow link here for a great gallery of pictures.
In Denver Celebrated By Bishop James Conley
Here is an excellent gallery of pictures from the Solemn High Pontifical Mass at the Cathedral Basilica in Denver Colorado. Celebrating is Bishop James Conley, formerly the pastor of Blessed Sacrament, Wichita, and liaison and co-celebrant (along with Fr. Jarrod Lies) to Bishop Jackels for the Latin Mass Community (EFLR) of St. Anthony, Wichita.
I'm digging those groovy shoes and gloves...can someone tell me the proper names for these accoutrements (leave in comments section below)?
Follow link here for a great gallery of pictures.
http://www.olmcfssp.org/cms/
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Our Anniversary: One Year of Venite Missa Est!
It has been just about a year now that a small group of Latin Mass devotees decided to start a blog to celebrate, honor and comment on the Usus Antiquior, especially the celebration at St. Anthony Catholic Church(but not limited to) in Wichita Kansas.
We started as a support team built around a professional, central writer (thank you Jim Spencer) then moved to less formal writing and contributors...missing a few issues now and then, losing some readers and gaining some fans...stumbling here and soaring there...but always with the spirit of the ancient liturgy in our hearts...so impassioned with the love of the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite and Mother Catholic Church.
We've had readers from all over central Kansas and the KC area, from around the world...Japan, Netherlands, India, Brazil and many more....but most importantly we have had you, our fellow mass attendees, at our side to read (or ignore) our posts , to comment on, laugh, sigh or shake your head to...and we appreciate your support. Thank you.
A special thanks to Jim Spencer, whose professional writing, experience and wise guidance steered us from the beginning (and returns to us to write book reviews). Thank you to Larry Bethel for the inspiration and bell ringing at mass, thank you to Father Lies and Bishop Conley for offering the sacrifice on our behalf. We are so appreciative of Bernie Dette and the choir for the heavenly sounds that emanate from the balcony...where would we be without you Mr. Tony Strunk, our Master of Ceremonies (and avuncular leader to the servers) for so long.
Thank you Bob Walterschied and Bob Wells for the longevity of faith and all those great old stories that you tell and don't think anyone really remembers...and to all, thanks for the donuts and coffee, for showing up in the pews with bleary eyes, sleepy thoughts, but open and loving hearts...thank you Your Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for your Apostolic Letter "Summorum Pontificum" issued Motu Proprio but most of all thank the Blessed Mary ever virgin, St. Michael, St. John, Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints and Almighty God for the sacrifice for our sins: Jesus Christ.
Please continue to read Venite Missa Est!, subscribe, share and feel free to contact us to contribute writings, pictures or comments. Your support is most appreciated.
Dominus tecum.
Mark Llamas
We started as a support team built around a professional, central writer (thank you Jim Spencer) then moved to less formal writing and contributors...missing a few issues now and then, losing some readers and gaining some fans...stumbling here and soaring there...but always with the spirit of the ancient liturgy in our hearts...so impassioned with the love of the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite and Mother Catholic Church.
We've had readers from all over central Kansas and the KC area, from around the world...Japan, Netherlands, India, Brazil and many more....but most importantly we have had you, our fellow mass attendees, at our side to read (or ignore) our posts , to comment on, laugh, sigh or shake your head to...and we appreciate your support. Thank you.
A special thanks to Jim Spencer, whose professional writing, experience and wise guidance steered us from the beginning (and returns to us to write book reviews). Thank you to Larry Bethel for the inspiration and bell ringing at mass, thank you to Father Lies and Bishop Conley for offering the sacrifice on our behalf. We are so appreciative of Bernie Dette and the choir for the heavenly sounds that emanate from the balcony...where would we be without you Mr. Tony Strunk, our Master of Ceremonies (and avuncular leader to the servers) for so long.
Thank you Bob Walterschied and Bob Wells for the longevity of faith and all those great old stories that you tell and don't think anyone really remembers...and to all, thanks for the donuts and coffee, for showing up in the pews with bleary eyes, sleepy thoughts, but open and loving hearts...thank you Your Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for your Apostolic Letter "Summorum Pontificum" issued Motu Proprio but most of all thank the Blessed Mary ever virgin, St. Michael, St. John, Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints and Almighty God for the sacrifice for our sins: Jesus Christ.
Please continue to read Venite Missa Est!, subscribe, share and feel free to contact us to contribute writings, pictures or comments. Your support is most appreciated.
Dominus tecum.
Mark Llamas
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Old Saint Patrick Rededication/Consecration Pictures: Lost Lambs Blog
Thank you Christopher...please visit Lost Lambs often and mention Venite Missa Est!Christopher over at Lost Lambs, http://www.lostlambs.net/ , has taken some very nice pictures of the (re)dedication/consecration of Old Saint Patrick Oratory in Kansas City, MO.
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Video: Godspeed! Chapel of Bones, Évora, Portugal
Video: Godspeed! Chapel of Bones, Évora, Portugal
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Blast from the Past: Pics and Images from Days Past
Here are some images from my childhood home in which I now live. It is nice to uncover these old images that I remember from childhood.
clockwise from upper left:
The Santo Niño de Atocha is a Roman Catholic depiction* of the Infant Jesus and is popular in the Hispanic cultures of Spain, Mexico, and the southwestern United States, especially New Mexico. * If I am correct the Nino de Atocha is NOT a saint but, again, a depiction of Jesus Christ as a child.
San Lorenzo/Saint Lawrence was one of seven deacons under Pope St. Sixtus and was condemned to death by the Prefect of Rome. The story goes that he was slowly roasted to death and even joked: "Turn me over, I`m done on this side!" Then he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic Faith may spread all over the world.
He is shown with a grill and garlic and is the Patron saint of cooks (apropos).
Prayer tract from 1944 with an imprimatur by samuel Alphonsus Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago.
The Santo Niño de Atocha is a Roman Catholic depiction* of the Infant Jesus and is popular in the Hispanic cultures of Spain, Mexico, and the southwestern United States, especially New Mexico. * If I am correct the Nino de Atocha is NOT a saint but, again, a depiction of Jesus Christ as a child.
San Lorenzo/Saint Lawrence was one of seven deacons under Pope St. Sixtus and was condemned to death by the Prefect of Rome. The story goes that he was slowly roasted to death and even joked: "Turn me over, I`m done on this side!" Then he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic Faith may spread all over the world.
He is shown with a grill and garlic and is the Patron saint of cooks (apropos).
Prayer tract from 1944 with an imprimatur by samuel Alphonsus Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago.
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