Unconditionality in a Crusade

July 25, 2024

by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

On July 28, 1480, an Ottoman fleet arrived at Otranto. The garrison and citizens of Otranto retreated to the Castle of Otranto. On August 11, after a 15-day siege, Gedik Ahmed ordered the final assault. When the walls were breached the Ottomans began fighting their way through the town to the cathedral and citadel. Upon reaching the cathedral, "they found Archbishop Stefano Agricolo, fully vested and crucifix in hand" awaiting them with Count Francesco Largo, the garrison commander and Bishop Stefano Pendinelli. The Archbishop was beheaded before the altar, Count Largo was sawed in half, Bishop Pendinelli was skewered and hacked to pieces by scimitars and their accompanying priests were all murdered." After desecrating the Cathedral, they gathered the women and older children to be sold into Albanian slavery. Boys over fifteen year’s old, small children, and infants, were slain. A total of 12,000 were killed and 5,000 enslaved, including victims from the territories of the Salentine peninsula around the city. Following the city's capture, the Ottomans rounded up all the remaining male citizens. Up to 800 men were told to convert to Islam or be slain. A tailor named Antonio Primaldi is said to have proclaimed "Now it is time for us to fight to save our souls for the Lord. And since he died on the cross for us, it is fitting that we should die for him." To which the captives with him gave a loud cheer. After refusing to convert, they all were led to the Hill of Minerva on August 14 (later renamed the Hill of Martyrs) were they were executed one-by-one. Primaldi was said to have been the first to be beheaded. The Martyrs of Otranto were collectively canonized as Saints on May 12, 2013. Their remains are displayed in the three glass reliquaries in the Otranto Cathedral and in the church of Santa Caterina a Formiello in Naples.

On July 28, 1480, an Ottoman fleet arrived at Otranto and after a 15-day siege, fell to the Muslims. A total of 12,000 were killed and 5,000 enslaved. 800 men were told to convert to Islam or be slain. After refusing to convert, they all were led to the Hill of Minerva to be beheaded one-by-one. The Martyrs of Otranto remains are displayed in the three glass reliquaries in the Otranto Cathedral and in the church of Santa Caterina a Formiello in Naples.

What is unconditionality when it comes to a Crusade?

It consists in having clearly in mind that the Crusade had a supreme end because it aimed at the liberation of all those [Catholics] languishing under the domination of Mohammedan infidels, disturbed in their practice of the true Faith, marrying Muslims and being perverted to a false faith, forbidden to have a Catholic formation and the Catholic spirit. Catholic worship was reduced to such shameful conditions that one does not even know what to say. Above all, the Crusade was aimed at liberating the Holy Sepulcher of Our Lord Jesus Christ occupied by Mohammedans.

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So, putting an end to the infidel’s domination, breaking it apart and crushing it to bits was a supreme goal of kings and peoples of that time.  If this is so, and it is a supreme goal, then one needs to take this to its last consequences, sacrificing everything to fulfill this design. This is unconditionality.

Photo of a dungeon at Seringapatam in India by Kiran Jonnalagadda. Those Catholics who refused to embrace Islam were imprisoned in such dungeons. The imprisonment, torture and murders of 60,000 Mangalorean Catholics at Seringapatam began on February 24, 1784 and ended on May 4, 1799, with their liberation by the British. Tippu Sultan, the Muslim ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, had 21 priests arrested with orders of expulsion to Goa, fined Rs 200,000, and threatened death by hanging if they ever returned. All of the Churches were raised to the ground.

Photo of a dungeon at Seringapatam in India by Kiran Jonnalagadda. Those Catholics who refused to embrace Islam were imprisoned in such dungeons. The imprisonment, torture and murders of 60,000 Mangalorean Catholics at Seringapatam began on February 24, 1784 and ended on May 4, 1799, with their liberation by the British. Tippu Sultan, the Muslim ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, had 21 priests arrested with orders of expulsion to Goa, fined Rs 200,000, and threatened death by hanging if they ever returned. All of the Churches were raised to the ground.

One must overcome whatever difficulty, by any means, and make the Crusade triumph. Therefore, sacrificing advantages and privileges inherent to self-love is absolutely fundamental for the Crusade to win.

Ground Zero Mosque Protest on August 22, 2010. Photo by David Shankbone.

Ground Zero Mosque Protest on August 22, 2010. Photo by David Shankbone.

This applies point by point to the struggle of the Counter-Revolution to crush the Revolution. It is a Crusade! A Crusade that has not been waged at the tip of a spear but is just as well-deserving as the Crusades of old, and even more so….

On October 2010 Muslim terrorists murdered 58 Iraqi Catholics while they were attending evening Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baghdad. “Enough! Enough!” shouted this three-year old toddler as he chased one of the Islamic terrorists gunning down the faithful and in response, the Mujahidin turned his gun on the valiant boy and riddled him with bullets.

On October 2010 Muslim terrorists murdered 58 Iraqi Catholics while they were attending evening Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baghdad. “Enough! Enough!” shouted this three-year old toddler as he chased one of the Islamic terrorists gunning down the faithful and in response, the Mujahidin turned his gun on the valiant boy and riddled him with bullets.

This is my law, my sword, and my cross! I will obey. I will obey in such a way that not only our Crusade will never lose ground but it will not lose even a minute on my account. I will go to the very end. And if I die before it reaches the end, I will die thinking of its victory.

Asia Bibi's daughter, Eisham Asiq, with Ignacio Arsuaga, president of HazteOir.org at the Vatican. Aasiya Noreen, also known as Asia Bibi, is a Catholic would has been imprisoned on false charges. Photo by Olivier LPB.

Asia Bibi’s daughter, Eisham Asiq, with Ignacio Arsuaga, president of HazteOir.org at the Vatican. Aasiya Noreen, also known as Asia Bibi, is a Catholic would has been falsely imprisoned and charged with death by hanging. Photo by Olivier LPB.

Therefore, this unconditionality presupposes a very well established hierarchy of values and a great firmness to maintain it. That which is supreme deserves everything; and because of it we will sacrifice everything!

(Excerpt from an Almoço, Wednesday, Mar. 7, 1990 – Nobility.org translation)

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