Tea at Trianon: Praying for Our Enemies

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Monday, June 23, 2008

Praying for Our Enemies

Fr. Mark has a beautiful post, worth pondering. We are not merely recommended to forgive our enemies, we are commanded to do so. Father says:

There is a mysterious power in praying for those who have hurt us, in interceding wholeheartedly
— for those who have spoken ill of us,
— for those who have damaged our reputations,
— for those who have incited others to think less of us,
— for those who have hurt us emotionally, physically, or spiritually,
— for those who have been abusive toward us,
— for those who have cursed us,
— for those have broken our hearts, betrayed us, or rejected us.

Our Lord commands us to pray for them, not only for their sakes, but also for our own. Our own spiritual liberation, our own inner healing from resentment, hatred, and lingering bitterness is contingent upon our persevering obedience to the commandments of Christ in the Gospel.

Alexandra said...: Yes, this is so important. Thanks for posting this.; June 23, 2008 at 12:18:00 PM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: You are welcome.; June 23, 2008 at 12:37:00 PM EDT
EC Gefroh said...: Glad you posted this Elena. BTW, just wanted to let you know my mom and I spend the afternoon on your website (she was intrigued about what you wrote about Marie A. and then watching the Bookmark segments on YouTube. I haven't ordered Trianon yet but I have to one of these days... soon.; June 23, 2008 at 1:35:00 PM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: Thank you, Esther! Glad to hear it! And please give my regards to your mother!; June 23, 2008 at 1:49:00 PM EDT