Theos-Talk Archives (June 2005 Message tt00259)

Hallo all,


My views are:

In the recent days I have been meditating a bit upon the article
written by Blavatsky named "Animated Statues" (The Theosophist - 1886)
http://theosophy.org/tlodocs/hpb/AnimatedStatues.htm
(It seems there was a phamplet made of this article and another one in 1914 - at TS ADYAR. But which person ordered it published?)

In it she refers to the "St. Bartholomew Massacre".
I have been studying the so-called online records for a while...
Frrom my point of view Its content somehow parallels the recent circumstances surrounding the so-called 
"heretic" book The Da Vinci Code.


1. Blavatsky on St. Bartholomew Massacre

- - - Blavatsky also refers to the "St. Bartholomew Massacre" in ISIS Unveiled, vol. 2, p. 55 - - - 

"IN that famous work of Bodin, on sorcery,* a frightful story is told about Catherine of Medicis. The author was a learned publicist, who, during twenty years of his life, collected authentic documents from the archives of nearly every important city of France, to make up a complete work on sorcery, magic, and the power of various "demons." To use an expression of Eliphas Levi, his book offers a most remarkable collection of "bloody and hideous facts; acts of revolting superstition, arrests, and executions of stupid ferocity." "Burn every body!" the Inquisition seemed to say -- God will easily sort out His own! Poor fools, hysterical women, and idiots were roasted alive, without mercy, for the crime of "magic." But, "at the same time, how many great culprits escaped this unjust and sanguinary justice! This is what Bodin makes us fully appreciate." 

Catherine, the pious Christian -- who has so well deserved in the eyes of the Church of Christ for the atrocious and never-to-be-forgotten massacre of St. Bartholomew -- the Queen Catherine, kept in her service an apostate Jacobin priest. Well versed in the "black art," so fully patronized by the Medici family, he had won the gratitude and protection of his pious mistress, by his unparalleled skill in killing people at a distance, by torturing with various incantations their wax simulacra. The process has been described over and over again, and we scarcely need repeat it. 

[[Footnote(s)]] ------------------------------------------------- 
* "La Demonomanie, ou traite des Sorciers." Paris, 1587. 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Vol. 2, Page]] 56 ISIS UNVEILED.
Charles was lying sick of an incurable disease. The queen-mother, had everything to lose in case of his death, resorted to necromancy, consulted the oracle of the "bleeding head." This infernal operation required the decapitation of a child who must be possessed of great beauty and purity. He had been prepared in secret for his first communion, by the chaplain of the palace, who was apprised of the plot, and at midnight of the appointed day, in the chamber of the sick man, and in presence only of Catherine and a few of her confederates, the "devil's mass" was celebrated. Let us give the rest of the story as we find it in one of Levi's works: "At this mass, celebrated before the image of the demon, having under his feet a reversed cross, the sorcerer consecrated two wafers, one black and one white. The white was given to the child, whom they brought clothed as for baptism, and who was murdered upon the very steps of the altar, immediately after his communion. His head, separated from the trunk by a single blow, was placed, all palpitating, upon the great black wafer which covered the bottom of the paten, then placed upon a table where some mysterious lamps were burning. The exorcism then began, and the demon was charged to pronounce an oracle, and reply by the mouth of this head to a secret question that the king dared not speak aloud, and that had been confided to no one. Then a feeble voice, a strange voice, which had nothing of human character about it, made itself audible in this poor little martyr's head." The sorcery availed nothing; the king died, and -- Catherine remained the faithful daughter of Rome! 

How strange, that des Mousseaux, who makes such free use of Bodin's materials to construct his formidable indictment against Spiritualists and other sorcerers, should have overlooked this interesting episode! 

It is a well-attested fact that Pope Sylvester II. was publicly accused by Cardinal Benno with being a sorcerer and an enchanter. The brazen "oracular head" made by his Holiness was of the same kind as the one fabricated by Albertus Magnus. The latter was smashed to pieces by Thomas Aquinas, not because it was the work of or inhabited by a "demon," but because the spook who was fixed inside, by mesmeric power, talked incessantly, and his verbiage prevented the eloquent saint from working out his mathematical problems. These heads and other talking statues, trophies of the magical skill of monks and bishops, were fac-similes of the "animated" gods of the ancient temples. The accusation against the Pope was proved at the time. It was also demonstrated that he was constantly attended by "demons" or spirits. In the preceding chapter we have mentioned Benedict IX., John XX., and the VIth and VIIth Gregory, who were all known as magicians. "
( http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/isis/iu2-02.htm )


2. The Vatican on St. Bartholomew Massacre
This is how the Vatican - today with its new german Pope - explains St. Bartholomew Massacre by washing its hands.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13333b.htm

The present day mocking of the Protestants and the continous celebration of the Massacre at the Vatican
The Catholic Church view upon on Pope Gregory XIII who requested a certain Medal to rejoice the event of the massacre.

"Some historians have severely criticized Gregory XIII for ordering that the horrible massacre of the Huguenots on St. Bartholomew's Day in 1572 be celebrated in Rome by a "Te Deum" and other marks of rejoicing. In defence of Gregory XIII it must be stated that he had nothing whatever to do with the massacre itself, and that he as well as Salviati, his nuncio in Paris, were kept in ignorance concerning the intended slaughter. The pope indeed participated in the Roman festivities, but he was probably not acquainted with the circumstances of the Parisian horrors and, like other European rulers, had been informed that the Huguenots had been detected in a conspiracy to kill the king and the whole royal family, and had been thus punished for their treacherous designs. But even if Gregory XIII was aware of all the circumstances of the massacre (which has never been proven), it must be borne in mind that he did not rejoice at the bloodshed, but at the suppression of a political and religious rebellion. That Gregory XIII did not approve of the massacre, but detested the cruel act and shed tears when he was apprised of it, is expressly stated even by the apostate Gregario Leti in his "Vita di Sisto V" (Cologne, 1706), I, 431-4, anad by Beautome, a contemporary of Gregory XIII, in his "Vie de M. l'Amiral de Chastillon" (Complete works, The Hague, 1740, VIII, 196). The medal which Gregory XIII had struck in memory of the event bears his effigy on the obverse, which ion the reverse under the legend Vgonotiorum Strages (overthrow of the Huguenots) stands an angel with cross and drawn sword, killing the Huguenots."
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07001b.htm - also -
http://www.geocities.com/hugenoteblad/hist-hug.htm
(I think we all know how it is the be "taught" by a Jesuit.)

A few years later a very wellknown Cardinal named Richelieu entered the scene.
It was just after 1610 - when Henry IV (Henry Navarre) was murdred.
Hugenots were literally chased out of the country and for years they were hunted.
And then the French Revolution came.
Sure there were "many" fast arraivals at what we theosophists Devachan in these days.

The Vatican seems to have a happy view upon the historical event because it still has the medal
to memorize the event hanging in its quarters.
"As many as 3,000 Protestants in Paris were slaughtered by the Catholic Queen Catherine De Medici in 1572. Known as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, the event was celebrated by Catherine's uncle, Pope Gregory XIII, with this bronze papal medal."
http://www.journalofantiques.com/Jan04/coinsjan04.htm

Pope Gregory XIII was the man behind the now known and used Gregorian Calendar.
Here in the below link is a close up of the above mentioned medal.
However it is stated that,
"To his credit, while in Paris to celebrate the 12th World Youth Day on Saturday, August 23rd, 1997, the eve of the anniversary of the massacre, Pope John Paul II made a brief apology for the acts of French Catholics 425 years before, by admitting that "Christians did things which the Gospel condemns."
http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/dragon.htm 
(And that seems to include Popes !)


3. The historical view on St. Bartholomew Massacre
The St. Bartholomew Massacre - as recorded by statesman and historian, De Thou (1553-1617), 
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1572stbarts.html


4. - - - The Swiss soldiers at the Vatican - - -
A question is being asked:
Was it the last time a pope celebrated the use the sword ?

- - - The Swiss soldiers at the Vatican - - -
Some early historical bacground about the Swiss Guard at the Vatican.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/
Some photos
http://www.catholic.net/catholic_db/imagenes_db/us_catholic_news/122902andre.jpg
http://www.deskpicture.com/DPs/Military/SwissGuard.jpg


5.
So the Catholic Pope compared with the World Teacher - Krishnamurti makes one consider
whether The Theosophical Society will ever again consider having a new World Teacher - or what some would call a Pope ?
Maybe all we need is, that LCC together with TS Adyar will restructure who is the "leading Bishop" and how he is elected?
Here is some interesting photos from their latest official - meeting in 2004. The topic "Silly hats" was appearntly high on the agenda.
Charles Finn seemed to be the leading "Pope" called the "Presiding Bishop of the Liberal Catholic Church International".
http://www.liberalcatholic.org/Synod2004/pictures/default.asp
(And remember, that this is what the TS Adyar shrine on LCC is all about.)

Juicy stuff...isn't it ?
:-)


from
M. Sufilight


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