In Commemoration Of The Knights Templar

Today is the Commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Knights Templar, those Gnostics who were credited as heretics by the Church in the early 14th Century, arrested, tortured, and executed. It was on Friday, October 13th 1307 that King Philip IV of France ordered their arrest, and this could be the origin of the "Friday the 13th" superstition (supposedly, for example, the last Grand Master of the Templars, Jacques de Molay, who was burned at the stake on accusations of heresy, cursed King Philip and Pope Celement V to join him in death within a year. Clement died within a month and Philip after 7 months), which is particularly relevant for us today, given the 13th falls on a Friday for us. I offer the following prayer in their memory:

Lord, may we remember those who have suffered unjustly at the hands of tyranny and oppression, those who have been wrongly accused by false workers of justice, and those who have been peresecuted because of jealousy, bigotry, cruelty, and the vanity of those who cannot allow another way.

Lord, may we lower our heads in the memory of these people who have gone before us in dark times when the admission of belief could result in death. May we learn from history's mistakes and vow to work against such persecution, which continues still in different guises. May we pray for those who endure this now, remembering the plight and struggle of the innocent in the face of torture and torment.

Lord, may we never become complacement in our ways that we ignore such persecution. Work and walk with us, that we may overcome such darkness as we grasp ever closer to You and Your Eternal Light.