#in another‚ all humanity to be judged; spare is by your mercy‚ lord

[rigels-nigels]

I think Lacrimosa is something that could be so knives core

[fusrodie]

@ anon who submitted this absolute banger

Hi! I don't know if you answer anonymous submissions, but I've read your take on Ethan Winters and I understand where you're coming from. During my first playthrough, I did wonder, had the Lords been able to get captured alive, would they be able to ask for the respect of their human rights, as human-based and very cognitively-aware bioweapons? Before them, bioweapons in the franchise were very intellectually limited, but they've clearly retained their human awareness. They could have showed up at the doors of TerraSave (the humanitarian organization Claire Redfield works for, that was originally created to give people hurt by bioterrorism a voice to speak through and help people recover from bioterrorist attacks and wars) and they would have been obligated to grant them sanctuary, since they indeed are victims too. The only issue with that is simply that.. the Lords themselves (with the exception of Heisenberg?) don't even fully realize that they were victims of bioterrorism and unethical human experimentation too. So they might not even know that they could technically have benefitted from governmental help and protection had they surrendered. Back to Ethan, though, he does consider human-based bioweapons worthy of help, dignity and respect of their rights. He says so himself in the last scene of RE7 "Mia and I weren't the only victims here. So were the Bakers. It was that.. thing, Eveline, who made them that way." By the end of RE7, he's completely forgiven the Bakers for what they did to Mia, to him and to countless others, under Eveline's mind control. The only one he kinda blames here is Eveline herself, who's never been human in the first place anyway, but even then, I think he was more angry at the people who created Eveline than anything else. Blame the handler not the weapon, she was just doing what she was created for.  Surely he could have forgiven the Lords for what they did to Rose under Miranda's control too, had he met their former human selves in the collective consciousness of the Megamycete, where he spoke to the still-intact human mind of Jack Baker. But as it is, he couldn't know that the Lords were once innocent human lives transformed into abominations too, to him they were just murderous assholes who chopped his infant daughter into pieces and laughed in his face about it, after terrorizing and slaughtering villagers for decades. Basically, the only thing he lacks to feel any kind of compassion for the Lords in RE8 is perspective. In RE7, he survived, so he was able to reflect on what happened and realize that the Bakers were as much unfortunate collateral victims as he and Mia were (they were innocent casualties even more so than Mia, actually, but that's another subject..). In RE8, Ethan will never have this realization about the Lords because he never truly learned what happened to them before he died as well. Eventually, I don't know if it would have been very responsible of Chris and Ethan to let such dangerous beings alive, anyway. The Lords were always going to be threats to society. Dimitrescu needed human flesh and blood to survive, making her totally impossible to rehabilitate as a regular civilian no matter how well she would behave, her survival literally biologically depends on the deaths of human beings. The other Lords were also extremely psychologically damaged, yet powerful, they were less incompatible with a civic life than Dimitrescu was, but they still would've been huge liabilities. I, for one, wouldn't risk the safety of innocent civilians just to spare a family of insane, unpredictable and dangerous criminals. Mother Miranda had already proven herself impossible to contain, the BSAA would have had to come up with special cages and means of transportation SCP Foundation-style for the Lords. And all that, without being certain that they could ever cure them, which would result in decades, or an eternity, in captivity. Not ideal either, tbh.. And in all honesty, I think putting an end to their suffering was almost an act of mercy, like killing someone that's been

bitten by a zombie and is going to turn. Or killing already-turned zombies, even. Like what happened to Elena's father, Leonardo, at the beginning of the game. The humans they all once were would have probably wanted Ethan to put an end to Miranda's madness even if that meant killing them too. Or, at least, I don't think they would have really blamed him, they were suffering, and weren't really themselves anymore. That's how I'd feel if I was experimented upon, turned into a monster and lost my sanity and humanity in the process, that is. Like, guys, I don't want to live that way, the most humane thing you can do to preserve my dignity is to just put me down. Destroy the bitch who did that to me and I'll be able to rest in peace knowing she won't hurt anyone else and you avenged me, that's all I want. And I think that's more or less what the Lords would have told Ethan if he had been able to talk to them through the Megamycete.

That's why I totally get your point, that the Lords and Lycans were humans at some point and, as such, that they deserved to be judged, imprisoned and helped instead of being slaughtered like cattle, but in the meantime I don't really blame Chris and Ethan for deciding that they were too dangerous to other people around them to be kept alive and free, as well as too damaged by the experiments to be cured, and that putting them down was the wisest thing to do. 

I haven't played through RE7 yet because I'm kinda chicken and its first five minutes were way scarier than the entire of Village for me, but let me just say that I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said.

like seriously, the whole thing. that is precisely my point, actually. I understand how everything came to a head, I don't know if, all things considered, there could have been a different outcome. the narrative was really well constructed. the crux of the issue for me is that Ethan did lose his humanity in the process, regardless of whether he was justified or not, and in the end he aligned himself with them all by commiting the same crimes they did. that's really all there is to it for me.

praise lord Capcom for adding this sort of nuance into the game, it definitely didn't go unnoticed. splendid piece of fiction. characters? on point. but fuck Ethan Winters as a person because I, as a player and "reader", am not about to give him a free pass for the shit he's done. two wrongs don't make a right, at least not from a moral standpoint for me.

(and fuck Chris Redfield too)

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Devotional Hours Within the Bible

by J.R. Miller

Looking One's Soul in the Face

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." - Psalm 139:23-24

It takes courage to pray this prayer, "Search me, O God, and know my heart!" Not all men can do it. Many people fear to look into their own heart. If by some divine revealing, we were made to see ourselves as we are - all the evil that is in us, our face would blanch into deathly paleness. It takes courage to ask God to search one's inner life - and show one one's sins.

It takes honesty, too, to pray this prayer. The poet meant that every wrong thing found in his heart, under the clear light of God's Spirit, he would cast out. Some people do not want to find their own sins - because they do not want to give them up. They do not wish to discover their secret faults, because they love them and desire to keep them. We cannot pray this prayer - if we are not ready and willing and eager to have Christ save us from whatever evil way, whatever sinful habit, feeling, disposition, or temper - we may discover in ourselves. It takes honesty, therefore, and sincerity, to pray God to search us.

The writer asks God to search him. He does not say he will search himself. An ancient maxim was, "Know yourself." But no man can really know himself, in the depths of his being - unless God holds the lamp to shine in the darkness. God is light. Christ is the world's only light. None but God can truly search us - and show us to ourselves. The poet invites divine searching .

Neither does he ask his neighbors to search his ways and thoughts. Men are willing enough, ofttimes, to judge their fellow men, to find and expose their faults, to proclaim their sins. It is easier to confess other people's sins - than one's own. The Pharisee was quite free in searching the publican and declaring his wrongdoings, though he saw no faults and sins in himself! The poet might have found men who would be willing to search him and try him and point out his blemishes and his wicked ways. But this, he did not ask. Men's judgments are imperfect. Sometimes they are uncharitable, even unjust. There are lives that go down under men's condemnation, whom love would have saved. At the best, men are only ignorant or partial judges. They cannot see our motives - and ofttimes they condemn as evil - that which is noble and beautiful, and approved as right and praiseworthy, that which before God is unworthy and sinful. It is not enough for us to ask men to search us and try us, to say to a friend, "Tell me of my faults and blemishes, that I may put them away."

Dr. Stalker tells the story of a young composer whose work was being performed in a great music hall. A throng was listening and applauding. But the young man seemed to be indifferent to all these tokens of approval. All the while his eye was fixed on one man who sat at the center of the hall. This was his old master, and the musician cared more for his opinion - than for that of the thousands of other listeners; and was thrilled more by his faintest look or gesture of approval, than by all the thunderous cheers of the throng.

It matters very little to us what men may say - either in praise or in blame - of our conduct, or our deeds. But there is One who sits at the center of all things, who is perfect in wisdom, love, and righteousness, and whose judgments are unerring. We should want always to know what He thinks of our acts, words, dispositions, and thoughts. Though all the world applauds what we do, if on His face there is no pleasure, if we see there the shadow of disapprobation, what a mockery is men's applause! On the other hand, if the world sneers, condemns, and blames; if men have for us only scorn, reproach, and persecution; and if, meanwhile, turning our eyes toward the heavenly throne, we see in the divine face - the smile of pleasure and approval, what need we care for either the favors or the frowns of men? It is to God we should turn - for the searching of our lives. No other judgment will avail.

It is better and safer always, to fall into the hands of God, than into the hands of men. God is kindlier and juster than men. Nobody understands you - as God does. Nobody knows your infirmities and has such patience with them - as God has. He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust. He understands our weakness. He knows human life - this blessed Lord of ours - by actual human experience. He knows all the elements that enter into human struggle, and, therefore, is fitted for sympathy. We never need be afraid to open our heart to Him, for He will never be unjust with us. We never need be afraid to ask Him to search us, for if we truly want to give up our sins when we discover them - we shall find Him most merciful and gracious.

It will be worth our while to think seriously of the things in us - that only God can see. There are sins which are hidden from ourselves, of which our conscience is not aware - our unwitting, unknown errors - the evil in us which lies too deep to be discovered. There is a SELF in us, which even we ourselves do not see. There are depths of our being, into which our own eyes cannot pierce. Even our own knowledge of ourselves, is not final. You may say that you know of no sins, errors, or faults in yourself, and you may be sincere; still this is not evidence that you are sinless.

In one of his epistles Paul says, "I know nothing against myself." He was not living in the practice of any sin, so far as he knew. He did no wrong thing willingly and knowingly. He cherished no secret sin. Every fault he discovered, he put away. He knew nothing against himself. But he added, "Yet am I not hereby justified; but he who judges me is the Lord." The bar of conscience in our own breast, is not the final court. It is not enough to have the approval of our own heart. There are errors and evils in the holiest life on earth - which only God's eye can detect. We must ask God to search us, if we would be made absolutely clean. God knows all our past. We do not. There is much that we have forgotten. The memory of many of our deeds has faded out. But God has forgotten nothing. Our forgetting our sins - does not blot them out. The evil things we do not remember, are there yet.

We cannot see our own faults - even as our neighbors can see them. There is wisdom in the wish that we might see ourselves, as others see us - for it would free us from many a blunder and foolish notion. We are prejudiced in our own favor. We are disposed to be charitable toward our own shortcomings. We make all sorts of allowances for our own faults. We are wonderfully patient with our own weaknesses. We are blind to our own blemishes. We look at our own good qualities through magnifying glasses; and at our faults and errors with lenses reversed - making them appear very small. We see only the best of ourselves. If you were to meet yourself on the street some morning - that is, the person God sees you to be - you would probably not recognize yourself!

We remember the little story that the prophet Nathan told King David, about a rich man's injustice toward a poor man, and how David's anger flamed up. "This man must die!" cried the king. He did not recognize himself - in the man he so despised, until Nathan quietly said, "You are the man!"

We are all too much like David.

If the true chronicle of your life were written in a book, in the form of a story, and you were to read the chapters over - you probably would not identify the story as your own! We do not know our real self. We do not imagine there is so much about us that is morally ugly and foul, that is positively wicked. But God searches the innermost things of our life!

God sees into the future and knows where the subtle tendencies of our life are leading us. We do many things which to our own eyes, appear innocent and harmless - but which have in them a hidden evil tendency which some day will come to ripeness. We indulge ourselves in many things which may not appear sinful - but which leave on our soul a touch of blight, a soiling of purity. We permit ourselves to grow into a hundred little habits, in which we see no danger - but which meanwhile are weaving their fine gossamer threads into a net for our souls, or twisting their invisible filaments into a rope which some day will bind us hand and foot! We spare ourselves little self-denials, thinking there is no reason why we should make them, not aware that we are neglecting God-given duties, and refusing to take up crosses laid at our feet by the Master, thus failing in complete faithfulness. We form friendships which become very dear to us - but which insidiously harm us, weakening our life's purpose or drawing us away from God.

The peril in all these things, lies not so much in the mere acts or indulgences of the hour - as in the things to which they will lead. We have no eyes to see the hidden danger in these "no harms" in our life - but God detects the peril, and sees what the end will be.

A popular writer tells the story of a dream which a man had. He had left his English home and was in India. He had done many things which would have pained his mother's heart, if she had known of them. One night he dreamed that he saw a drunken man enter his room. As the moonlight fell on the man's face, making every feature visible, a terror more terrible than mortal had ever known before seized upon the dreamer. He saw that the face was his own - but marked and scarred with the furrows of disease and much evil-doing - white, drawn, and grown old. It was a glimpse of what he was coming to, if he did not quickly change his wrong course.

There is another kind of hidden faults. There are things in many of us, no doubt, which we regard among our strong points, certainly fair and commendable traits or qualities - which in God's eye are sore blemishes! Good and evil in certain qualities, lie not far apart. It is easy for devotion to principle - a good thing; to take the form of obstinacy - a very unlovely thing. It is not hard for zeal for orthodoxy, to pass into intolerance and bigotry. Self-respect, consciousness of ability, easily degenerate into prideful self-conceit. Gentleness readily becomes weakness .

A man may be giving his life, in the larger sense, to the work of Christ, doing great things for the church - while in his own home, with those nearest to him, he is living like a beast! We see this kind of fault cropping out in our neighbor's character and life, and we say, "What a pity so fine a character is so marred!" Yes, and our neighbor looks at us, and says, "What a pity that with so many excellences, he has these blemishes and faults!" Sin is deceitful.

The substance of all this is, that besides the evil which others see in us, and which we see in ourselves; all of us have undiscovered errors and faults - which only God can see!

We ought never to shrink from learning our faults. He is a coward who does. Moreover, he is making a fearful mistake, who blinds himself to the faults in his own heart and life. He is refusing to see a danger which by and by, may work his ruin! Every true man should be glad always to learn of any hidden fault he has.

Ruskin says, "Count yourself richer - that day you discover a new fault in yourself; not richer because it is there - but richer because it is no longer a hidden fault! And if you have not found all your faults, pray to have them revealed to you, even if the revelation must come in a way that hurts your pride!"

Secret, undiscovered faults - are more perilous than discovered faults. Open sins are enemies in the field, undisguised, recognized as enemies. Hidden faults are enemies concealed, traitors in our camp, passing for friends! No godly, true, and brave man will permit a discovered sin or fault - to stay in his life. He will fight it to the death. But his undiscovered sin or fault, lurks and nests in his heart while he knows it not, and breeds its evil in his very soul! Before he is aware of its presence - it may eat out the very heart of his life - and poison the springs of his being!

A fire broke out in a large storage building in the morning - but it had been smouldering all night, and, undiscovered, eating its way among the bales, so that when discovered the whole interior was a mass of fire, and there was only the shell of the building left. Just so, hidden faults destroy lives, and none but God knows the destruction that is going on - until the fatal ruin is wrought. We ought to pray God continually, to search us, and save us from undiscovered sins .

Hidden faults in us - will hinder our spiritual growth. They also make us unfit for God's work. When Canova, the sculptor, was about to begin his statue of Napoleon, his keen eye saw a tiny reddish tinge in the upper part of the splendid block of marble out of which he was to hew the statue. The stone had been brought at great expense from Paris. Common eyes saw no flaw in the stone - but the sculptor saw it, and the stone was rejected.

May it not be so ofttimes, with lives which face great opportunities? God's eye detects in them some undiscovered flaw, or fault, some tiny tinge of marring color. God desires truth in the inward parts. The life must be pure and white throughout. He who cherishes a secret sin - is balking God's purpose in himself. God cannot use him for the noble task or service. Because of the secret sin - he is rejected.

Are we ready to make the prayer for divine searching ? Are we willing to have God search us - and find every secret, hidden sin in us? Are we willing for Him to go down into our heart, among our thoughts and affections and desires, and find and reveal to us every way of wickedness He discovers? Then are we willing to give up, tear out, and cast away forever from us, everything that God finds that is not holy?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way!"

[jarienn972]

La Sirena - Chapter Eight

Captain Swan Supernatural Summer

We’re nearing the completion of this @cssns​ tale, and despite the challenges this story has posed, I’m a little bit sad that it is nearly finished. 

This chapter has a lot of action as we pick up right where we left off with Regina’s nefarious plan to “test” Killian’s worthiness. Our poor lieutenant has no idea what the devious siren has in mind and it isn’t going to be pleasant.

Thank you, @kmomof4​ for all of your beta assistance, especially with your suggestions for this chapter! And thanks again to @courtorderedcake​ for her beautiful artwork!

Catch up from the beginning on AO3 or FF.net  Tumblr chapters:  One  Two  Three  Four  Five  Six  Seven 

“Retribution”

No amount of naval training could have prepared him for this, Killian thought as he inexplicably found himself standing barefoot on the shore. One moment he'd been crouching inside the cavern awaiting Emma's return and the next, he was facing down the tempestuous ocean, thoroughly exposed. His knuckles had gone white clutching desperately to the cutlass, but as he stared out at the sea, he knew in his heart that the weapon was no match for this unnatural battle.

Above the whitecaps in the distance, he could just make out the crest of Emma's head and that of another person with darker hair coiffed beneath some sort of massive, glistening crown. Was this the mysterious sister that Emma had spoken of? He couldn't make out anything they were saying over the roar of waves crashing against the rock. But it was the dichotomy of their expressions that sent a shiver down his spine. He didn't even dare hypothesize the meaning behind the look of abject horror that spread across Emma's delicate features.

Shivers washed over him and his gut filled with apprehension when his gaze was drawn to movement on the horizon. Could this be signalling the arrival of the siren council that had Emma so concerned? The surface of the water seemed to rise, bubbling and foaming in the most unearthly manner. It was like nothing he had ever seen in all his years at sea and in a mere moment, he was about to wish it could be unseen.

As a mariner, he'd often heard tales of encounters with the legendary kraken and he'd shrugged them off as nothing but fantasy. Perhaps he'd been too quick to judge legend from truth, he found himself thinking as he marveled at the sheer size of the tentacle that emerged from the depths. It was simply beyond belief. From his experience with squid and octopi snared in fishing nets, Killian suspected that this creature would have to be supernaturally large, and that thought was confirmed as it reared its humongous head above the bay.

Even if he hadn't been practically paralyzed with shock and trepidation, he never would have had a chance to outrun the beast's speed or reach as another of its incredibly strong tentacles snatched him off of the beach. The slimy appendage constricted around his upper body, lifting him into the air and pinning his arms to his sides as it threatened to crush him.

First pirates, then sirens, and now he was eye to eye with a bloody kraken… All of them apparently competing to see who would kill him first…

Grimacing in pain, he struggled against its grasp and cried out to Emma for help. He may have been at the mercy of these mythical beings, but his own survival instincts remained fully intact. He wiggled his right arm free enough to draw the cutlass from its sheath. He didn't exactly have full range to properly wield his weapon, but he managed to secure an angle that allowed him to thrust the blade into one of the circular suckers on the underside of the tentacle encircling him. The monster howled and retaliated by lashing Killian into the waves, stunning the sailor as it increased the pressure on his body and dislodging the sword. The blade dropped into the ocean below while a barely conscious Killian could both feel and hear his ribs cracking under the assault.

Emma could only watch in a panic as the kraken scooped Killian off the shore with its tentacles wound tightly around him. She tried in vain to repel the monstrosity with her magic, but her barrage of light energy blasts had little to no effect on the creature.

"Your magic isn't strong enough to deter a kraken," an amused Regina insisted.

"Call it off, Regina!" Emma shouted angrily as the monster's tentacle squeezed ever tighter around Killian's very mortal body. She could hardly bear to see the agony expressed by his features. "This isn't the way! The beast is going to kill him!"

"He was on borrowed time already, sister," Regina reminded her sternly. "But if this pitiful human is as worthy as you claim he is, he certainly should be capable of defeating a kraken - shouldn't he?" She chuckled giddily as Emma's gaze focused on her weak little human, completely aghast by the impending carnage.

"I do not know what you and lord Triton conspired upon, but this is a repulsive abuse of power!" Emma admonished her sister while whipping around in the water to confront the rest of the council when they surfaced to take in the spectacle. "Why can none of you understand that he survived because he did not hear the song? Are you all complicit in this? Serving him up as hapless prey to a kraken is hardly the task our kind was given! Do you think this is what the great Poseidon intended? We were created to sing and only to sing! Any further judgement belongs to the gods, not to the sirens!"

There were a few nods and murmurs from the council but despite Emma's fervent pleas, none of the members seemed to be willing to challenge Regina.

"Cowards…," Emma hissed as she returned her attention to her sister. "I don't know what power you wield over the council, Regina, but I believe that even they know this is wrong. If you want to challenge him, do it with your voice, not with Triton's oversized toy…"

"But this way is so much more fun," Regina smirked and that was what finally pushed Emma over the edge. With a flip of her muscular tail, Emma lunged at Regina, shoving her tentacled sibling beneath the surface and yanking the coral and shell studded crown from atop Regina's head. "Why you insolent little bitch!" Regina cried out as Emma flung the headdress aside. "You've always been a poor excuse for a siren and now you're proving that by all of this fervor to save your human pet!"

Regina flicked two of her tentacles toward Emma who defensively batted them away with her arms and tail fin. The skirmish sent many members of the council scrambling to get out of the way.

"Why are you doing this?" Emma demanded with a brisk swish of her tail that lifted her out of Regina's reach for the moment. "This has never been our way… Please - call off that kraken!"

"You have been away too long. You've gone soft," Regina scolded. "You're practically fawning over a human. How deranged can you possibly be? Have you forgotten what it is to be a siren or are those powers wasted on you?"

"The only deranged one here is you! I know I did the right thing no matter what you believe. Maybe I did go soft but if his life was spared from the siren call, he deserves to live…" Emma couldn't stop her voice from cracking as she continued to plead for Killian's survival. How had this man managed to affect her so greatly in such a short amount of time? Why did she care so much? Compassion wasn't an emotion that sirens were supposed to have…

"No human is worthy to pass through this realm. That was the edict of Poseidon himself," Regina sneered, raising her right arm above the water's surface as she prepared to unleash her magic on the helpless human who'd gone limp in the kraken's grip.

"PERHAPS I SHOULD BE THE JUDGE OF THAT," a booming voice sounded above the bay, silencing all, including the roaring sea beast.

A glistening trident with tines that blazed as brilliantly as lightning bolts broke through the waves. Emma immediately bowed her head even before the god's visage appeared and her action was followed by the siren council members who'd remained. Even Regina demurely lowered her head at the sight of Poseidon's face, but no amount of posturing would spare her from his ire. With a scant raise of his trident, the seas instantly grew calm and the kraken, still clinging to its human prey, was now frozen in time.

"Enough distractions," Poseidon said as his attention fell to the combative sirens. "The creatures living in this bay alerted me to all of this… whatever this is. What in the name of Olympus is going on here?"

"Mighty Poseidon," Regina began as she slowly lifted her chin to gaze upon the god of the sea. Her eyes darted back to the sea at the sight of his deep-set scowl. "We were just trying to complete some unfinished business, but there has been some disagreement over doing what needs to be done."

Poseidon shook his head in disdain as he glowered at the brunette siren. "This is a disagreement?" he queried as he nonchalantly pushed his glimmering three pointed crown back into position atop his pure white hair, echoing Regina's earlier behavior. "I think this is a ruckus and I would like to know how a council of sirens got themselves into such a bizarre situation. I don't recall krakens being a part of the siren song."

Regina's cheeks burned with embarrassment and anger. How dare Emma and her human put her in this position? "My apologies. Had Erimetha not abandoned our code and rescued a human, we wouldn't be here. The kraken was merely a suggestion from your brother, Triton, as a means to expedite the process."

"Was it now?" Poseidon quipped sarcastically before his scrutiny passed to Emma who, to this point, had remained reverent, silently treading water as she awaited the inevitable wrath of the god. "I'll need to have a stern conversation with my brother about his suggestion, but Erimetha - pardon me, I forgot that you prefer to be called Emma - is what Regina says true? Did you rescue a human from a doomed ship?"

Emma managed a weak smile over the fact that Poseidon had remembered her preferred name and even corrected himself. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't being viewed as the villain here.

"Regina's words are partially true. The man had already survived the siren song. He never heard them sing. All I did was prevent him from rolling off of his makeshift raft," Emma replied as she dared raise her head to face Poseidon.

"What possessed you to do such a thing?" Poseidon asked with a raised brow, intently listening for her response.

Emma had to pause for a moment, trying to best form her words, but the best she could come up with was: "My instincts told me I should."

"I see…" The god of the seas scratched idly at his beard as he contemplated Emma's answer - one that Regina clearly didn't believe to be good enough.

"She admits she helped the human," Regina rehashed her opinion, crossing her arms over her chest indignantly as she awaited the god's agreement.

Giving no audience to Regina, Poseidon continued his interrogation of Emma as only the outcast siren's first-hand account was going to answer the questions he wanted answered.

"You claim the human did not perish during the siren encounter because he didn't hear their song. What led you to that conclusion, Emma?"

"As he was recovering from his injuries sustained at the hand of the pirates who had abducted him and during his escape from the sinking ship, we conversed a few times. He believed the ship's crew had abandoned their vessel after striking the rocks and left him behind. It wasn't until after Regina came to my cove the first time in search of a survivor that he learned the truth about the siren attack, but he didn't recall hearing any music before the ship began to go down. It was my belief that he might possibly have been deaf to the song so I tested the theory by singing to him and he never heard me. He never fell victim to the trance. Does that not make him worthy to live?"

Poseidon pursed his lips and rubbed his whiskered chin as he pondered his next query but grew irritated by Regina's refusal to be silent when she interrupted his thoughts.

"This doesn't prove anything," Regina interjected, only to be immediately shushed by the god.

"Regina - my questions are for Emma at this time. It would be in your best interest to remain quiet until I address you," he warned sternly. "When I have a question for you, I shall ask. Do you understand?"

An embarrassed Regina nodded and gave a sheepish "Yes, your majesty." before floating further back from him.

"Emma, what do you know of the history of the sirens?" Poseidon inquired.

She was caught off-guard by the unusual question, but she did her best to surmise the history she knew. "Centuries ago, the gods lived in peace with humans, but a time came when the humans no longer showed reverence to the gods. As the human realm grew in size and they began to traverse the globe, you and Triton established this part of the mighty oceans as your sacred realm. We sirens were created to guard entrance into the realm as our song was supposed to determine whether a human was worthy to pass.

"Over many generations, only one human proved to be worthy - although the precise means of how his worth was determined remain unclear. Anyway, this human gained your favor and in time, was granted permission to marry your daughter, Ursula. Their civilization then flourished for many years, until the same insolence led to the destruction of that advanced civilization.

"Humans were once again regarded as evil, and while there are many tales of your descendants being spared, no one but you, your majesty, knows the veracity of that. All I know for certain is that even long before I isolated myself away from the sirens, no human ever traversed this realm successfully. All of them perished - until Killian came along. I do not know what criteria you intended us to use to judge men such as him, but he isn't evil. If he was able to make it off of that ship alive, does that not mean he was worthy of passage?"

Poseidon raised a brow at the thoroughness of her reply. He'd known for quite some time that Emma was unique amongst her kind, but he'd not expected to find such an underlying passion for life within a being who'd been created to kill.

"You are very much correct, Emma," he said at last, leaving a disgruntled Regina aghast.

"But Lord Poseidon, she defied the siren code by interfering!" Regina insisted and she was met with a harsh rebuttal.

"Regina, my instruction was for you to remain silent until you were addressed, but you seem to have difficulty following such a simple directive," he admonished the unruly siren. "You and the council are dismissed!" Lifting his trident, he aimed it at the frozen kraken, divesting it of its human prey. In a flash, an unconscious Killian Jones was removed from the creature's grasp to reappear safely upon the sandy shore. He waved off the layer of imposing clouds that shrouded the skies, allowing the sunlight to bathe the cove once again. The kraken reared to life as Poseidon's spell wore off, but the god quickly neutered its wrath. "And since you summoned it, you can return that blasted beast to my brother on your way home to your end of the island! Once I have completed cleaning up the mess you have made here, you will stand before me to answer for this abuse of your powers! Even with the most convincing apology, you may find yourself relieved of those powers."

Regina's lips parted to complain but wisely, not a single whimper escaped as she turned away from the intensity of his glare. Glancing around the bay, she could see that not a single council member had stayed behind to see her humiliation, so perhaps she could count that as a single victory. It was still her belief that she'd done no wrong, but for now, it was far better to lick her wounds and depart than further provoke the wrath of a god who had just publicly castigated her in front of her rival.

Visibly shaken, Regina gave one last little flutter of her wrist to vanquish the kraken, scowling eyes locked on Emma the entire time. Despite her fallen crown being forgotten and abandoned to the sea floor, she held her chin up audaciously before slipping beneath the waves with the knowledge that this may have been her last act as a siren.

[twstarchives]

Admissions Videos Transcripts

● Video Source: https://admission.twisted-wonderland.aniplex.co.jp/ ● Info: These videos first debuted at an in-person event at Shibuya Modi on October 26 & 27, 2019. Attendees were given an invitation card (pictured above) and instructed to place it in a “fire” where it then turned into a card with a keyhole. There were designated screens at this event which appeared blank to onlookers, but if you looked through the keyhole you received, you’d be able to see one of the dorm leaders greeting you. These videos were later posted on the official website on December 25.

                            ・━━━━✥◈✥━━━━・

Dire Crowley

Please allow me to welcome you today to the mage-training school Night Raven College’s admissions experience. I am the school’s headmaster, Dire Crowley. Now, please place that invitation you are holding in the light.

Are you ready? If we were to host a proper entrance ceremony, the Mirror of Darkness would select a house that perfectly matches your soul. Today, however, is a special admissions experience. I will use my own magic to choose a house for you. What do you think? Aren’t I so kind?

Another thing, today is a bit different than an official sorting. Regardless of which house is chosen for you, please refrain from any complaining. Now then, shall we begin?

One! Two! Three!

A keyhole linked to the gates of Night Raven College has opened in what used to be your invitation. Now, don’t be afraid; take your invitation back from the light. Hold the keyhole up to your eye, and take a peek out from the gates. I wonder where your soul will be guided?

Riddle Rosehearts

My name is Riddle Rosehearts. I’m the dorm leader ruling over Heartslabyul, which was founded on the severity of the Queen of Hearts.

You’re the new student, right? Since you’ve joined Heartslabyul, you must obey the laws of the Queen of Hearts just like a card soldier. First, start with a greeting.

…No. Speak more nicely. Don’t twiddle your fingers. Turn out your toes, and curtsy! Open your mouth a little wider!

Very good. You have quite a bit of promise in you. I don’t hate a person who obeys the rules. I have faith you’ll be able to follow all 810 of them.

But I’ll tell you just in case: If you ever were to break one of this dormitory’s rules…You already know, don’t you? It’ll be off with your head. Keep that in mind.

Leona Kingscholar

Are you the new kid?

What? Why do you look so excited?

Yes, well, forgive me for not leaping for joy. I’m Leona Kingscholar. The dorm leader for the house founded in the indomitable spirit of the King of Beasts, Savanaclaw.

We have only one rule here that’s absolute: Obey the king. It’s something even an herbivore like you can understand. Not too much to ask for, right?

You want to know what happens if you break that rule? Oh, no, no, let’s not think about things you don’t need to. I’m worried something horrible will end up happening to our adorable little newbie.

There are tons of aggressive guys in Savanaclaw. You wouldn’t want to end up in a mess with a pack of starving hyenas, right? If you want to see the light of another day, then curl up your tail and do as you’re told.

Azul Ashengrotto

Hello. So you are the new student everyone’s been talking about. Allow me to welcome you to Octavinelle, the dorm founded on the mercy of the Sea Witch. I work as its dorm leader, Azul Ashengrotto.

You are really quite fortunate. Since you’ve become an Octavinelle student, you’ll be able to spend your school life without feeling miserable, lonely, or depressed!

Why, you ask? Should anything happen that leaves you troubled, I will immediately come to help you. Yes, feel free to ask me anything at all. As dorm leader, I’m only doing what’s expected of me. I am very kind to those who are obedient.

Of course… In the case that you are unable to pay the price… I would have to punish you. Even I would feel just anguished if I had to hear your screams. You wouldn’t do anything to make me sad… would you?

Kalim Al-Asim

Oh?! You’re here! I’m Kalim Al-Asim. I’m the dorm leader for Scarabia, the house founded in the tactical spirit of the Sorcerer of the Sand. I’ve been looking for you. ‘Cause we can’t start the party unless everyone’s here! Today’s gonna be so much fun!

Golden camels, purple peacocks, white Persian monkeys, birds that warble on key… and a whole bunch of other animals; we’ve brought them all! And also… a magic carpet!

We’ll watch the parade, dance and sing, and have the best time of our lives!! Ah! Obviously, I had a whole lot of food prepared too! Hehe! The food our vice leader makes is the absolute best!!

He… told me this isn’t the time to throw a party, but… don’t you think there should be a little fun in this, too?

RIGHT?! I have a really good feeling about you coming to our dorm! Don’t even worry. I am an excellent judge of character.

Vil Schoenheit

This is Pomefiore, the house founded on the heavy efforts of the Beautiful Queen. We’re the fairest dormitory at this academy, as well as the most historic. I’m the dorm leader, Vil Schoenheit.

Are you our new student? Hm~? Well, let’s see if you’re eligible for now. Although… This still isn’t good enough.

Do you think the color of that top really suits you? Do your hair and skin always look perfect? Do you keep your nails nicely polished? Right now, I spare no effort in making sure that I am the most beautiful. And since you’re a student here too, I’ll make sure you’re working to improve your own self too.

Pomefiore has no room for lazy people. If you ever try to go behind my back and even think about slacking off… You’ll experience something that will make your breath still and your blood congeal. Please prepare yourself.

Idia Shroud

I-I’m Idia… Idia Shroud. Hello. I-I’m the dorm leader for Ignihyde, the house founded on the… diligence of the… Lord of the Dead. Anyway…

Y-You… really are unlucky to have been chosen for this dorm. Welcome to a school life that’s nothing but dark and gloomy; I’m so sorry for you—it really almost feels like you’ve been abandoned by the Goddess of Fate herself, doesn’t it!

T-There’s a lot more accurate information you can find on the internet about our dorm than you can get from me; you can look those things up yourself.

…Do you still need something? You really are persistent. Unlike you new students, I have a really busy schedule.

If you want to get by peacefully at this academy, my advice to you would be to not stand out. The people here are nothing but bad news.

Malleus Draconia

Oh? There’s quite a clamor over here.

What? An admission experience? Hm? That’s what all these festivities are? In that case, are you one of the humans who were invited here?

Then I will introduce myself to you, who is nothing more than a baby. I am Malleus Draconia. The dorm leader of the house founded in the noble spirit of the Fairy of Thorns, Diasomnia. And… I’m a descendant of the king who reigns over all dwellers of the night.

What’s the matter? Don’t look so frightened. I’m not going to suddenly transform into a giant dragon and set you on fire or anything like that.

I would love to chat with you a little while longer, but I’m afraid we must part for today. I was not invited to this glittering assemblage, you see.

I apologize for barging in uninvited. …Tell that to the Headmaster for me.

Of course I’m not angry. I’m not.

There are several Disney easter eggs hidden in these dialogues. I reworded some of them to better match the version spoken in the English versions of the movies.

Below I gathered the official lines for both the EN and JP dubs if you’d like to compare! If text from the JP dub was different enough to point out, I translated that in italics.

Alice in Wonderland

The Queen of Hearts’ dialogue:

Look up, speak nicely, and don’t twiddle your fingers! Turn out your toes. Curtsy. Open your mouth a little wider. もっと丁寧に。指を動かしてはいけないよ！左足を引いて、敬礼！口をもっとおおーきく開いて、こういうんだよ。

The Lion King

Scar’s dialogues:

Yes, well, forgive me for not leaping for joy. そうか、飛び上がって喜べなくて悪いな。

You wouldn’t want to end up in another mess like you did with the hyenas. この間のようにハイエナに襲われたら大変だろう。

You shall never see the light of another day. お前は二度と、太陽を拝めぬ身の上。

The Little Mermaid

All of these cameos are lyrics from the song Poor Unfortunate Souls.

The miserable, lonely, and depressed 憂鬱で悩める人

On the whole, I’ve been a saint いい子には優しい (I’m kind to good children)

Someone couldn’t pay the price and I’m afraid I had to rake ‘em cross the coals お代もらえず、お仕置きするの　泣きながら

Aladdin

All of the animals Kalim lists were also mentioned in the song Prince Ali.

Additionally, one of Kalim’s lines reflects a dialogue spoken by the Sultan:

I am an excellent judge of character. わしの人を見る目は確かじゃ。

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The Evil Queen’s dialogue:

Her breath will still, her blood congeal. 息は止まって、血も凍りつく。

Hercules

“A little dark, a little gloomy” is how Hades sardonically describes the Underworld.

“The Goddess of Fate” refers to the Fates, who are called the “Three Goddesses of Fate” in JP

Sleeping Beauty

“Glittering assemblage” is the phrase Maleficent uses to describe Aurora’s birthday celebration

[jackoshadows]

One of the reasons for why I love Jon Snow in the books is because I find him to be the character who adheres closest to values I find admirable. IMO, Character traits like being broad-minded, intelligent and loyal tend to be more attractive in a character rather than than say good looks or good manners. Jon is selfless and honorable - to a certain extent. He can be pragmatic and bend the rules if necessary.

Jon Snow stands out as the only leader/main character in the series whose central narrative theme is about unifying people against a common threat. This is underscored by GRRM sending him off to the wall at the start of the books and Jeor Mormont telling Jon Snow:

When dead men coming hunting in the night, do you think it matters who sits on the Iron Throne -  Jon Snow, AGoT

With this in mind, we see Jon continually grow as a character from book one to book five gradually killing the boy to let the man be born.

When we first see him at the wall, he’s a bit of a privileged brat and offended by the other recruits. But after Donal Nye sets him straight, he uses his education and knowledge to help the other kids in the NW. Jon grew up otherizing the Wildlings and saw them as people to be kept on the other side of the wall. He then spends a lot of time with them and comes to see them as  human beings same as him and the rest of Westeros.  He wants his childhood desire of being Lord of Winterfell, but understands that he swore an oath to the NW and his job is to defend the realm.

There are two quotes that embody Jon Snow best in the books:

‘You know nothing, Jon Snow’ – First used by Ygritte to educate Jon Snow on his ignorance about Wildlings and then later used by Lord Commander Jon Snow to remind himself that he still has a lot to learn even as a leader of men. A take on Socrates ‘I know that I know nothing’ – a humble acknowledgment that even the best leaders are not experts but human beings who can mistakes.

‘We look up at the same stars and see such different things’  - Jon is able to understand that two people can see the same thing and have such different opinions and that their opinions are colored by their upbringing and situation. As someone who has to unite people against a common threat, this is an important understanding that Jon has earned – this could be why he is a damn good negotiator in the books, earning praise from even Stannis. 

Jon is able to acknowledge these important little lessons because he is at heart a fundamentally good person. We see this in how he treats characters who are disadvantaged and mistreated by Westeros society.  These are not big moments but small character relationships that highlight how Jon Snow often stands out in thinking differently to a majority of Westeros.

Jon Snow as a child comforting Arya when she comes crying to him about being a possible bastard because of her looks. Imagine how much this would have hurt? But he loves Arya enough to put aside his own hurt feelings to reassure her.

Once he gets to know Tyrion personally and differentiates him from the rest of the Lannisters, Jon is quickly able to see past appearances and Westerosi prejudices and considers Tyrion a friend:

He ran back to the common hall , where he found Tyrion Lannister just finishing his meal. He grabbed the little man under the arms, hoisted him up in the air, and spun him around in a circle. “Bran is going to live!” he whooped. - Jon, AGoT

Asks Tyrion to comfort and help Bran in whatever way possible. This is in contrast to Robb’s immediate dislike and distrust of Tyrion. Jon judges a person based on their actions.

“Thank you, my lord of Lannister.” He pulled off his glove and offered his bare hand. “Friend.”

Tyrion found himself oddly touched. “Most of my kin are bastards,” he said with a wry smile, “but you’re the first I’ve had to friend.” - Tyrion, AGoT

Realizes how Sam Tarly is ill equipped to fight, figures out what Sam is best suited to do, talks to Maester Aemon about it and arranges for Sam to work for the Maester instead.

Appoints Satin Flowers, a former male prostitute from OldTown as his steward despite opposition from his bigoted department heads. And he does this, because once again, he judges based on a person’s actions and skills, rather than on the labels society places on them

“My Lord, the boy’s a whore...a...dare I say... a painted catamite from the brothels of Old Town”

“What he was in Oldtown is none of our concern. He’s quick to learn and very clever. The other recruits started out despising him, but he won them over and made friends of them all. He’s fearless in a fight and can even read and write after a fashion. He should be capable of fetching me my meals and saddling my horse, don’t you think?”

“Most like,” said Bowen Marsh, stony-faced, “but the men do not like it. Traditionally the lord commander’s squires are lads of good birth being groomed for command. Does my lord believe the men of the Night’s Watch would ever follow a whore into battle?”

Jon’s temper flashed. “They have followed worse. The Old Bear left a few cautionary notes about certain of the men, for his successor. We have a cook at the Shadow Tower who was fond of raping septas. He burned a seven-pointed star into his flesh for every one he claimed. His left arm is stars from wrist to elbow, and stars mark his calves as well. At Eastwatch we have a man who set his father’s house afire and barred the door. His entire family burned to death, all nine. Whatever Satin may have done in Oldtown, he is our brother now, and he will be my squire.”

Jon appoints Leathers of the Freefolk as his Master-at-arms once again, against objections from the likes of Cellador and Bowen

Bowen: Is it true that you mean to replace Emmett with this savage Leathers as our master-at-arms? That is an office most oft reserved for knights, or rangers at the least.

Jon: Leathers is savage. I can attest to that. I've tried him in the practice yard. He's as dangerous with a stone axe as most knights are with castle-forged steel. I grant you, he is not as patient as I'd like, and some of the boys are terrified of him ... but that's not all for the bad. One day they'll find themselves in a real fight, and a certain familiarity with terror will serve them well

The Freefolk women: Jon sees them as capable and equal in all ways to the men. He sends Val off all alone to find Tormund. He garrisons Long Barrow fully with Spearwives, entrusting them to defend that castle and the wall.

And we find that Jon is hungry for knowledge, and in his spare time he learns the Old Tongue from Leathers so that he can communicate with the giant Wun-Wun. He is always reading the books Maester Aemon left him, conducting science experiments on wights and even thinks of building a green house on the Gift to grow food. Once again, Jon acknowledges the importance of learning that he picked up from characters like Aemon, Sam and Tyrion.

I have a realistic grasp of my own strengths and weaknesses. My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind.. and a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” Tyrion tapped the leather cover of the book. “That’s why I read so much, Jon Snow.”  - Tyrion, AGoT

There’s a reason for why Jon’s so good at what he does. Look at the people from whom he learns – Ned Stark, Tyrion Lannister, Jeor Mormont, Donal Noye, Qhorin Half-hand, Maester Aemon, Samwell Tarly, Mance Raydar, Stannis Baratheon etc. Every one of these men gives him a tidbit of information that he ends up using in the books.

Jon is very astute and has a deep understanding of the way the North and people in general work:

"The free folk despise kneelers," he had warned Stannis. "Let them keep their pride, and they will love you better." Soon or late, however, Tormund Giantsbane would assault the Wall again, and when that hour came Jon wondered whose side Stannis's new-made subjects would choose. You can give them land and mercy, but the free folk choose their own kings. - Jon, ADwD

Early on he advises Stannis to go with the Umbers instead of the Karstarks. Later we see his advice hold true as the Karstarks betray Stannis while Mors Crowfood allies with him. He also advises Stannis to approach Manderly – a decision that once again works out right. He explains to Stannis in clear detail how to approach the mountain clans for help

 “And they will fight for me, you believe?”

“If you ask them.”

“Why should I beg for what is owed me?”

“Ask, I said, not beg.” Jon pulled back his hand. “It is no good sending messages. Your Grace will need to go to them yourself. Eat their bread and salt, drink their ale, listen to their pipers, praise the beauty of their daughters and the courage of their sons, and you’ll have their swords. The clans have not seen a king since Torrhen Stark bent his knee. Your coming does them honor. Command them to fight for you, and they will look at one another and say, ‘Who is this man? He is no king of mine.’ ”

In a way, it makes sense that Jon tries to see the humanity of people, tries to teach them, weeds out talent and designates based on merit and skillset – he works with the lowest of the lowest. He’s the military head of a group of outlaws, murderers, rapists, bigots, smallfolk with no education or access to education. He has to be able to see beyond labels to get this ragtag bunch ready to face an apocalyptic threat.

Contrast this Jon Snow to Jaime Lannister in AFfC who hangs some outlaws in the Riverlands and then proudly calls himself ‘Goldenhand the Just’ for meting out ‘justice’, failing to even acknowledge that those hungry outlaws were created by his war – a war that started because of his incestuous adultery.

To conclude, Jon Snow ending an 8000 year old feud between the north and the freefolk, bringing them over to this side of the wall, including them in the realms of men, making real alliances between old Northern houses and the freefolk epitomizes what Jon Snow stands for as a character in the books.

There’s a reason for why GRRM describes Jon Snow thus:

Jon Snow is the truest character--I like his sense of realism and the way he copes with his bastardy.

[adapembroke]

Reading Tarot Like The Empress

There is a story told about the poet Rainer Maria Rilke. Finding himself in a state that we would now call writers block, he got a job as a secretary to a sculptor he admired, Rodin. (You might know Rodin but not know you do. He is most famous for the sculpture called “The Thinker,” the guy sitting with his head in his hand like he’s nursing a headache.) Rilke was young when he went to work for Rodin, but not completely inexperienced. He had a couple of books of poems under his belt already. He had even developed a style and a method. Like the High Priestess, his process was an introverted one. He looked within. Inspiration came from his inner life and memories, and he waited around the shore of his unconscious for inspiration to strike. When he went to work for Rodin, this process was failing him. He didn’t want to sit around and wait for the muse anymore. He just wanted to get to work. Rodin had a reputation for being a craftsman, for setting his mind to a project and making it without theatrics, and Rilke wanted to learn how to do that. He hoped that by spending time around the artist, he would learn Rodin’s secret and become a craftsman of words. 

One day, Rodin asked how Rilke’s poetry was going. Rilke told him about his troubles, and Rodin gave him this advice: Go to the zoo. Choose an animal, and look at it until you really see it. It might take weeks, he said, but Rilke should be patient. 

Rilke went. He chose the panther and sat in front of its cage until he was inspired to write the poem “The Panther.” When I read that poem, I see this: That man is bored. He is so tired of looking at this big cat walking back and forth in front of iron bars, he can’t stand it anymore. There is nothing else in the world but this cat and this cage. He can’t move until he really sees this thing, whatever that means. The only thing he knows is that it isn’t happening. Every once in awhile, he thinks he has a flash of inspiration, but then it vanishes, and he’s not sure of anything anymore. 

I imagine Rilke walking away from the Panther’s cage clutching the notebook that will hold the collection that he will eventually call New Poems. The notebook is ragged from his constant handling it of but the pages are blank, all except for one, and that page contains only a single short poem about a panther. 

At least, after all of that, I got a poem, he must have been thinking. 

Turning Toward The World

In Rilke’s path through the Fool’s Journey, “The Panther” is the turning point between the High Priestess and the Empress. The High Priestess looks within. Just like your eyes need a moment to adjust when you have been staring at a book for hours and then look out the window, this poem is the process of Rilke changing the focus of his vision from his inner world to the outer world. 

In “The Panther,” he doesn’t quite escape the inner world. It’s hard to tell if the poem is about the poet or the panther. 

But then something extraordinary happens. 

He conducts the experiment again. This time, he looks at an ancient, headless sculpture of Apollo and writes “Archaic Torso of Apollo.” The poem begins with the same structure, a description of the sculpture, a poetic version of the type of work visual artists do when they are rolling around an idea and make a lot of sketches just looking at what they want to draw. Instead of focusing on what he sees, though, he cheats a little and focuses on what you can’t see, beginning his poem with, “We cannot know his legendary head.” 

Then he has an epiphany: 

From all the borders of itself,

burst like a star: for there is no place 

that does not see you. You must change your life. 

His epiphany is the shock of recognition. The panther had eyes but saw nothing. The statue, despite the fact that it has no head, sees him, and in that moment Rilke’s eyes are opened, and he sees. 

What was that moment of recognition like? What burst like a star? He doesn’t say, and if you’re feeling in a particular mood you might make guesses in a certain direction. But. I’m going to take what he said about “stars” and go a bit further with it.

The process by which stars burn is called fusion. When stars burn, a practically infinite number of chemical reactions happen in which two atoms join—fuse—together and become a third thing. 

“The Panther” is, really, about Rilke. The panther is the object onto which he projects his inner world. It’s a great poem as a poem, but he’s trying to break out of that High Priestess mode, and he’s just not getting it yet. It’s still all about him. The panther is a metaphor for himself. In “Archaic Torso of Apollo,” it starts being about his gaze, and then his gaze and the statue’s gaze meet, and those deeper eyes, the ones that refused so frustratingly to open in “The Panther,” open wide in shock at the spectacle of seeing something that is not Rilke himself. In “Archaic Torso of Apollo,” he stops considering the statue as an object to play his own heart strings on and encounters it as an Other, what the philosopher Martin Buber called a “Thou.” The object of Rilke’s poem is not longer an “it,” an object to use or experience. The statue is a being with whom he can have a relationship of dialog. Rilke’s seeing talks to the statue’s seeing, and they (or Rilke, at least) find a mutual understanding. This Other sees him, and Rilke sees this Other, and, in really seeing, Rilke falls in love, and fusion happens. The resulting work is a love poem to a ruined work of art, a third thing that comes from these two seeing each other. 

The Empress Of The Senses

If you read Tarot books, you’ll be told that the Empress is about the senses. The focus here immediately goes to pleasure. You are often told to savor sensual experiences. That’s great. Sometimes when the Empress comes up in a reading, all you really need is a bath with lots of sparkly things in it. 

But there is a tradition in many cultures of seeing empresses as divine. If the Empress was a goddess, what would that mean? What if you really held the senses to be sacred?  

The senses are by their very nature an encounter with the Other. You see seagulls. You taste the bitterness of your tea. You smell the heady, spicy, slightly trippy smell of frankincense. You hear the wind blow. You feel your lover’s hand on your leg, palm up, waiting for you to take their hand in yours. These encounters, if you are vulnerable and open yourself up to them, are sacred, encounters with the Holy Other. It is through these encounters that we experience the Holy Thou.

Empathy is a high-flying abstract word that has somehow managed in certain communities to become a burden and a point of pride. A similar, maybe better, term is ”resonance.“ Resonance happens when a thing that happens to one thing also happens to another thing. Andrea Gibson captures it beautifully in her poem, “Say Yes.”

When two violins are placed in a room

if a chord on one violin is struck

the other violin will sound the note. 

Resonance an essential element in divinatory readings. We’ve talked about how to read like the Fool, how to open yourself up to enchantment while working with the Magician, and how to tap into your own intuition in the High Priestess. The wisdom of the Empress in readings is the wisdom of relationship. There’s a huge Venus glyph in a heart on the RWS card as if Pamela Coleman Smith wanted to shake us and say, “It’s about love, people!”

When I do a reading for someone, I lay out the cards or pull up the birth chart. When I first look, the symbols are just “its” to me. They’re tools for me to use to work my craft. I stare at them for awhile. I make connections. I build associations. I connect what I’m seeing with what my intuition is saying. When I’m doing a past life reading, I’m reading the birth chart specifically with the goal of figuring out what a person’s mistakes have been. I take my little candle and set out into the darkness of the human heart, but when I really sit with a chart when I’m doing a past life reading, there never fails to be a moment when I snap into Empress mode. The experience is just like how Rilke describes it. It’s like a star suddenly bursts into life. An image comes to me—usually literally when I’m doing past life readings—and I see the person I’m reading for as a person. It’s no longer about the Hermit or the Star or Judgement. It’s about a very lonely person who wants so badly to shine but is afraid of being judged. I encounter them as a “Thou.”

The Peacemaker Queen

We discussed the High Priestess as participating in the Dark Goddess archetype. The Empress is the other divine feminine archetype in the major arcana. She is the Mother Goddess, an archetype she shares with Demeter, Gaia, and the Virgin Mary.

The archetypes of the RWS are deeply rooted in the roles of Medieval Europe. In Medieval Europe, the queen had two roles. The first was to make babies for the king. The second was to be an angel of mercy. It was the special right and responsibility of the queen to show compassion. A medieval king couldn’t be merciful, even if he wanted to. It would have made him look weak, and he would have been swarmed by his lords and assassinated as soon as they could get their weapons together. The queen had to carry all of the mercy for the two of them. She could appeal to the king publicly to spare condemned criminals. She could ask him to make peace in a time of war. He could listen to her without ruining his reputation and opening himself up to attack.

Much has been made of the sexism in this role, so I won’t dwell on it here. Instead, I will point out that this role is descended from a sacred office. The right to come between two armies and stop a war was one that belonged to the ancient Druids. They had to spend twenty years studying to earn that right—which says something, I think, about how much the Celts loved war. Much of that study was in learning to divine, and I suspect that in a warrior culture, no small part of that was about learning to find the Thou in the enemy and have the courage to show compassion. I doubt the monarchs of Medieval Europe remembered this old Druid role consciously when the queens took on this role—or I doubt the queens would have been allowed to take on that kind of power—but it is there in the cultural memory, the leader whose power comes from their ability to find that which is worth saving in the heart of the criminal, warlord, and traitor.

To me, this is the heart of the Empress. It’s about looking until you really see, listening until you really hear, touching until you really feel, tasting until you really taste, and smelling until…you get the idea; and through the senses encountering another self, finding what there is to love in the Thou you’re encountering. When you do that, you’re participating in the very force that makes the stars burn.

This post was originally published on Aquarius Moon Journal on 21 March 2020.

[basicsofislam]

ISLAM 101: 5 PILLARS OF ISLAM: ALMS AND CHARITY: FIQH OF ZAKAT IN DETAIL:

HOW IS ZAKAT PAID? (Part2)

IS IT BETTER TO GIVE ZAKAT SECRETLY OR OPENLY?

The comparative virtue of secretly and openly giving zakat or sadaqa differs according to place and time. Although it may be better, on occasions, to give openly, at other times, opting to pay secretly may provide a wiser option. Verses and hadiths elaborating on both these circumstances afford us different clues in relation to this point. For example, “To give alms in public is good, but to give charity to the poor secretly is better for you and will atone for some of your sins,” (Baqara 2:271) “Those who spend their wealth by night and day, in private and public, shall be rewarded by their Lord”(Baqara 2:274). Based on these Qur’anic statements, we ascertain the diverse benefits of secret and open charities depending on time and place. Yet, Muslim scholars have preponderantly advised an open payment of zakat while recommending the secret offering of other charities.

Though an open payment may act as an encouragement to others, a secret payment forestalls the emergence of vices, like pride, arrogance about one’s means, and showing off. A person may be able to steer clear of these vices while performing zakat, which is, after all, an imperative obligation which is supposed to be performed with the intention of purifying the wealth; however, as for sadaqa, a voluntary activity, falling prey to these vices may come more easily. It is for this reason while enumerating the seven groups of people to be shaded under the shade of the Throne, on a horrendous Day where no other shade exists, the Messenger of God also includes, “those whose left sides are oblivious to what their right sides have given (as charity).”7

Therefore, it is essential to give voluntary sadaqa or charities secretly, and for this reason, it is said that a supererogatory sadaqa given in secret is 70 times more virtuous and valuable than that which is given openly. The Noble Messenger articulated the following: “Goodness never exhausts, sins are not forgotten, and God never dies; so do as you wish.”8 Indeed God is Alive and Eternal, a Watcher and Guard over all things perpetrated. As verified by this additional declaration: “We have shown him the right path, whether he be grateful or ungrateful” (Insan 76:3). In other words, human may either nurture a profound gratitude towards the Being Who has, through innumerable ways, made him aware of His transcendent existence, or ungratefully, throw into dissipation all his privileges, including himself, by shamefully choosing the path of disgraceful rebellion.

Note that giving explicitly may involve a degree of disdain on behalf of the benefactor as s/he acquires personal insight to the needs, condition, and circumstances of the beneficiary. In addition, a hadith such as, “The hand which gives is better than the hand which receives,” might spuriously justify disdain in souls lacking full insight into the Message. But clearly, disdaining and abasing a Muslim has indubitably been decreed forbidden.

A further difficulty arises if the recipient is not known to be poor by the public—someone who has kept his/her need quiet, so to speak—in which case giving the sadaqa overtly may incur the ill-thought from both the donor and others that the recipient is accepting the donation without a genuine need. Here, then, is another example of how each act of faith becomes both an opportunity and a trial—for it is not right to indulge in such thoughts about others, and we risk rapidly and completely annulling any potential benefits to ourselves if we fail to check our tendencies to judge or criticize in this way. Thus, in order to fend of Satan’s whispers and the personal embarrassment the poor may experience, the best method remains that of our predecessors—one in which we secretively place the sadaqa in a location which is easily accessible by those in need, and then swiftly leave.

Perhaps we could make an exception for those towering spiritual figures who, by virtue of having already conquered their own egos, are not easily affected by the side-effects which plague the majority, and by whose leadership in the field of charity, many more souls might be drawn into random giving. For these noble individuals, visibility in the act of sadaqa might be appropriate. But this would certainly be an atypical situation—not a recommended practice for the average person.

Putting the Qur’anic balance into the picture, it can be ascertained that, occasionally, it is preferable to opt for an open payment of zakat, however, as mentioned earlier: “To give alms in public is good, but to give charity to the poor secretly is better for you, and will atone for some of your sins. God has knowledge of all that you do” (Baqara 2: 272). There is a balance, in other words. In similar fashion to salat (prayer) and sawm (fasting), the performance of obligatory actions is an instrument of public encouragement, as well as clearing its performer from likely incriminations. The highly potent and symbolic words of the Prophet in reference to those deliberately falling back from congregational salats were as follows: “I have contemplated leaving a deputy to lead, then burst in on those who, without excuse, fall back from salats, and set their houses ablaze.” In addition, the outer manifestation of a life of faith, of an adherence to the practice of Islam, is not a trivial matter, as verified by another hadith “Whoever performs our salat, faces our qibla (the direction turned towards during salat, towards the Sacred Ka‘ba), and eats what we slaughter is a Muslim under the guarantee of God and His Messenger.”9 In effect, the belief of a Muslim is reflected and generally understood by others in terms of the publicly performed obligatory deeds; therefore, there is benefit in offering these openly, to dispel any possible suspicion and spare witnesses from the easy temptation of judging another believer; in addition, public contributions of zakat provide an inspiration to those outside of the faith who might feel invited to submit after witnessing the all- encompassing mercy espoused by the Qur’an.

The actions of Abu Bakr and Ali, may God be pleased with t hem, who had totally comprehended the balance displayed in the Qur’an, are exemplary. The former, having had

dirhams worth of wealth, donated a quarter of it at night, another quarter at day, another quarter in secret and the last quarter in public; thus he actualized all the facets emphasized in the Qur’an. The latter openly donating his 4 dirhams, and then remarked, “O God, let this be an encouragement”; while during a secret donation, he prayed “Only for your sake my Lord.” While giving at night, he prayed again: “May my night be alight;” and during the day, he uttered, “O God illuminate my day.”10 There it is: a display of the Companions’ astounding sensitivity and their profound vitality in bringing Islam to life.

CAN DEFECTIVE PROPERTY BE GIVEN AS ZAKAT ?

The awesome balance set by Islam in all fields is also visible in the fundamentals of offering and collecting zakat. While instructing the collectors to avoid collecting the “best possession,” the benefactors are themselves encouraged to choose to give their best as an invaluable means of reaching the spiritual summit, a fact attested to by the Qur’an: “You will not attain righteousness until you spend of what you love” (Al Imran 3:92). Anas ibn Malik narrates the following in relation: “Of the Ansar (Medinan Muslims),” Abu Talha was one of the richest, and Bayruha—a garden across the Masjid al-Nabawi (the grandmosque at Medina), was his most beloved possession. The Messenger of God, on occasions, used to enter it and drink from its clean water. When the verse, “You will not attain righteousness until you spend of what you love” (Baqara 3:92) was revealed, Abu Talha went to the Prophet and proclaimed the following: “If this is what the Almighty God has decreed in His Book, then from now on Bayruha, my most prized possession, is a charity for God. I anticipate its rewards and benefits from Him alone. O Messenger of God! Do with it as you wish.” The Prophet responded delightfully, “How beautiful! This will bring a multitude of rewards and a copious recompense in the afterlife. I have heard your words on this subject, but if you ask me, divide it between your relatives,” and upon this Abu Talha divided it between his relatives.”11 Indeed, it is evident that in order to become an ideal servant of God, one must donate, for His sake, one’s most cherished items. Those who aspire to Paradise undoubtedly will present, with paramount pleasure, their best crops and produce.

In a hadith conveyed by Abu Hurayra, the Messenger of God reveals, “Whoever donates an amount equivalent to a handful of dates out of his pure earnings—and certainly God accepts only that is pure—God will take it and, just how one of you rears his foal, he will raise it to the size of a mountain.”12

Through another hadith, again transmitted by Abu Hurayra, the Prophet earnestly announced, “O humankind! God is Pure and He only accepts what is pure. God has also commanded the believers what He has commanded the Prophets, namely “O Messengers! Eat of the pure things and act with righteousness” (Mu’minun 23:51); and for the believers, “O you who believe! Eat of the good and clean things which We have provided for you, and be grateful to God, if it is He whom you worship” (Baqara 2:172).

In tandem, a person must put himself in the shoes of the recipient, and thus avoid giving substandard or defective items. The Qur’an elaborates the following caution in relation to this very fact:“…and seek not the bad (with intent) to spend of it (in charity)” (Baqara 2:267). In other words, one must be absolutely alert in preventing any illicitness, such as this has been forbidden by God, from coalescing with one’s donations—either accidentally or by virtue of neglect on our part.

Consequently, all manner of “filth” must be kept well at bay from honest and pure earnings, and the charity should be presented from the purest portion—the portion which the benefactor himself would gladly accept in the reverse scenario, were he to find himself the recipient instead. In practical terms, this means ensuring that gains are not secured through means which are, themselves, illicit; and to make certain that the offering meets the highest trade standard, in terms of both the quality of the goods and their real value.

During the blissful era of the Prophet, people used to leave bunches of dates at the Masjid al-Nabawi for the poor to eat. One day, after having seen a few defective bunches, the Prophet (upon whom be peace) pointed with his stick and said, “If the owner of this charity wished, he would have donated a finer bunch. Its owner will, in turn, be reciprocated with a similarly defective return in the afterlife.”13

WHEN IS THE MOST VIRTUOUS TIME FOR OFFERING ZAKAT ?

After having reached its nisab, a property on which a year has elapsed becomes subject to zakat. Yet, the generally prevalent practice is to offer it during the month of Ramadan. Although this remains the overall accepted routine, there are others who maintain that zakat should best be given before its deadline or during the season of harvest. All these views, certainly, are predicated upon various proofs, which can be recapitulated as follows.

PAYMENT DURING RAMADAN

The practice of giving zakat in Ramadan is by and large based on two notions—namely to benefit from the special month’s blessings, and to put a smile on the faces of the poor in preparation for Eid. While it remains essential to perform deeds within their specific time frames and in line with their particular requirements, their performance at sacred times and places, it is hoped, brings even greater rewards. For instance, offering salat at theKa‘ba or Masjid al-Nabawi is considered more valuable in comparison to other places. This isactually implied by the words of the Noble Prophet, who declared that there are only three mosques in the world that, on their own, are worth traveling to—Ka‘ba in Mecca, Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina, and Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.14

As for timing, the blessings of Ramadan are evidently manifest; it is considered the “sultan” of the other eleven months, containing a night superior to a thousand months. Therefore, completing an obligation like zakat within the parameters of Ramadan is believed to be an opportunity to greater rewards, as well as serving its prime role of relieving its benefactor from a compulsory duty in a timely, scheduled manner. Narrated by Anas ibn Malik, the ensu ing hadith alludes to this. The Prophet was asked, “What is the most virtuous fast after the fast of Ramadan?” He responded, “The fast of (the months of) Shaban, in reverence to Ramadan.” He w a s t hen asked: “Which sadaqa is of greater virtue?” And he replied, “Sadaqa given in Ramadan.”15

[ardenttheories]

How about some ummmmmm Undertale classpects? Like Sans, Frisk, Chara, Asriel, etc

I’m only going to do the four you asked here, because these ended up being a tiny bit longer than I would have liked, but here you go!

Asriel is a Bard of Rage. Bards tend to go from a place of ghosting their aspect, to destruction through their aspect, to mellowing out being able to control their whimsical nature. Through his death, and the subsequent experiments which kept his soul in place, his Bardic Split into Flowey clearly gave way to his Rage. With this new-found Rage, he basically causes all parts of the game to take place, and especially when he becomes Omega Flowey, and the Final Form Asriel, what we really see is him attempting to destroy through Rage; using his own Rage as a means to punish the people around him. He’s like early-comic Sober Gamzee, in that sense. It takes you defeating him - him realising that he can’t beat you, you Sparing him, you giving him Hope - to turn him back into normal Asriel, where his Rage is under control once more. It’s also important to note that it’s Rage which caused him to become Flowey in the first place; the Rage of the anti-Monster humans, and his own Rage at Chara’s death. 

Frisk, in turn, I would say is (at least in a Pacifist run) a Heir of Hope. They inherit Hope and naturally surround themselves with it, to such an extent that they change the view of literally every other character around them; even the human-hating Undyne comes to love Frisk and treat them as a friend, and Asgore - the primary antagonist - crumbles under Frisk’s Kindness. No matter what happens, they retain a sense of Positivity and Joviality - which, I think, we see at the end of the game, when we look into the mirror and it says “it’s still you”; that Frisk, after all of that, goes back to where it all started and sees the exact same person they began as. It’s also pretty important to note that they inherit the Hope of just about every Monster in the Underground; they are Asgore’s Hope to break the barrier, they are Toriel’s Hope to save another child, they are Papyrus’ Hope to befriend Undyne, they are Undyne’s Hope to aid Asgore, they are Alyphs’ Hope to win Undyne, and, finally, they are Asriel’s Hope to find himself again. They might even just be Sans’ Hope to end the loop once and for all. 

Sans is definitely some sort of Doom player. I’m having a harder time of really pinning it down because he’s not able to do everything; he knows when the player has SAVE’d, when they’ve repeated the game a subsequent times, can take “shortcuts” that seem like teleportation or little leaps through time, and actively judges the player for their actions via game mechanics - implying that  a lot of what Sans does isn’t Time-based, but Doom-based. And I’ll admit, I was completely going to assign him with a Time Classpect at first, but upon realising that he can’t access the SAVEs himself, that he’s as affected by the Timelines as everyone else, and that he only knows about what you’ve done because of expressions on your face (he even says at one point that he “wasn’t looking”), he definitely suits a Doom Classpect more. I think he might even be a Knight of Doom, thinking about it; though he doesn’t stop the protagonist on their journey through a No-Mercy run, a lot of what he does in-game is an exploitation of the Rules and the Code without breaking them (hence he can “teleport” but can’t access SAVEs), and that final moment where he attacks the player with only 1HP but an ability to dodge attacks really just emphasises the fact (it’s never stated that they can’t move, but Sans is the only one who actively dodges - he’s not breaking the rule, just playing with the wording for his advantage). He also, to a degree, uses the sacrifices of the other Monsters as a reason to take you down, as in Neutral runs he doesn’t battle with you regardless of how high your EXP is. 

Chara is a Lord of some sort. I’m debating back and forth on it being Rage. I get the feeling that Lords need to have some sort of awakening, some transition, in order to get them that step ahead of anyone else; Chara was filled with Rage prior to dying, but it is after death that their SOUL awakens through Frisk’s No-Mercy actions. Once this awakening happens, they control Frisk - using Frisk’s violence and destruction to do even worse acts. Their power is what increases through the STATS each time we level up - it’s not us, but Chara who gains it, and Chara’s Rage which ends up leading to the destruction of the entire world. That’s not our choice; it’s theirs. This extreme Negativity, lack of Choice and Control on Frisk’s part, the all-encompassing Rage that follows them from Life into Death - it’s all Chara. Furthermore, the Blame of the world ending Chara seems to place on Frisk, not on themself, with the specific mention of seeing Frisk as being “above consequences” - which is something that both Rage players in the comic seem to have in common. You can easily say that a sense of Fear permeates Chara’s existence; most Monsters comment on Frisk seeming inhuman, with Sans asking Frisk to “pretend to be human” and Asgore asking Frisk “what kind of Monster” they are in a No-Mercy run. As a Lord of Rage - a Lord of Fear, Disbelief, Negativity, Unreality - Chara’s ability to recreate and destroy the world also makes sense; if the world is filled with Fear and Hate and, in itself, is Unreal, then it’s something Chara has dominion over; and the destruction of it through Fear and Unreality is equally as plausible. 

I would also argue that in a No-Mercy run, Frisk acts as the Maid that serves the Lord. So Frisk would be a Maid of Rage, relying on Chara to lead and guide them, and show them what true Rage is meant to be.

So in the end you have:

Asriel, the Bard of Rage

(Pacifist) Frisk, the Heir of Hope

Sans, the Knight of Doom

Chara, the Lord of Rage

(No-Mercy) Frisk, the Maid of Rage

[itsyourchoicedevotionals]

Darker And Darker

“So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days.  A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation…But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented…” 2Samuel 24:15-16NLT

There’s a story accompanying our text. V1 says: “Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel…” During the time of the Judges of Israel, they had God as their King, He allowed them to do as they pleased. When they strayed deep into sin, He allowed enemy nations to capture them and force them into slavery. During slavery, they always cried out in repentance. God would relent. He always helped them overcome the enemy and lessen their consequences.

Finally they decided, ‘we don’t want God to be our King, let us be like the surrounding nations with a human king.’ David was the second and best king throughout Israel’s history. Even with a godly king leading them, they loved sinning. As their sins grew more depraved, God became angry.

Does this speak of the USA now? Spiritual apathy is reminiscent of Israel during the book of Judges with seeker friendly churches, New Age churches sold out to evil. ‘Grace’ churches are out there— where God condones every evil. Meanwhile evil is growing darker and darker. Some Christians are steeped in sex trafficking, and pedophilia.

Religious groups say, ‘the US has a debt of death which must be paid for.’ Of these, half will say the United States must be as Sodom and Gomorrah. Faith believers say: ‘God will protect us because of the covenant made by our original founder fathers.’

In our Bible story, David was given a choice of punishments by the prophet of God. “…Three years of famine throughout your land, three month of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land?” 2Samuel 24:13NLT

David chose three days of plague: V14 “…let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands…”

Can we choose consequences? The enemies against the USA are multiple. Seeking to set up the rule of satan from within our government— they’re trying to destroy — our constitution; — our freedom to worship Jesus Christ; — our elections and electorate; — our 2nd Amendment rights; — our youth with marxism indoctrination and drugs; — us with division and hatred. There’s open borders with drug cartels and terrorists flowing through. Iran, Russia, North Korea and China are all threatening to destroy us.

Do you know what else we’ve got? —Jesus the Christ’s blood covering our sins —Father God’s love for His children —Covenant promises from God’s Word. —A large remnant of the church-ecclesia praying and repenting.

Another Bible story is found in: Genesis 18:20-33. The Lord told Abraham, He was going to destroy Sodom. Abraham interceded with God for anyone righteous living there. V32NLT: “…The Lord said, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” Abraham had pleaded with God, bringing the total of good men down to less than ten, Lot’s family was spared destruction.

Our nation now has Abrahams standing up, pleading with God for our cities and states. People who are faithful to Him standing in prayer on His promises. Prophets are declaring great and wonderful things to come for those who stand, believing in faith, pleading for God’s mercy and grace.

Where are you? People will be caught in the consequences to come as God allows death to come. Will we be covered in the same mercy that’s on the intercessors? Our personal stances have never been more important. This will take all of your faith. It’s your choice. You choose.

LET’S PRAY: Father God, I beg, in punishment exercise mercy. Cover Your children in the safety of Your secret place. May Jesus be exalted and glorified as Lord over all, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

by Debbie Veilleux Copyright 2022 You have my permission to repost this devotional for others. Please keep my name with this devotional, as author. Thank you.

[z3norear]

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Shameless Popery

Pastoral Advice for the Pandemic from Pope Leo XIII

by Joe Heschmeyer



In 1884, facing major threats to the life and health of the Church and of civil society, Pope Leo XIII wrote Superiore Anno, the second of what would end up being 12 encyclicals that he wrote about the importance of the rosary. He explained in the encyclical. He explained that one of the reasons for the letter was that:

With respect to Italy, it is now most necessary to implore the intercession of the most powerful Virgin through the medium of the Rosary, since a misfortune, and not an imaginary one, is threatening-nay, rather is among us. The Asiatic cholera, having, under God’s will, crossed the boundary within which nature seemed to have confined it, has spread through the crowded shores of a French port, and thence to the neighbouring districts of Italian soil. – To Mary,therefore, we must fly – to her whom rightly and justly the Church entitles the dispenser of saving, aiding, and protecting gifts – that she, graciously hearkening to our prayers, may grant us the help they besought, and drive far from us the unclean plague.

A deadly pandemic was spreading from Asia into Europe, and the pope’s response was to call upon Christians to pray the rosary. And you know what? It worked. Outside of Hamburg, Germany, most of Europe was spared the ravages of the cholera outbreak. What’s more, this cholera outbreak led the physicist Robert Koch to isolate the responsible germ, confirming what’s now known as the “germ theory of disease,” revolutionizing our understanding of disease prevention, and saving untold millions (if not more) of lives.

But Leo recommended the rosary for more than just deliverance from the pandemic:

We have deemed it Our duty to exhort again this year the people of Christendom to persevere in that method and formula of prayer known as the Rosary of Mary, and thereby to merit the powerful patronage of the great Mother of God. In as much as the enemies of Christianity are so stubborn in their aims, its defenders must be equally staunch, especially as the heavenly help and the benefits which are bestowed on us by God are the more usually the fruits of our perseverance. It is good to recall to memory the example of that illustrious widow, Judith – a type of the Blessed Virgin – who curbed the ill-judged impatience of the Jews when they attempted to fix, according to their own judgment, the day appointed by God for the deliverance of His city. The example should also be borne in mind of the Apostles, who awaited the supreme gift promised unto them of the Paraclete, and persevered unanimously in prayer with Mary the Mother of Jesus.

The point he’s making on perseverance is brilliant, but easy to miss. Let’s take the examples in reverse order. After rising from the dead, Jesus charged the Apostles “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4) and said, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8).

Nine days after He ascends into heaven, this prophecy is fulfilled with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. These days, we have “novenas,” prayers that you do for a particular cause for 9 days straight, in honor of the Apostles’ waiting. But they didn’t know they were making a novena. For all they knew, it could be 9 years. Not only did they not know how long it would take, they didn’t even have a clear sense of what they were waiting for. They were just praying, along with Mary, for an indefinite time: “All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:14).

But what about Leo’s other example? In Judith 7, the evil Holofernes and his men have laid siege to the city of Bethulia, and cut off the water supply. After 34 days, the people want to surrender. The city officials convince them to wait another five days, saying (Judith 7:30-32):

Have courage, my brothers! Let us hold out for five more days; by that time the Lord our God will restore to us his mercy, for he will not forsake us utterly. But if these days pass by, and no help comes for us, I will do what you say.

The numbers here matter. 40 is the perfect number of preparation (think of Noah’s ark, or the Israelites in the desert, or Jesus’ fast before His public ministry), and both the people and the officials are hijacking that. The people want to give up after 34 days, the officials want to give up after 39. But either way, they’re trying to put God on a human timetable. Judith stands up to both groups, and tells them that they’re both in the wrong (Judith 8:11-12):

Listen to me, rulers of the people of Bethulia! What you have said to the people today is not right; you have even sworn and pronounced this oath between God and you, promising to surrender the city to our enemies unless the Lord turns and helps us within so many days. Who are you, that have put God to the test this day, and are setting yourselves up in the place of God among the sons of men?

Instead, she calls them to a radical trust in God (Judith 8:15-17):

For if he does not choose to help us within these five days, he has power to protect us within any time he pleases, or even to destroy us in the presence of our enemies. Do not try to bind the purposes of the Lord our God; for God is not like man, to be threatened, nor like a human being, to be won over by pleading. Therefore, while we wait for his deliverance, let us call upon him to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it pleases him.

This is a truly Marian faith. She’s making a radical yes to God, without knowing the timetable, without knowing the plan, without even knowing if she would escape with her life. She prayed for and hoped for God’s deliverance, but ultimately trusted that His plan was the best one, even if it involved her death. Trust, pray, and wait.

I’m sure that wasn’t a popular message to the thirsty people of Bethulia, fearing for their lives; and I’m sure it wasn’t a popular message to the people reading Leo’s encyclical in 1884; and I’ll wager that it’s not a popular message today. But this is the kind of persevering faith to which God calls us, and it’s the kind of faith that He rewards. So instead of complaining, like the people of Bethulia, let’s take up the spiritual weapons that we have at hand, and place our trust in God.

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 May 13, 2020 

3 Comments

James says:

June 4, 2020 at 12:55 am

“To Mary,therefore, we must fly – to her whom rightly and justly the Church entitles the dispenser of saving, aiding, and protecting gifts – that she, graciously hearkening to our prayers, may grant us the help they besought, and drive far from us the unclean plague.”

Did Christ or the Holy Spirit so entitle her?

So Leo XIII is saying Mary “grants” the “help” sought of her in prayer? I thought the doctrine was that Mary intercedes with God the Father or God the Son and They grant the the help that supplicants seek in prayer?

So, why not ask of them directly; that is after all the only injunction that Christ made in regard to our prayers: that we ask of the Father in Christ’s name.

Oh, I forgot, the popes can change all that…sorry. Silly me.

“The Cult of the Virgin”. Isn’t that what they call it?

“Oh, but it’s been our custom, our doctrine for centuries” you say? I suppose the Greeks and Canaanites and the Babylons and the Egyptians said much the same.

Reply

Kathleen O'Donnell says:

November 11, 2020 at 11:54 am

james, sorry this is so late bc I just read this article and your reply. I’m so excited that you were open to reading this article. you are correct. We are The Cult of the Virgin and I will pray that one day you will join us!!!

To JESUS THROUGH MARY! she that crushes head of Satan! Don’t despise your heavenly mother who loves you so tenderly bc Jesus will not be pleased with anyone who hates his own mother. She is the Mediatrix of all Graces and it is she who obtains all from Jesus. Peace, My Brother in Christ and son of Mary!

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Susan says:

October 22, 2020 at 3:30 am

Everything I read points me to the Rosary. If I complete a Rosary my day is beautiful and useful.

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[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

25th May >> Mass Readings (USA)  for Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

or

Saint Gregory VII, Pope

or

Saint Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, Virgin

or

Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest, Doctor.

Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Green) First Reading James 5:9-12 The Judge is standing before the gates. Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.    But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No,” that you may not incur condemnation. The Word of the Lord R/ Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 11-12 R/ The Lord is kind and merciful. Bless the LORD, O my soul;    and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul,    and forget not all his benefits. R/ The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all your iniquities,    he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction,    he crowns you with kindness and compassion. R/ The Lord is kind and merciful. Merciful and gracious is the LORD,    slow to anger and abounding in kindness. He will not always chide,    nor does he keep his wrath forever. R/ The Lord is kind and merciful. For as the heavens are high above the earth,    so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west,    so far has he put our transgressions from us. R/ The Lord is kind and merciful. Gospel Acclamation cf. John 17:17b, 17a Alleluia, alleluia. Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 10:1-12 What God has joined together, no human being must separate. Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” The Gospel of the Lord R/ Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. ————————

Saint Gregory VII, Pope

(Liturgical Colour: White) First Reading Acts of the Apostles 20:17-18a, 28-32, 36 Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the Church of God. From Miletus Paul had the presbyters of the Church at Ephesus summoned. When they came to him, he addressed them, “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, some will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day, I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears. And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.”    When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed with them all. The Word of the Lord R/ Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4 R/ You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand    till I make your enemies your footstool.” R/ You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion:    “Rule in the midst of your enemies.” R/ You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. “Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;    before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.” R/ You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. The LORD has sworn, and he will not repent:    “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” R/ You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. Gospel Acclamation Mark 1:17 Alleluia, alleluia. Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 16:13-19 You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church. When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The Gospel of the Lord R/ Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

————————

Saint Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, Virgin

(Liturgical Colour: White) First Reading 1 Corinthians 7:25-35 A virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord. In regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. So this is what I think best because of the present distress: that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife?  Do not seek a separation. Are you free of a wife?  Then do not look for a wife. If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life, and I would like to spare you that.    I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.    I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction. The Word of the Lord R/ Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 148:1-2, 11-13, 13-14 R/ Young men and women, praise the name of the Lord. or R/ Alleluia. Praise the LORD from the heavens;    praise him in the heights; Praise him, all you his angels,    praise him, all you his hosts. R/ Young men and women, praise the name of the Lord. or R/ Alleluia. Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,    the princes and all the judges of the earth, Young men, too, and maidens,    old men and boys. Praise the name of the LORD,    for his name alone is exalted. R/ Young men and women, praise the name of the Lord. or R/ Alleluia. His majesty is above earth and heaven. He has lifted up the horn of his people. Be this his praise from all his faithful ones;    from the children of Israel, the people close to him. Alleluia. R/ Young men and women, praise the name of the Lord. or R/ Alleluia. Gospel Acclamation John 8:31b-32 Alleluia, alleluia. If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, says the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mark 3:31-35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother. The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to him and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” The Gospel of the Lord R/ Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. ————————

Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest, Doctor

(Liturgical Colour: White) First Reading 1 Corinthians 2:10b-16 We have the mind of Christ. Brothers and sisters: The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among men, who knows what pertains to the man except his spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.    Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it, because it is judged spiritually. The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything but is not subject to judgment by anyone.    For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him? But we have the mind of Christ. The Word of the Lord R/ Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 R/ Lord, teach me your statutes. How shall a young man be faultless in his way?    By keeping to your words. R/ Lord, teach me your statutes. With all my heart I seek you;    let me not stray from your commands. R/ Lord, teach me your statutes. Within my heart I treasure your promise,    that I may not sin against you. R/ Lord, teach me your statutes. Blessed are you, O LORD;    teach me your statutes. R/ Lord, teach me your statutes. With my lips I declare    all the ordinances of your mouth. R/ Lord, teach me your statutes. In the way of your decrees I rejoice,    as much as in all riches. R/ Lord, teach me your statutes. Gospel Acclamation cf. John 6:63, 68c Alleluia, alleluia. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 7:21-29 He taught them as one having authority. Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you.  Depart from me, you evildoers.’    “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”    When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. The Gospel of the Lord R/ Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

[nobodysuspectsthebutterfly]

I don't forget. Just believe that his obsession for law is for achieving justice as ultimate goal. Laws = Means, Justice = Goal. I don't think he would have followed Robert if Robert was the lawbreaker. Note: I did not put Joffrey because boy or not, he knew his power and did what he did. His hypocrisy is l-obster-ovable sometimes but not this. Edric is not at fault, why Myrcella and Tom are? If he gets Tommen at Rosby, he kills a kid??? How's that just? Stannis does bend for justice. I... HOPE.

Also his first concern with Tommen is that “Westeros needs a man, not a boy”, and the incestuous conception only second, and look how he tells it “another monster IN THE MAKING” that is, and given his experience with Aerys, to me, that he does make a rationale around it. That if you are born of incest (despite this not being so true) you are more likely to be a monster. But well, as you can note, my babbling is a HOPEFUL, too much hopeful one…

I say some fans forget Stannis’s hard view on justice because they do, I’m sorry. Notably, there is a great difference between justice and mercy.

During the High Holidays, Jews pray for God’s mercy, not his justice, because we know that under strict justice, sinners deserve death. When the shofar is blown on Rosh Hashana, there is a prayer: “Today is the birthday of the world, and all its creatures stand to be judged. Some as children, some as servants. If you see us as your children, have mercy upon us, as a father has mercy on his children. If as servants, we look to you in prayer until you temper your justice with compassion, and decide in our favor.” (The tune it’s sung with is heartwrenching, and often brings tears to my eyes, though tbf the sound of the shofar blowing has got my emotions up high already.) Note, “justice tempered with compassion” is one of the meanings of the Hebrew word tzedek… often translated as righteousness. Similarly, a word derived from that one, tzadik, is usually translated as “a righteous man”.

For Stannis, justice = executing examples of treason. Mercy = realizing those examples are innocent children and sparing them from death. Stannis is justice, Davos is mercy. That’s the whole point. That’s the whole entire point of Davos’s chapters in A Storm of Swords, especially Davos VI, where Stannis learns Joffrey’s dead, and Melisandre tries to persuade him that now more than ever they need to conquer King’s Landing by waking the stone dragon via sacrificing Edric, and Davos argues against it one last time before he reveals that he’s gotten Edric the heck out of Dragonstone and most importantly gives Stannis a better more merciful life’s mission with the letter from the Night’s Watch.

I’ve said many times the Amazon UK interview with GRRM is a favorite. That’s the one where GRRM says this terribly important statement about Stannis (and about the threat of the Others vs the game of thrones):

And it is important that the individual books refer to the civil wars, but the series title reminds us constantly that the real issue lies in the North beyond the Wall. Stannis becomes one of the few characters fully to understand that, which is why in spite of everything he is a righteous man, and not just a version of Henry VII, Tiberius or Louis XI.

People, particularly Stannis stans, seize on GRRM saying that Stannis is a righteous man, and that is true and very important to remember. However, what they fail to notice is “in spite of everything”. In spite of everything else about Stannis, his jealousy and bitterness and pettiness and regimentality and hard-assed view of law and justice, all his flaws. Furthermore, why did Stannis become one of the few characters to understand the real issue in the series is the threat of the Others? Because Davos read him the letter from the Night’s Watch.

“Yes, I should have come sooner. If not for my Hand, I might not have come at all. Lord Seaworth is a man of humble birth, but he reminded me of my duty, when all I could think of was my rights. I had the cart before the horse, Davos said. I was trying to win the throne to save the kingdom, when I should have been trying to save the kingdom to win the throne.“ Stannis pointed north. “There is where I’ll find the foe that I was born to fight.” –ASOS, Jon XI

Why is Stannis a righteous man? Because Davos made him become one. He showed Stannis the correct path was his duty and not his rights, and not merciless justice, but justice tempered with compassion and mercy.

(But note that once they separate, Stannis starts fading back away from this mercy; all the more so once he believes that Davos is dead, executed by Wyman Manderly because of the mission Stannis sent him on.)

Specific rebuttals under the cut:

“I don’t think he would have followed Robert if Robert was the lawbreaker.”

“It is every man’s duty to remain loyal to his rightful king, even if the lord he serves proves false,” Stannis declared in a tone that brooked no argument.A desperate folly took hold of Davos, a recklessness akin to madness. “As you remained loyal to King Aerys when your brother raised his banners?” he blurted.[…“T]he truth is a bitter draught at times. Aerys? If you only knew… that was a hard choosing. My blood or my liege. My brother or my king.”

–ASOS, Davos IV

Stannis does not mention lawbreaking here, only the bonds of blood vs his duty to his king. And strictly, Robert was breaking the law by rebelling against the rightful king. Yes, many fans argue that Robert’s Rebellion was just, that Aerys broke the feudal compact when he executed Brandon and his companions and their lordly fathers without trial – but Stannis doesn’t talk about that. He only mentions choosing his brother over the king who would have had his head. Furthermore, he says, “Ser Barristan once told me that the rot in King Aerys’s reign began with Varys.” He’s not even blaming Aerys for his own crimes! It’s kind of fascinating, tbh.

“Note: I did not put Joffrey because boy or not, he knew his power and did what he did.” After Stannis finds out Joffrey’s been murdered, you can see him trying to justify that in his head, and he resorts to a memory where a Joffrey as a boy showed his budding psychopathy by cutting open a pregnant cat. Stannis never talks about the cruelties of Joffrey’s deeds as a king, none of those crimes – he doesn’t mention anything about his kingship other than being undeserving of the throne as he was not Robert’s true son, as an abomination born of incest. Stannis only tries to reconcile his mind about a murdered boy, with something terrible a boy did. Again, a truly fascinating view of the world.

“Edric is not at fault, why Myrcella and Tom are?” Yes, exactly, that’s just what I was saying. Edric is not at fault for being born Robert’s bastard, but Stannis would have sacrificed him anyway for the greater good of waking the stone dragon, if not for Davos. Myrcella and Tommen are not at fault for their birth, but they are still abominations and living examples of treason, and must be scoured. And as I said, if Stannis had been able to win at Blackwater and acquired Tommen and Myrcella for execution, I think Davos would have been able to pray mercy for them, or help them escape, as he did with Edric.

“Also his first concern with Tommen is that “Westeros needs a man, not a boy”, and the incestuous conception only second”. You literally have that backwards, I’m sorry.

“Tommen is gentler than Joffrey, but born of the same incest. Another monster in the making. Another leech upon the land. Westeros needs a man’s hand, not a child’s.” –ASOS, Davos VI

“and look how he tells it “another monster IN THE MAKING” that is, and given his experience with Aerys, to me, that he does make a rationale around it. That if you are born of incest (despite this not being so true) you are more likely to be a monster.” Stannis never mentions Targaryens ever in reference to abominations. (As he should not, since that incestuous heritage is part of his own ancestry.) He never refers to Aerys in reference to Joffrey. You’re drawing a conclusion that is baseless. Per Stannis’s own letter to the lords of Westeros, he does not say that Joffrey does not deserve the throne because he was a monster (though he was), but because he was not Robert’s son… yes, an abomination born of incest, but most importantly not Robert’s true heir.

But note, when Stannis says Tommen is a monster in the making, he’s trying to justify to himself why a boy must die (despite the fact he knows he’s a very different child than Joffrey)… but most importantly, why Edric has to die, since Melisandre has convinced him it’s the only way he can be king, with a sacrifice to wake a dragon, a dragon to scour the court. Two children must die for Stannis to be king, a third if he counts Myrcella, for his “duty to the realm”. And to his credit, he hates knowing this, he’s constantly asking Melisandre if she’s sure the sacrifice will work, that there’s no other way. That’s why when Davos reveals two things – that sacrificing Edric is impossible since he’s gone, and that his true duty is not to take the throne but to save the Watch from the wildlings and the Others – Stannis leaps at the chance. A chance to change his own definition of the most just thing to do. A chance to not kill children (even if bastards and abominations), but to kill actual monsters.

The question is, if this choice comes again – if in the most desperate of straits, Melisandre convinces him a dragon must wake to fight the Others, the foe he was born to fight, and the only king’s blood sacrifice possible is his own daughter – what will Stannis decide?

Will his choice be justice tempered with compassion and mercy, or merciless justice? If his duty to the realm, to the world, to all of humanity, requires putting his mercy aside – if there is no Davos there to be the voice of mercy as before – if one child must die to save millions… what will he choose? Will Stannis be a righteous man… or a just man?

“He is utterly without mercy. There is no creature on earth half so terrifying as a truly just man.”

That should stick with you. It does with me. I hope things will be otherwise. I pray things will be otherwise. But I don’t know, and it hurts.

“But well, as you can note, my babbling is a HOPEFUL, too much hopeful one…”

Yes… well… we’ll just have to see if it is too much hope, won’t we.

[princess-in-a-tower]

Sansa Stark: Punishment for treason and reward for loyalty

In the dawn of S7 ep1 and all the discourse about Sansa, I wanted to present the fandom with some facts.

Sansa disagreed with Jon’s decision to be lenient towards the Umber and Karstark children. She wanted him to seize their lands and strip them of their titles. This would not only be a punishment, but a way to make an example of them to the rest of the North. Jon refused to listen to her and chose to forgive them with no strings attached. If we examine this through our modern eyes, then Jon’s decision is the best one, the most humane, the noblest. But if we were to examine it through a medieval frame of mind, Sansa’s proposal is actually not only pragmatic, and well thought out, but also completely lawful and actually less cruel than it could have been, since the actual punishment for treason is death via beheading in the North.

“But she wanted to punish the children! She is evil! This is not the Stark way!”

Yes, yes I hear you all. Now let us see those facts I promised, straight from the books:

In Westeros the common punishment for traitors, other than hanging and beheading, is the appropriation of their lands and titles by the crown:

When Joffrey turned to look out over the hall, his eye caught Sansa's. He smiled, seated himself, and spoke. "It is a king's duty to punish the disloyal and reward those who are true. Grand Maester Pycelle, I command you to read my decrees."

Pycelle pushed himself to his feet. He was clad in a magnificent robe of thick red velvet, with an ermine collar and shiny gold fastenings. From a drooping sleeve, heavy with gilded scrollwork, he drew a parchment, unrolled it, and began to read a long list of names, commanding each in the name of king and council to present themselves and swear their fealty to Joffrey. Failing that, they would be adjudged traitors, their lands and titles forfeit to the throne.

A Game of Thrones - Sansa V

Obviously here we have Joffrey speaking, who we know was an arrogant shit at his best and a sadistic psychopath at his worst, but Joffrey always took care to veil his sadistic pleasures under the cloak of lawful conduct. Also, judging by the fact that there was no commotion inside the throne room –unlike that time Ned was executed, this means that Joffrey’s decrees were fairly normal and even expected.

Let us examine another case, this time by Tywin, who is obviously not only a sane person, but also a great strategist and a political mastermind.

“The river lords are no fools,” the queen argued. “Without the northmen they cannot hope to stand against the combined power of Highgarden, Casterly Rock, and Dorne. Surely they will choose submission rather than destruction.”

“Most,” agreed Lord Tywin. “Riverrun remains, but so long as Walder Frey holds Edmure Tully hostage, the Blackfish dare not mount a threat. Jason Mallister and Tytos Blackwood will fight on for honor’s sake, but the Freys can keep the Mallisters penned up at Seagard, and with the right inducement Jonos Bracken can be persuaded to change his allegiance and attack the Blackwoods. In the end they will bend the knee, yes. I mean to offer generous terms. Any castle that yields to us will be spared, save one.”

A Storm of Swords - Tyrion VI

On the above paragraph, we see Tywin thinking of sparing the river lords, by letting them keep their castles and titles if they change their allegiance. He calls those terms “generous”, because it was common practice for the crown to seize the castles of treasonous houses. Tywin though, offers those generous terms only in order to end the war and bring stability to the realm.

He could hardly bring stability and peace by killing all the river lords who opposed Joffrey, like he did to the Reynes and the Tarbecks, who had opposed him in the past. Please not that the complete extinction of those two treasonous houses was the inspiration of the Lannister song: “The Rains of Castamere”.

Another case of a noble house committing treason was the Greyjoy Rebelion, where Balon Greyjoy took a crown and declared the Iron Islands a separate kingdom. Robert Baratheon crushed the rebellion with the help of Stannis, Ned, and Tywin, killing Balon’s two elder sons during the siege of Pyke. When Balon bent the knee and pledged his fealty to the Iron Throne, Ned took his only surviving son, Theon, as his ward.

As Cercei said:

Robert should have scoured the isles after Balon Greyjoy rose against him, Cersei thought. He smashed their fleet, burned their towns, and broke their castles, but when he had them on their knees he let them up again. He should have made another island of their skulls. That was what her father would have done, but Robert never had the stomach that a king requires if he hopes to keep peace in the realm.

A Feast for Crows - Cersei VII

And yes Cercei is cruel and terrible, as is Tywin, but in this case, she is also right (I know, shocking). Robert had been lenient and merciful and not even a decade later, the Greyjoys rose in rebellion against the crown once again.

But, there are other cases, where certain houses were absolved of treason. The most notable is the case of House Tyrell, which sided with Renly during the War of Five Kings, only to side with Joffrey later on. BUT! House Tyrell arrived in King’s Landing with all their army and resources, to break the siege laid by Stannis. They actually helped Joffrey and the crown in their hour of greatest need. Furthermore, they had never clashed swords with Lannisters during the War of Five Kings, since Renly was too preoccupied with tourneys to actually fight. There was no bad blood between those two houses. No real damage had been done. And also the Lannisters needed the Tyrells badly. So a full pardon was in order.

So I believe we can reach the following conclusions:

It is within the scope of the law to subject treasonous houses not only to corporal punishments (usually death via hanging or beheading), but to property penalties as well.

Certain exceptions are usually made when it is advantageous to show leniency.

Being merciful usually comes back to bite you in the ass later.

Sansa already knows all that. She has lived in the capital, amongst the Lannisters, learned from them and she now uses all that knowledge to protect Jon and House Stark.

And now I hear you say:

“But all that is the southern law! The North is different! The Starks would have never!”

Really? You think they wouldn’t? Because they totally did in the past:

The Den was much older than White Harbor, the knight told Davos. It had been raised by King Jon Stark to defend the mouth of the White Knife against raiders from the sea. Many a younger son of the King in the North had made his seat there, many a brother, many an uncle, many a cousin. Some passed the castle to their own sons and grandsons, and offshoot branches of House Stark had arisen; the Greystarks had lasted the longest, holding the Wolf's Den for five centuries, until they presumed to join the Dreadfort in rebellion against the Starks of Winterfell.

After their fall, the castle had passed through many other hands. House Flint held it for a century, House Locke for almost two. Slates, Longs, Holts, and Ashwoods had held sway here, charged by Winterfell to keep the river safe.

A Dance with Dragons - Davos IV

So, the Greystarks are an extinct house now, totally wiped out by House Stark during that rebellion mentioned in the above paragraph. After the Starks killed the Greystarks, they gave their castle to another house to keep the White Knife safe. The houses mentioned above are not extinct and they each have their own main castle, but, whenever they failed to protect the river from raiders, the Starks would take the castle from them and give it to another, more capable house.

So yeah, taking land from traitors and re-distributing it is the Stark way after all.

Side note: The Karstark lands originally belonged to House Stark and were gifted to Karlon Stark after defeating a rebel lord a thousand years ago. It would have been quite poetic if it came back to Stark hands due to the Karstarks’ betrayal. History would come full circle.

Anyway… What I mean to say is that Sansa’s insistence to follow the law was neither unreasonable nor cruel. The children were not at fault for their fathers’ treason and they looked happy enough to be absolved of any crime, but this is not a fairytale. This is GoT. Robert spared Balon and he rose in rebellion for a second time. Ned raised Theon as his son, yet Theon betrayed the Starks for his “real family”. Joffrey pardoned the Tyrells and Olenna killed him to protect Margaery from him.

And Sansa knows all this. She knows that if the Umbers and the Karstarks have no power, they will not come seeking revenge for their fathers’ deaths. She sees the future danger in Jon’s decision and she wants to prevent it any way she can.

In GoT there should be punishment for treason and reward for loyalty. Else your bannermen will think you weak and mock you in the best case scenario, or betray you and eat you alive in the worst.

Let us hope nothing of the short happens to Jon or House Stark, but as I said, this is GoT and everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

[a-truthaboutislam-universe]

The ideal Muslim in the community

Truth About Muslims: The Muslim community is based on sincerity, purity of human feelings and fulfillment of rights and needs to every member.

The Muslim has a mission in life. Within the community he calls the people to Islam with good preaching and the best character. He teaches from what he learns and deals with those whom he comes in contact with based on Islamic values and morals. All this is done seeking the pleasure of Allah, the Exalted, while striving to attain the reward of His Paradise.

Wherever the Muslim is, he should be a beacon of guidance and a positive source of correction and education, through both his words and deeds.

The true Muslim has a refined social personality of the highest degree, which qualifies him to undertake his duty of calling others to Islam. He demonstrates the true values of his religion and the practical application of those values by attaining beautiful Islamic attributes. His distinct social character represents a huge store of Islamic values, which can be seen by the way in which he interacts with the people around him.

The Muslim, as Islam meant him to be, is a unique and remarkable person in his attitude, conduct and relationships with others at all levels. He treats them well by being friendly with them, humble, gentle of speech and avoiding offence. He likes others and is liked by them. He tries to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam (Peace be upon him) as he was the best of people in his attitude towards others.

He Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam (Peace be upon him) Said: “Nothing will weigh more heavily in the Balance of the believing slave on the Day of Resurrection than a good attitude towards others.” [At-Tirmithi]

Because Islam is based on truthfulness, the Muslim is always truthful with all people. Truthfulness leads to goodness and goodness leads to Paradise. Therefore the Muslim strives to be true in all his words and deeds.

The Muslim never gives false statements, because this attitude is forbidden in the Quran. Allah, the Most Glorified, Says (what means): “…And shun the word that is false.” [Quran 22: 30]

The Muslim seeks to offer sincere advice to everyone he comes in contact with. It’s not just the matter of volunteering to do good out of generosity; it is a duty enjoined by Islam. The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam (Peace be upon him) said “(The essence of) Religion is (offering sincere) advice.” [Muslim]

By the favor of Allah, the Muslim is a guide for others to righteous deeds, whether by his actions or words. He never cheats, deceives or stabs in the back. These shameful acts are beneath him, as they contradict the values of truthfulness. The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam (Peace be upon him) said “whoever cheats is not one of us.” [Muslim]

When the Muslim promises something, he means to keep his promise. This attitude stems naturally from truthfulness, and indicates the high level of civility attained by the one who exhibits it. Allah Says (what means): “And fulfill every engagement, for [every] engagement will be enquired into [on the Day of Reckoning].” [Quran 17: 34]

One of the worst characteristics that Islam abhors is hypocrisy, therefore the Muslim can never be a hypocrite; he is frank and open in his words and opinions. The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam (Peace be upon him) said: “One of the worst people is a double-faced man, who comes to one group with one face and to another group with a totally different face.” [Al-Bukhari]

Islam does not approve of begging. It makes it a sin that a person should beg when he has enough to satisfy his immediate needs. Therefore, the Muslim does not beg. If he is faced with difficulty and poverty, he seeks refuge in patience, whilst doubling his effort to find a way out. The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam (Peace be upon him) said: “Whoever refrains from asking from people, Allah will help him…” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

A sign of one's excellence in Islam, is his ignoring what does not concern him. The Muslim should only participate in what concerns him, such as anything that is his property, right, obligation or under his control. To be concerned with something entails preserving and taking care of this thing that one is allowed to be concerned with. The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam (Peace be upon him) said: “A sign of a person’s being a good Muslim is that he should leave alone that which does not concern him.” [At-Tirmithi]

The Muslim never searches for people’s faults or slander their honor. He doesn’t slip into the error of pride, boasting and showing off. He judges fairly, is never unjust (even to those whom he does not like) or biased by his own whims, and avoids suspicion. He does not rejoice in the misfortunes of anyone. He carefully avoids uttering any word of slander, cursing, malicious gossip and foul language.

He does not make fun of people but is gentle, kind, compassionate and merciful, strives for people’s benefit and seeks to protect and help them.

One of the virtues of such a great value and importance that Islam, not only recommends, but also orders Muslims to characterize themselves with, is generosity. Therefore, the Muslim is generous and gives freely without waste to those who are in need. When he gives, he does not remind people of his generosity. He is patient, tries hard to control his anger and is forgiving. He does not bear grudges or resentments, and is easy on people, not hard.

One of the worst diseases of the heart is envy, which leads to foul conduct and bad behavior. Therefore the Muslim is not envious, because he knows that the pleasures of this life are as nothing in comparison to the reward that Allah has prepared for the believers, and that whatever happens in life happens according to the decree of Allah.

The Muslim, who truly understands the teachings of his religion, is gentle, friendly, cheerful and warm. He mixes with people and gets along with them. He is humble and modest; and does not look down at other people. He is lighthearted and has a sense of humor and does not disdain others. His jokes are distinguished by their legitimate Islamic nature. He is keen to bring happiness to people. It is an effective means of conveying the message of truth to them, and exposing them to its moral values, because people only listen to those whom they like, trust and accept.

The Muslim keeps secrets; keeping secrets is a sign of maturity, moral strength, wisdom and balanced personality. He is concerned about the affairs of people in general. He is happy to welcome his guests and hastens to honor them.

The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam (Peace be upon him) said: “Every religion has a (distinct) characteristic and the characteristic of Islam is modesty.” [Ibn Majah] The Muslim adheres to the principle of modesty in all things. He does not accept every custom that is widely accepted by others, for there may be customs which go against Islam.

The Muslim does not enter a house other than his own without seeking permission and greeting people. He sits wherever he finds room when he joins a gathering. He avoids whispering and conversing privately when he is in a group of three. He gives due respect to elders and those who deserve to be respected (like scholars etc.).

Allah Almighty Says (what means):

"Invite mankind to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious."

[Quran 16:125] The Muslim is aware of his duty to call others to Islam, and does not spare any effort to do so. He enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil and mixes with righteous people. He visits the sick cheerfully. He attends the funeral of the Muslim and accompanies the body until it is buried.

[basicsofislam]

ISLAM 101: ALMS AND CHARITY: VIRTUES OF ZAKAT: Part 17

HOW IS ZAKAT PAID?: Part 2

IS IT BETTER TO GIVE ZAKAT SECRETLY OR OPENLY?

The comparative virtue of secretly and openly giving zakat or sadaqa differ according to place and time. Although it may be better, on occasions, to give openly, at other times, opting to pay secretly may provide a wiser option. Verses and hadiths elaborating on both these circumstances afford us different clues in relation to this point. For example, “To give alms in public is good, but to give charity to the poor secretly is better for you and will atone for some of your sins,” (Baqara 2:271) “Those who spend their wealth by night and day, in private and public, shall be rewarded by their Lord”(Baqara 2:274). Based on these Qur’anic statements, we ascertain the diverse benefits of secret and open charities depending on time and place. Yet, Muslim scholars have preponderantly advised an open payment of zakat while recommending the secret offering of other charities.

Though an open payment may act as an encouragement to others, a secret payment forestalls the emergence of vices, like pride, arrogance about one’s means, and showing off. A person may be able to steer clear of these vices while performing zakat, which is, after all, an imperative obligation which is supposed to be performed with the intention of purifying the wealth; however, as for sadaqa, a voluntary activity, falling prey to these vices may come more easily. It is for this reason while enumerating the seven groups of people to be shaded under the shade of the Throne, on a horrendous Day where no other shade exists, the Messenger of God also includes, “those whose left sides are oblivious to what their right sides have given (as to a charity).”

Therefore, it is essential to give voluntary sadaqa or charities secretly, and for this reason, it is said that a supererogatory sadaqa given in secret is 70 times more virtuous and valuable than that which is given openly. The Noble Messenger articulated the following: “Goodness never exhausts, sins are not forgotten, and God never dies; so do as you wish.”8 Indeed God is Alive and Eternal, a Watcher and Guard over all things perpetrated. As verified by this additional declaration: “We have shown him the right path, whether he be grateful or ungrateful” (Insan 76:3). In other words, the human may either nurture profound gratitude towards the Being Who has, through innumerable ways, made him aware of His transcendent existence, or ungratefully, throw into dissipation all his privileges, including himself, by shamefully choosing the path of disgraceful rebellion.

Note that giving explicitly may involve a degree of disdain on behalf of the benefactor as s/he acquires a personal insight to the needs, condition, and circumstances of the beneficiary.  In addition, a hadith such as, “The hand which gives is better than the hand which receives,” might spuriously justify disdain in souls lacking full insight into the Message. But clearly, disdaining and abasing a Muslim has indubitably been decreed forbidden.

A further difficulty arises if the recipient is not known to be poor by the public—someone who has kept his/her need quiet, so to speak—in which case giving the sadaqa overtly may incur the ill-thought from both the donor and others that the recipient is accepting the donation without a genuine need. Here, then, is another example of how each act of faith becomes both an opportunity and a trial—for it is not right to indulge in such thoughts about others, and we risk rapidly and completely annulling any potential benefits to ourselves if we fail to check our tendencies to judge or criticize in this way. Thus, in order to fend off Satan’s whispers and the personal embarrassment the poor may experience, the best method remains that of our predecessors—one in which we secretively place the sadaqa in a location which is easily accessible by those in need, and then swiftly leave.

Perhaps we could make an exception for those towering spiritual figures who, by virtue of having already conquered their own egos, are not easily affected by the side-effects which plague the majority, and by whose leadership in the field of charity, many more souls might be drawn into random giving. For these noble individuals, visibility in the act of sadaqa might be appropriate. But this would certainly be an atypical situation—not a recommended practice for the average person.

Putting the Qur’anic balance into the picture, it can be ascertained that, occasionally, it is preferable to opt for an open payment of zakat, however, as mentioned earlier: “To give alms in public is good, but to give charity to the poor secretly is better for you, and will atone for some of your sins. God has knowledge of all that you do” (Baqara 2: 272). There is a balance, in other words. In similar fashion to salat (prayer) and sawm (fasting), the performance of obligatory actions is an instrument of public encouragement, as well as clearing its performer from likely incriminations. The highly potent and symbolic words of the Prophet in reference to those deliberately falling back from congregational salats were as follows: “I have contemplated leaving a deputy to lead, then burst in on those who, without excuse, fall back from salats, and set their houses ablaze.” In addition, the outer manifestation of a life of faith, of an adherence to the practice of Islam, is not a trivial matter, as verified by another hadith “Whoever performs our salat, faces our qibla (the direction turned  towards  during salat, towards the Sacred Ka‘ba), and eats what we slaughter is a Muslim under the guarantee of God and His Messenger.”

In effect, the belief of a Muslim is reflected and generally understood by others in terms of the publicly performed obligatory deeds; therefore, there is benefit in offering these openly, to dispel any possible suspicion and spare witnesses from the easy temptation of judging another believer; in addition, public contributions of zakat provide an inspiration to those outside of the faith who might feel invited to submit after witnessing the all-encompassing mercy espoused by the Qur’an.

The actions of Abu Bakr and Ali, may God be pleased with them, who had totally comprehended the balance displayed in the Qur’an, are exemplary. The former, having had dirhams worth of wealth, donated a quarter of it at night, another quarter at day, another quarter in secret and the last quarter in public; thus he actualized all the facets emphasized in the Qur’an. The latter openly donating his 4 dirhams, and then remarked, “O God, let this be an encouragement”; while during a secret donation, he prayed “Only for your sake my Lord.” While giving at night, he prayed again: “May my night be alight;” and during the day, he uttered, “O God illuminate my day.” There it is a display of the Companions’ astounding sensitivity and their profound vitality in bringing Islam to life.

CAN DEFECTIVE PROPERTY BE GIVEN AS ZAKAT ?

The awesome balance set by Islam in all fields is also visible in the fundamentals of offering and collecting zakat. While instructing the collectors to avoid collecting the “best possession,”  the benefactors are themselves encouraged to choose to give their best as an invaluable means of reaching the spiritual summit, a fact attested to by the Qur’an: “You will not attain righteousness until you spend of what you love” (Al Imran 3:92). Anas ibn Malik narrates the following in relation: “Of the Ansar (Medinan Muslims),” Abu Talha was one of the richest, and Bayruha—a garden across the Masjid al-Nabawi (the grand mosque at Medina), was his most beloved possession. The Messenger of God, on occasions, used to enter it and drink from its clean water. When the verse, “You will not attain righteousness until you spend of what you love” (Baqara 3:92) was revealed, Abu Talha went to the Prophet and proclaimed the following: “If this is what the Almighty God has decreed in His Book, then from now on Bayruha, my most prized possession, is a charity for God. I anticipate its rewards and benefits from Him alone. O Messenger of God! Do with it as you wish.” The Prophet responded delightfully, “How beautiful! This will bring a multitude of rewards and a copious recompense in the afterlife. I have heard your words on this subject, but if you ask me, divide it between your relatives,” and upon this Abu Talha divided it between his relatives. ”Indeed, it is evident that in order to become an ideal servant of God, one must donate, for His sake, one’s most cherished items. Those who aspire to Paradise undoubtedly will present, with paramount pleasure, their best crops and produce.

In a hadith conveyed by Abu Hurayra, the Messenger of God reveals, “Whoever donates an amount equivalent to a handful of dates out of his pure earnings—and certainly God accepts only that is pure—God will take it and, just how one of you rears his foal, he will raise it to the size of a mountain.”

Through another hadith, again transmitted by Abu Hurayra, the Prophet earnestly announced, “O humankind! God is Pure and He only accepts what is pure. God has also commanded the believers what He has commanded the Prophets, namely “O Messengers! Eat of the pure things and act with righteousness” (Mu’minun 23:51); and for the believers, “O you who believe! Eat of the good and clean things which We have provided for you, and be grateful to God, if it is He whom you worship” (Baqara 2:172).

In tandem, a person must put himself in the shoes of the recipient, and thus avoid giving substandard or defective items. The Qur’an elaborates the following caution in relation to this very fact:“…and seek not the bad (with intent) to spend of it (in charity)” (Baqara 2:267). In other words, one must be absolutely alert in preventing any illicitness, such as this has been forbidden by God, from coalescing with one’s donations—either accidentally or by virtue of neglect on our part.

Consequently, all manner of “filth” must be kept well at bay from honest and pure earnings, and the charity should be presented from the purest portion—the portion which the benefactor himself would gladly accept in the reverse scenario, were he to find himself the recipient instead. In practical terms, this means ensuring that gains are not secured through means which are, themselves, illicit; and to make certain that the offering meets the highest trade standard, in terms of both the quality of the goods and their real value.

During the blissful era of the Prophet, people used to leave bunches of dates at the Masjid al-Nabawi for the poor to eat. One day, after having seen a few defective bunches, the Prophet (upon whom be peace) pointed with his stick and said, “If the owner of this charity wished, he would have donated a finer bunch. Its owner will, in turn, be reciprocated with a similarly defective return in the afterlife.”

WHEN IS THE MOST VIRTUOUS TIME FOR OFFERING ZAKAT?

After having reached its nisab, a property on which a year has elapsed becomes subject to zakat. Yet, the generally prevalent practice is to offer it during the month of Ramadan. Although this remains the overall accepted routine, there are others who maintain that zakat should best be given before its deadline or during the season of harvest. All these views, certainly, are predicated upon various proofs, which can be recapitulated as follows.

PAYMENT DURING RAMADAN

The practice of giving zakat in Ramadan is by and large based on two notions—namely to benefit from the special month’s blessings, and to put a smile on the faces of the poor in preparation for Eid. While it remains essential to perform deeds within their specific time frames and in line with their particular requirements, their performance at sacred times and places, it is hoped, brings even greater rewards. For instance, offering salat at the Ka'ba or Masjid al-Nabawi is considered more valuable in comparison to other places. This is actually implied by the words of the Noble Prophet, who declared that there are only three mosques in the world that, on their own, are worth traveling to—Ka‘ba in Mecca, Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina, and Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.

As for timing, the blessings of Ramadan are evidently manifest; it is considered the “sultan” of the other eleven months, containing a night superior to a thousand months. Therefore, completing an obligation like zakat within the parameters of Ramadan is believed to be an opportunity to greater rewards, as well as serving its prime role of relieving its benefactor from a compulsory duty in a timely, scheduled manner. Narrated by Anas ibn Malik, the ensuing hadith alludes to this. The Prophet was asked, “What is the most virtuous fast after the fast of Ramadan?” He responded, “The fast of (the months of) Shaban, in reverence to Ramadan.” He was then asked: “Which sadaqa is of greater virtue?” And he replied, “Sadaqa given in Ramadan.”