Pope Urban II: Call to Crusade

( 1095 ) Commentary by Michael Lower, University of Minnesota

“O what a disgrace if such a despised and base race, which worships demons, should conquer a people which has the faith of omnipotent God and is made glorious with the name of Christ! With what reproaches will the Lord overwhelm us if you do not aid those who, with us, profess the Christian religion!” - Fulcher of Chartres
“This royal city is now held captive by her enemies, and made pagan by those who know not God. She asks and longs to be liberated and does not cease to beg you to come to her aid.” - Robert of Reims
“You should shudder, brethren, you should shudder at raising a violent hand against Christians; it is less wicked to brandish your sword against Saracens. It is the only warfare that is righteous, for it is charity to risk your life for your brothers.” - Baldric of Dol
“And you ought, furthermore, to consider with the utmost deliberation, if by your labors, God working through you, it should occur that the Mother of churches should flourish anew to the worship of Christianity, whether, perchance, He may not wish other regions of the East to be restored to the faith against the approaching time of the Antichrist.” - Guibert of Nogent

Pool of Hezekiah, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Hospice of the Knights of Saint John, Jerusalem (Library of Congress)

View Full Size

Related Docs