Last rites declaration of Ioannes Paulus PP. II (Karol Wojtyla)
Ioannes Paulus PP. II
Nationalism, capitalism, and hoarding. The idea of every nation
should be forgot, price should be struck from the commons, and
princes should be seen for the devils they are. The sins include
our church, secret societies, and other religions which make of
the spirit of God a divide."
Last rites declaration of Ioannes Paulus PP. II (Karol Wojtyla)
2nd April 2005
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of mankind. Because it has pleased them, we must work all day for
pleasures seen to be imaginary; and, after sleep has refreshed our tired
reason, we must forthwith start up and rush after phantoms, and suffer the
impressions of this mistress of the world. This is one of the sources of
error, but it is not the only one.
Our magistrates have known well this mystery. Their red robes, the ermine in
which they wrap themselves like furry cats, the courts in which they
administer justice, the fleurs-de-lis, and all such august apparel were
necessary; if the physicians had not their cassocks and their mules, if the
doctors had not their square caps and their robes four times too wide, they
would never have duped the world, which cannot resist so original an
appearance. If magistrates had true justice, and if physicians had the true
art of healing, they would have no occasion for square caps; the majesty of
these sciences would of itself be venerable enough. But having only
imaginary knowledge, they must employ those silly tools that strike the
imagination with which they have to deal; and thereby, in fact, they inspire
respect. Soldiers alone are not disguised in this manner, because indeed
their part is the most essential; they establish themselves by force, the
others by show.
Therefore our kings seek out no disguises. They do not mask themselves in
extraordinary costumes to appear such; but they are accompanied by guards
and halberdiers. Those armed and red-faced puppets who have hands and power
for them alone, those trumpets and drums which go before them, and those
legions round about them, make the stoutest tremble. They have not dress
only, they have might. A very refined reason is required to regard as an
ordinary man the Grand Turk, in his superb seraglio, surrounded by forty
thousand janissaries.
We cannot even see an advocate in his robe and with his cap on his head,
without a favour