www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall The significance of January 2

Several months ago, our venerable Forum member Dr. Eric posted a thread entitled (and I paraphrase the name of the thread) The Saddest Day in the History of Christendom, about the fall of Constantinople to the Muslims on (I believe) April 29, 1453.

Fast forward a little less than 39 years, to January 2, 1492. Queen Isabella of Spain, heir to 24 generations that led (sometimes not so well) the Reconquest from the Moorish invaders, followed her husband, King Ferdinand, into the City of Granada, where her family received the keys to the city from the Moors who had been there for nearly 800 years. Boabdil, the name given by the Spanish to the Muslim leader, wept after leaving Granada for North Africa. His mother was quoted as saying that he should not weep as a child that which he could not keep as a man.

Dr. Warren Carroll, usually not a favorite of most on this board, wrote an incredible book about the life of Queen Isabella. Dr. Carroll describes far better than I can the significance of the event. I never tire of reading about the conversions of mosques to Churches.

Spain became again, from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean, from the Atlantic to the Pyreenes, a Catholic nation, unified under one Queen and one Faith - a nation that would go on to discover the New World, spread the Faith from Tierra del Fuego to much of the present day USA and as far as the Phillipines, Japan and China - and even assist some rag-tag colonies in their struggle for independence against a British king.

My wife is from Colombia and, though adopted, is certainly of Spanish descent. I'm Polish. Our son, due in two weeks, has the heritage of two nations that (until recently, in Spain) have defended and embraced the Faith, not perfectly by any means, but the truth is in the history. Of that, I take some pride.

Poland has not abandoned the Faith, and I pray she never does. I pray that Spain rediscovers the Faith, as she is in dire need of doing so.

Queen Isabella seems often misunderstood. What are some good biographies or histories which could correct for public education?

Terry

Get a copy of Isabella of Spain: The Last Crusader by William Thomas Walsh. I doubt there is a better bio of her.

Walsh's has also in my opinion, written the best book on Our Lady Of Fatima, another on the Inquisition and other bios of St Theresa of Avila and Philip II of Spain.

And January 2nd is my birthday, the most historically significant event of all!

A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

(If you had included your birthday in your profile, you would have had a delicious looking birthday cake w/candles posted next to your name all day yesterday...I recommend that all add their birthdays to their profiles. You needn't give the year of your birth--only the month and day)

Dear Friends,

There is a Cause for the canonization of the Servant of God Queen Isabella of Spain and our monarchist league up here is in support of it (along with that of Bl. Karl of Austria).

One website is: www.queenisabel.com [queenisabel.com]

January 2nd, on the new calendar, is also the feast of St Seraphim of Sarov.

Alex

And Seraphim of Sarov is the first saint I read about on my journey from Lutheranism to the Eastern Church.

Seraphim Rose also played a major role in bringing me to the church too. I've read all his books (and no, I don't agree with all of his views, but his books are fascinating).

If my wife and I have a daughter we like the name Seraphina (Sera for short).

Sorry, back to subject.

January 2nd is my birthday, too! I am now 21! FINALLY the law will get off my case! Zheesh!

Alexis

sweeeeeet.

Congratulations. Many happy years in health and happiness.