The Iron Lance by Stephen R. Lawhead Read Free Book Online Page A

the upturned faces of the overcrowded sanctuary. Bishop Adalbert stood for a time, gazing beatifically down from his lofty perch. Satisfied that every eye was upon him, he thrust out his hands and declared, “This is the favorable day of the Lord!”
    â€œAmen,” the congregation mumbled. The response sounded to Murdo like the sea when it lies uneasy on the shore.
    Again, the bishop put forth his hands and proclaimed, “This is the favorable day of the Lord!”
    â€œAmen,” muttered the crowd, sounding more and more like a fretful sea.
    â€œAmen!” cried the bishop triumphantly. “For this day our Saviour King will receive into his service men of faith who will fight for him in the Holy Land.”
    The cleric retrieved a square of parchment and made a show of unfolding and opening it. “This,” he explained, “has lately come into my hands: an epistle from our holy father, the Patriarch of Rome, bearing his seal.” He flourished the parchment to show the red blot of wax and the golden cord. Holding the letter before him, Adalbert began, “I read it thus: ‘Bishop Urban, servant of servants, to all the faithful of Christ, both rulers and subjects: Greetings, grace, and apostolic blessing. We know you have already heard that the frenzy of the barbarians has devastated the churches of God, and has, shame to say, seized into slavery the sacred relics of our faith, those blessed objects of veneration by which we recognize and proclaim the truth of our salvation. Alas! Not content to destroy our churches, the infidel have seized the Holy City of Jerusalem itself and would prevent God’s people their rightful worship.’”
    The good bishop paused to allow his listeners to more fully savor this dire state of affairs. “‘Grieving in pious contemplation of this disaster,’” Adalbert continued, making Murdo squirm, “‘we strongly urge the princes and people of every western land to work for the liberation of the Eastern Church. Who shall avenge these wrongs, who will recover the relics and lands if not you? You, my people, are the race upon whom God has bestowed glory in arms, greatness of spirit, physical energy, and the courage to humble the proud locks of all those who resist you.’”
    Adalbert looked up from his reading to gaze upon the assembly as if to say, I, too, have seen this glory, greatness and courage . He then cleared his throat and continued. “‘We have heard that some of you desire to go to Jerusalem. Know then, that anyone who sets out on this journey, not out of lust for worldly advantage but only for the salvation of his soul and for the liberation of the Church, is remitted in entirety,’” the bishop paused so to repeat this astounding offer with appropriate weight, “‘ remitted in entirety all penance for his sins, if he has made a true and perfect act of confession.
    â€œâ€˜O, most valiant knights, descendants of unconquerable ancestors, remember the courageous faith of your forefathers and do not dishonor it. I urge you to become Soldiers of Christ and follow the cross whereby you have received your strong salvation. For this purpose and to this end, we have appointed this a year of jubilee to be celebrated in the pursuit of Godliness and righteousness, the culmination of which is to be a pilgrimage to free Jerusalem from the wicked oppressor under which the Holy City languishes even now.
    â€œâ€˜Beloved in Christ, if God calls you to this task, know that this Most Holy Crusade will set out, with the aid of God, the day following the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. May Almighty God strengthen you in His love and fear, and bring you free from all sins and errors to the contemplation of perfect charity and true piety through this pilgrimage of faith.’”
    Here the bishop laid aside the epistle and, gazing benevolently over his congregation, said,