they are raping and slaying women and children*
Belgium weeps this day side by side with France,
they two are united in the bonds of affliction. Their
daughters are outraged, their sons are slain, their
holy places are being polluted. It is surely the Anti-
Christ who has come. In the name of the true
Christ, rise up and destroy him!
'Ah, my brothers, my sisters, I stand here before
you as your priest, but I also stand here as a man who
is filled with a righteous and enduring anger. And as
priest and man I solemnly declare that for us this war
is a holy war against a people possessed by Satan.
Yes, and this I declare in the name of peace, as one
who has given himself to Christ's service: there can be
no Christian peace in the world, no peace that is
truly pleasing to God until Germany lies defeated in
the dust and burnt in the flames of her own damnation!
Therefore listen you who are the fathers of sons, give
your sons without stint, give them nobly, gladly, for
to-day there is only one Father—God; and God it is
who demands them of you. And you who are the
mothers of sons listen also, give your sons without
tears, give them splendidly, sternly, for to-day there is
only one Mother — France; and France it is who
demands them of you. And you who are in the first
pride of your manhood, leave all for the sake of God
and your country; for the sake of a noble and honour-
able cause, for the sake of our hard-won civilization,
As I look upon you I feel my own youth rushing back
to me through your superb young valour. I feel your
strength entering into my arms, and into my voice,
and into my heart; and I say to the Christ: "Here are
those who will fight for the cross upon which You
were crucified!" And to France I say: "Behold your
defenders!"5
The Cure made the sign of salvation and left the
pulpit — the sermon was over.
335