Today is May 13, 2022. There is really no special significance placed on this day except for one major detail: today is Friday, May 13, 2022. The day of the week is the factor that makes a big difference. In the human mind, Friday, the 13th of any month is a date seriously lacking in any good fortune. Friday, the 13th is stereotyped as a most unlucky date!
The origins of this misconception in the early days of the Christian era were based on the belief that Jesus had twelve major followers (apostles). Somehow, an extra one subtly integrated the apostolic dozen thus creating the ideal of the unlucky 13th. Of course, this reasoning is built on the presumption that all of the world is Christian, which we know is not true.
In some bizarre intrigue, Satan (devil, evil) had penetrated the “holy divine dozen.” In this assault on Christianity, the number thirteen (13) earned it’s unlucky classification. Blame it all on Satan!
Another theory as to the origins of the unlucky Friday the 13th exists and persists. This idea is supported by historical evidence that does offer us credibility although Satan is associated with this version of the unlucky 13th story also. For all of his rumoured might and power, that poor devil seems unable to lose his notoriety over the unlucky Friday the 13th legacy.
The next tale of this unlucky 13th saga is less biblical and more historical in content. It involves the Roman Catholic Church, a king of France, the Crusade, the Knights Templar, deceit, envy, greed, jealousy, history, myth, fact and fiction. Both a pope and Satan have roles to play in this gruesome epic; but, unfortunately, I am unable to serve popcorn as I relay all the tale to you.
Personal observation: for some unknown reason, Christianity, Satan and the “unlucky 13th” appear intimately involved in this legacy of misfortune.
The prelude to this segment of the unlucky 13th woe, the Crusades have already taken place. Christian armies, of which the Templar Knights were an allied force, had occupied the biblical lands and then been forced to retreat from them. Palestine was once again under complete Islamic domination. The Templar Knights had relocated themselves back into the safety of Europe and turned their attention from pilgrim protection in the Holy Land to banking and land management enterprises. The order was extremely wealthy.
Early morning, Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of all the Knights Templar living in France. The king owed immense amounts of money to the Knights and had no way to pay off his debts. He believed that by arresting the order, he could confiscate their wealth and become debt-free. The highest ranking members of the monastic order were locked in prison, including Grand Master Jacques de Molay, and the torturing began. Incarcerated and under torture, the Templars were viciously slandered as “homosexuals” (same gender loving) and who inducted recruits to their order while they all were naked together after spitting on the holy cross.
Pope Clement V was horrified when he was informed of the Templar rumours and of their massive arrests. He’d been elected pope almost solely because of the French king’s influence and support and he feared the Templar Knights power. However, as the number of confessing Templars increased due to the torture Philip was inflicting on them, Clement issued a papal bull (law) ordering the arrest of all Templars throughout Europe due to blasphemy and heresy.
Within a few days of torture, numerous Templars confessed to their alleged sins. Within weeks of their confession, most of the knights recanted their confessions and were put to death. This led Pope Clement V to terminate the inquisitions into their sins and to dissolve the courts. However, the papal action did not deter King Philip IV as he was busy dealing with the Templar fortunes he was now accumulating.
In 1310, two years after Pope Clement V had the inquisition ended, King Philip IV had Grand Master Jacques de Molay and the remaining leaders of the Knights Templar burned at the stake. The Friday the 13th fallacy was now officially over!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry for here is planned for Monday, May 16, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “Act-For-Skin!”
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 