Religious Sayings

Let this be your war-cry in battle: 'God wills it! God wills it!'

Let those who have been accustomed to fight for a little gain against Christians, now fight for an eternal reward against the infidels.

Go forth, therefore, and cleanse the Holy Sepulchre from the wicked race.

The holy city of Jerusalem is now held captive by the enemies of God.

Let those who have been accustomed unjustly to wage private warfare against the faithful now go against the infidels and end with victory this war which should have been begun long ago. Let those who for a long time, have been robbers, now become kni…

You should shudder, brethren, you should shudder at raising a violent hand against Christians; it is less wicked to brandish your sword against Saracens [Muslims]. It is the only warfare that is righteous, for it is charity to risk your life for your…

Oh, race of Franks, race from across the mountains, race chosen and beloved by God as shines forth in very many of your works... We wish you to know what a grievous cause has led us to your country, what peril threatening you and all the faithful has…

They destroy the altars, after having defiled them with their uncleanness. They circumcise the Christians, and the blood of the circumcision they either spread upon the altars or pour into the vases of the baptismal font.

Let the holy sepulcher of the Lord our Savior, which is possessed by unclean nations, especially incite you, and the holy places which are now treated with ignominy and irreverently polluted with their filthiness.

This royal city, therefore, situated at the center of the world, is now held captive by His enemies… From you especially she asks succor, because, as we have already said, God has conferred upon you above all nations great glory in arms.

Let those who have formerly been mercenaries at low wages, now gain eternal rewards. Let those who have been striving to the detriment both of body and soul, now labor for a two-fold reward.

The churches in which divine mysteries were celebrated in olden times are now, to our sorrow, used as stables for the animals of these people! Holy men do not possess those cities; nay, base and bastard Turks hold sway over our brothers.

Christian blood, redeemed by the blood of Christ, has been shed, and Christian flesh, akin to the flesh of Christ, has been subjected to unspeakable degradation and servitude.

This land which as the Scripture says 'floweth with milk and honey,' was given by God into the possession of the children of Israel. Jerusalem is the navel of the world; the land is fruitful above others, like another paradise of delights.

It is no longer a matter of avenging just the injuries made to men, but rather those made to God. It is no longer a matter of attacking a city or a castle, but of conquering the Holy Places. If you triumph, the blessings of Heaven and the kingdoms of…

A people, a truly alien people, utterly estranged from God, has invaded the lands of the Christians and has depopulated them by sword, plunder, and fire.

From the confines of Jerusalem and the city of Constantinople a horrible tale has gone forth and very frequently has been brought to our ears, namely, that a race from the kingdom of the Persians, an accursed race, a race utterly alienated from God, …

Of holy Jerusalem, brethren, we dare not speak, for we are exceedingly afraid and ashamed to speak of it. This very city, in which, as you all know, Christ Himself suffered for us, because our sins demanded it, has been reduced to the pollution of pa…

He who fears God fears nothing else.

I will not return until I have avenged the insult to the Holy Sepulchre.