<italic>Pro Patria Mori</italic> in Medieval Political Thought<xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN1">*</xref>
Ernst H. Kantorowicz
CHRISTMAS, I914. Belgium then was occupied by the German armies. Cardinal Mercier, ultrapatriotic primate of and archbishop Malines, in many respects champion intellectual resistance his country against occupying power. To comfort flock to encourage fellow citizens cardinal distributed on Christmas Day, I9I4, famous pastoral letter Patriotism Endttrance. In it he developed some challenging ideas about relations between patriotism religion, otherworldly effects death battlefield. Who does not feel that is 'consecrated,' an attack national dignity a sort sacrilegious profanation r The had been asked whether soldier who fell service just cause (and ours clearly is) martyr. Prince Church answer that, strict theological sense, martyr, because died arms hand, whereas martyr gives himself up executioners without resistance.
The American Historical Review