Knights Of Our Day

Every young lady has dreamt at one time or another of her Knight in shining armor; of the chivalry lived out in medieval times. Today, often knights are pictured as handsome young men who spend their days riding from castle to castle and rescuing the fair ladies. Doubtless such acts are honorable and to be admired by all, but I think often the honor and character of knights has been rather lost on the outward images our culture does so well in glorifying.

G.A. Henty is an especial author in painting an accurate picture of the lives young men lived as Knights of the Cross. In his novel “A Knight of the White Cross” he brings out well the duty of his selfless young characters, who live for so much more than pale-faced maidens in distress (though he never fails to end with the rescue of a gracious, courageous, and worthy young lady). In the beginning, young knight-to-be Gervaise is urged by his father to live for Christ;

“I trust that for some year after you attain manhood, you will expend your whole strength and powers in the defence of Christianity, and as a worthy knight of the Order of St. John.”

And before being knighted, Gervaise is counseled by a knight;

“Ever bear in mind that you are a soldier of the Cross. Avoid luxury, live simply and modestly; be not led away by others, upon whom their vows may sit but lightly; keep ever in your mind that you have joined the Order neither to gain fame nor personal advantage, but simply that you may devote the strength and the intelligence that God has given you to protect Christendom from the advance of the infidel.” (emphasis mine.)

That picture stuck in our heads of handsome and wealthy knights is not so accurate after all, in light of the simple and selfless lifestyles lived out by men 600 years ago. Knighthood can easily be compared to the simple, selfless, and pure lives lived by monks in their time. The images, stories and ideas we have in our day about rich and handsome knights is not so entirely accurate as their giving and chivalrous attitudes that are not stressed enough. Spending the majority of their lives living in humble service to their countries- battling Muslims and fighting off neighboring clans- they were not allowed to marry while in active service to the Cross. And yet their attitudes towards women were such as any lady, single or not, should admire and encourage. As a young Knight friend of Gervaise put it;

“… it is part of the education of a true knight to be courteous to women. It is one of the great duties of chivalry.”

Though we long to and take delight in sugar coating the tales of heroism of yesterday, the truth to be revealed is; what made the Knights such a legend of goodness and success was the hardships, struggles, and everyday duty that we find in our own lives, though doubtless living situations were rougher than today’s.

Such wonderful stories told of innocent, fair ladies and noble protective Knights! How we often long to be carried back to the day when we could roam the green hills and walk the castle corridors in the company of a people and culture so far from our own. And yet, Knights and Ladies are not so yesterday as often thought. If we will only draw from the courageous men and women of our history the lessons learned and virtues upheld, and rely upon the renewal and strength of a gracious King, we may transform our everyday life in a modern culture into another legend of chivalry and beauty.

May we, the teens of today, aspire to live as purely and honorably as those who are called to defend the honor or family, friends, and most importantly the Cross.