On the power and perils of politics
From LanceaSanctum
Let's talk about power.
My first position of power after relocating back to north Texas was to attain the position of Bishop in Dallas. Shortly thereafter I added the title "Seneschal" to the title of Bishop. Then I added the title "acting Bishop of Fort Worth" to my resume.
Then I took praxis in Fort Worth, to end a war between Dallas and Fort Worth that the two Invictus Princes could not end themselves. I necessarily dropped the position of Dallas Seneschal, and became Prince-Bishop of Fort Worth and Bishop of Dallas.
Sounds like a lot of skillful political power-grabbing, doesn't it, especially when you consider I became prince of one diocese and bishop of two diocese about six months after arriving here.
It's true. It is a lot of skillful political power-grabbing. It's one of the things I'm good at. Not only that, my political reach has not ended there. I am the spiritual advisor for the Sovereign of an Imperium, and today sent a missive that I am certain will cause a Harpy who resides within neither Dallas nor Fort Worth, a Harpy whom the Sovereign himself named, to lose his position. I am not revealing any great scandal about said Harpy or anything like that, but he has offended me, and I wield enough influence over the Sovereign to accomplish my desire.
There is no direct spiritual benefit to removing this Harpy. I do not believe Heaven particularly cares about him one way or the other. I am wielding this power because wielding this power demonstrates my power to multiple witnesses, and that suits me.
I think it is probably fair to say that this recitation of accomplishments has raised a great deal of ire among some of the Sanctified. The above is very likely the epitome of what some rail against as the worst case of our true purpose getting distracted at best, getting corrupted at worst, by concerns for temporal power in the material world.
But let me share a few things with you.
One: Are you sure that this type of power is not in fact evidence of God's hand at work? Or let me frame it another way: is Heaven better served by having weak tools or strong tools?
Two: Until recently, I was the only Sanctified within my Diocese. Now there are two of us. The ascendent covenant here? The Circle of the Crone. The contender covenant? The Ordo Dracul. Were I not politically adroit, the Circle would certainly be in power. Would that serve Heaven's purpose?
Three: Because I am the Prince, I can open every meeting of the Damned with prayer--and all those Crones and Dragons (and others) voluntarily sit and listen. I have never held a mass where attendance was mandatory, yet some 50% of my masses are attended by Dragons and 95% of my masses are attended by Crones. Do they attend because they want to hear Heaven's wisdom, or because they fear my displeasure? I am confident that most attend for fear of my displeasure, and yet I still consider that an accomplishment, for words cannot penetrate to the heart if they are not first received by the ears. All harvests begin by planting seeds.
Four: when I first met Thomas Sabaska, he was a humble priest. After suitable training, I annointed him as a crusader and named him my paladin, to enhance his esteem. Then, I annointed him again as a bishop, and released the Diocese of Dallas to his care. Due to the esteem I earned for the Sanctified while I was Bishop of Dallas, he was named Prince of his Diocese as well.
Five: Unfortunately, though his spiritual development prospered, Prince-Bishop Sabaska's political acumen fell far short of my own. He became very oppressive, and was hated for it. Not one, or two, or three, but four separate individuals on separate occasions came to me to seek my permission to destroy Thomas Sabaska for different personal reasons, but all owning back to the tyrany he imposed upon Dallas. They feared to move against Sabaska without my blessing, because they feared and/or respected me too much to wish to incur my wrath.
Obviously I did not permit them to strike. I used my political prowess first to protect Sabaska and his praxis, and then when I could no longer avert a coup, I used my political power to insure he survived the coup. He is safe in my haven, where he will remain until Heaven sees fit to release him from torpor.
Condemn the politicians among us if you will. Condemn me for wielding temporal power. But without flexing the muscles of my sword arm, calling upon miracles or invoking the powers of my blood, I can keep Sanctified alive, insure Sanctified and Sanctified-friendly princes rise to power, and deliver the words of St. Longinus to Crones and Dragons week after week.
That is why I chose to send a letter which will surely remove a Harpy who has annoyed me from power. So that people will know I can. And because people know I can, my Diocese will not fall to the Crone, and my masses will be attended by Crones and Dragons, and the next time someone wants to kill one of the few Sanctified around here, they will seek my permission first, and when I say no, they will respect my wishes.
As Sabaska's case demonstrates, we're not all suited to a life of politics.
Yet the words contained in the Testament apply to all of us. There are no exceptions.
That is why the Testament does not discuss how we should handle courtly endeavors. Not all of us should try.
But you'll note, the Testament doesn't forbid us to try our hand at courtly endeavors either.
So until you can quote me wrong, stop pretending Heaven doesn't want us doing what we do best. Your sarcasm might be entertaining, but it isn't supported anywhere in the canon. And the notion that a damned creature like you (or me) truly has the inside track on Heaven's plans, that's the load of bunk, my otherwise respected and respectable friend. So please stop the hubris of judgment.
By the grace of Heaven, I remain,
Joaquin X. Mendoza Predator of God, Wielder of Power Temporal and Divine Bishop and Prince of Fort Worth, Texas North Texas Sovereignty
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