The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

II. Effects of the Saracen Menace

1. THE POPE AND CHARLES MARTEL

Let us now turn over some pages of the book of history, so as to follow the further development of the church. Hardly had the church recuperated from the violent upheavals caused by the migrations of the barbarians from the north when another more dangerous blow threatened her from the southeast. Out of Arabia, Islam began its victorious march. Sweeping from Asia through North Africa, and Spain, it began to encircle the Mediterranean and endanger Western Christianity. ⁴⁷ The pope was forced to call upon every available military resource to defend the faith from the followers of the Arabian prophet, who were so effectively attacking the Byzantine Empire. The pope was not left without protection. He could not look for help to the east, but help came from the north. It was Charles Martel, father of Pepin, who led the Franks in defeat of the Saracens in Gaul in 732, at the Battle of Tours, which saved Christendom from Islam. ⁴⁸ In gratitude Pope Gregory III sent him “the keys of the Confession of St. Peter.” ⁴⁹ PFF1 529.3

2. SARACEN CONQUESTS STIMULATE STUDY OF PROPHECIES

The Saracen inroads upon Christendom considerably weakened the rival patriarchs in the East, who had disputed the Roman bishop’s supremacy, and demonstrated the importance of union beneath a central authority. Still another result, bearing upon our quest, was that during the oppressive conquests of the Saracens the prophecies concerning Antichrist were searched anew by the monks and priests ⁵⁰—in the hope they would yield perhaps an indication that Mohammed or his fierce followers could be meant by the passages referring to Antichrist. PFF1 530.1