Ironsides Family/Hades/Menedor Open

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This sermon was delivered by Hades Ironsides, priest of the Way of the Warrior Saints during the inauguration ceremony of the reconstruction of the temple in Menedor.


“Followers of the Saints, I thank you for gathering with me this afternoon to hear my sermon. Today I will speak about the importance of worship. First let me tell you how ecstatic I am to be standing here today. This region is close to me and I am pleased to see our religions efforts to return the temple come to reality.

As a priest, I have taken my faith to the next degree and dedicated my life to serving the Way of the Warrior Saints. What, however, should the average lay man do as followers? I will begin my lesson by telling you on how worship develops a community, and how this is important for maintaining your faith. As a member of this faith you belong to a religion that crosses regions and realms, where the temples are as close as your home and as far as your neighbours land. Being a member includes you in this wider gathering of faithfuls and opens the opportunity for you to engage with nobles you may likely never have met otherwise. This also allows for more variety of Saints to follow in our faith. We already have access to the tales of Saint Lansel the Hare-born of Falasan, Saint Valmyre of Eston, and Saint Conraed the Silver Knight of Abington. Each one is as noble and praiseworthy as any other. Having a community of religious followers allows us to see the sameness and the differences between nobles of this continent. How we are all different by birthland and service, but united by faith. A community around the Saints is only developed by worshiping them and following their way. Worship is an important activity as followers because it develops this community.

Next, I will speak on the personal benefit of worship. Most members of our faith, besides us priests and prophet, are knights and Lords. They are always on the move, always entering battle, always risking their lives. This can sometimes become a burden for the weary soul. We know that as humans we need a decent balance of work and rest to live healthy and be strong in our activities. Think of the danger a soldier faces if he fights continuously for hours on end? As praiseworthy as he is, we all recognize the pain he is inflicting on himself by avoiding a necessary break. Worship then can also allow a knight a break from his routine duties. It is right and proper for you, a faithful of our religion, to visit a temple at least once a week and take the time for reflection on the lives of the Saints. You may also find a moment to rest your exhausted body in the comfort of the temple gardens. By creating the habits of worshiping at the temple, not only are you giving the proper thanks to the saints, you are giving the time to quiet your life a little. On a personal level this is a healthy activity, on a greater plane, this is a way to maintain order on the land and stave off the Great Awakening.

Worship is a simple practice. All it takes is time and concentration. On your weekly visits, I would suggest you pick a saint to contemplate while you relax. Think of how you can apply the lessons of their life to your own. Use it as a time to further grow your faith in the Saints, to build an expanding community and to provide yourself with the required amount of rest. All of this is in line with our Way, and is part of the methods of worship.”