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Christian History

Today in Christian History

September 11

September 11, 813: Charlemagne crowns Louis I “The Pious,” his only surviving son, as coregent of the Holy Roman Empire. Louis’s 26-year reign, though marked by civil war, was the longest of any medieval emperor until Henry IV (1056-1106). Deeply religious, Louis cleared the imperial court of pagan imagery collected by his father, sent his unmarried sisters to nunneries (partly to keep them away from scheming brothers-in-law), and performed public penance before Pope Paschal I for causing the death of his rebellious son Bernard, king of Italy.

September 11, 1226: The Roman Catholic practice of public adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass spreads from monasteries to parishes.

September 11, 2001: In the early morning, 19 militants from the terrorist group, Al Qaeda, hijack 4 planes, aiming to crash them into major American landmarks. Two planes were crashed into the two towers of the World Trade Center. One plane was crashed into the Pentagon building. A fourth plane, thought to be bound towards Washington DC, crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers, including Todd Beamer, a Christian father and graduate of Wheaton College, tried to fight back against the hijackers. Beamer’s words, “Are you guys ready? Let’s roll,” heard over an open phone line, became a rallying cry for many in the wake of the tragedy. The attacks claimed the lives of about 3,000 people.

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March 29, 1139: In the bull "Omne Datum Optimum," Pope Innocent II grants the Templars "every best gift" and makes them an independent unit within the church. Created to protect pilgrims from bandits in the Holy Land, the Templars rose in influence and wealth and eventually earned the jealousy of other Christians (see issue 40: The Crusades).

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