Lance of Longinus -- The Spear of Destiny: The Life and Death of George Smith Patton Jr., #6

By Raymond C. Wilson

Beginning in the Middle Ages, the 'Lance of Longinus' -- along with other artifacts of the Crucifixion of Christ -- became the subject of legend, usually noted as a receptacle of mystical power. This 'Spear of Destiny' is so revered for its power in a battle that it remained a sought after weapon by emperors, kings, and generals up until modern times. There are several spears that claim to be the true 'Holy Lance'. They are: (1) the Antiochian Lance; (2) the Armenian Lance; (3) the Vatican Lance; (4) the Polish Lance; and (5) the Vienna Lance. This book digs into the stories behind each of the five spears in order to uncover the true 'Holy Lance'.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raymond C. Wilson
• Release date: Mar 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005225230

Raymond C. Wilson

Raymond C. Wilson is a military historian, filmmaker, and amateur genealogist. During his military career as an enlisted soldier, warrant officer, and commissioned officer in the U.S. Army for twenty-one years, Wilson served in a number of interesting assignments both stateside and overseas. He had the honor of serving as Administrative Assistant to Brigadier General George S. Patton (son of famed WWII general) at the Armor School; Administrative Assistant to General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley at the Pentagon; and Military Assistant to the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army at the Pentagon. In 1984, Wilson was nominated by the U.S. Army Adjutant General Branch to serve as a White House Fellow in Washington, D.C. While on active duty, Wilson authored numerous Army regulations as well as articles for professional journals including 1775 (Adjutant General Corps Regimental Association magazine), Program Manager (Journal of the Defense Systems Management College), and Army Trainer magazine. He also wrote, directed, and produced three training films for Army-wide distribution. He is an associate member of the Military Writers Society of America. Following his retirement from the U.S. Army in 1992, Wilson made a career change to the education field. He served as Vice President of Admissions and Development at Florida Air Academy; Vice President of Admissions and Community Relations at Oak Ridge Military Academy; Adjunct Professor of Corresponding Studies at U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; and Senior Academic Advisor at Eastern Florida State College. While working at Florida Air Academy, Wilson wrote articles for several popular publications including the Vincent Curtis Educational Register and the South Florida Parenting Magazine. At Oak Ridge Military Academy, Wilson co-wrote and co-directed two teen reality shows that appeared on national television (Nickelodeon & ABC Family Channel). As an Adjunct Professor at U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Wilson taught effective communications and military history for eighteen years. At Eastern Florida State College, Wilson wrote, directed, and produced a documentary entitled "Wounded Warriors - Their Struggle for Independence" for the Chi Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Since retiring from Eastern Florida State College, Wilson has devoted countless hours working on book manuscripts.

Book preview

LANCE OF LONGINUS

The Spear of Destiny

Written by

RAYMOND C. WILSON

Author of:

Out of Necessity

Commander in Chief

Martyr of the Race Course

The Hessians Are Coming

America’s Five-Star Warriors

The Men Who Saved West Point

The Men Who Saved the Liberty Bell

POTUS & FLOTUS: Washington to Biden

Tecumseh’s Revenge - The Curse of Tippecanoe

Pennsylvania Bucktails: Civil War Sharpshooters

Wounded Warriors - Their Struggle for Independence

European Royal Bloodlines of the American Presidents

Pass in Review - Military School Celebrities (Volume One)

Pass in Review - Military School Celebrities (Volume Two)

Pass in Review - Military School Celebrities (Volume Three)

Pass in Review - Military School Celebrities (Volume Four)

‘Twas Whose Night before Christmas? Moore Vs. Livingston

If These Walls Could Talk: Huling Hotel and Pack Horse Inn

Beyond the Bighorn: The Afterlife of George Armstrong Custer

Pass in Review - Military School Celebrities (Presidential Edition)

Custer’s Luck Has Run Out: George Armstrong Custer’s Changing Image

LANCE OF LONGINUS

The Spear of Destiny

Published by Raymond C. Wilson at Smashwords

Copyright 2022 Raymond C. Wilson

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Antiochian Lance

Chapter 2: The Armenian Lance

Chapter 3: The Vatican Lance

Chapter 4: The Polish Lance

Chapter 5: The Vienna Lance

Afterword

Appendix

Bibliography

About Raymond C. Wilson

Introduction

The Lance of Longinus (also known as ‘The Spear of Destiny’ and ‘The Holy Lance’) is the name given to the lance that pierced Jesus' side as he hung on the cross in John's account of the Crucifixion. The lance (Greek: longche) is mentioned only in the Gospel of John (19:31–37).

Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

Roman Centurion Longinus used spear to pierce the side of Christ

Jesus was accused of sedition a civil crime, not a religious one, which blasphemy would have been. But Rome had no religious affiliations so Christ was crucified between two thieves, which the word thieves can also mean insurgents." A Centurion guard was the commander over a group of roman soldiers whose only reward was glory in one’s death on the battlefield. Their jobs included overseeing crucifixions, a cruel and unusual method of disposing of insurgents. So the process was not about just killing somebody, but killing them in a horrible way.

The Centurion over these insensitive and heathens soldiers was probably the same one who arrested Jesus on Thursday night in the garden, who saw Peter cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest with a sword and Christ’s miracle of putting it back.

The Centurion was probably with Jesus through His four trials as the head official who maintained order. His soldiers would have been the ones who scourge Christ with "a multi-thong type whip used to inflict severe corporal punishment and mocking Jesus by throwing a cloak on Him as if it were a royal robe, putting a reed in His hand as a scepter and a crown of thorns on His head.

These soldiers were the ones who would have taken that mock scepter hitting Him in the face, spitting on Him, ridiculing Him as a fake king, Hail King of the Jews, not realizing He truly was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They were the soldiers who probably eye-witnessed the entire ordeal from the very beginning, down the Via Dolorosa to Calvary in an act of vulgar, unsympathetic and callous behavior in the presence of the Son of God.

Roman Centurion Longinus

The gospel states that the Romans planned to break Jesus' legs, a practice known as crucifragium, which was a method of hastening death during a crucifixion. Just before they did so, they realized that Jesus was already dead and that there was no reason to break his legs. To make sure that he was dead, a Roman Centurion (named in extra-Biblical tradition as Longinus) stabbed Christ in the side and immediately there came out blood and water (John 19:34). Roman Catholics generally understand a deeper meaning in this event. They see it representing the Church (and more specifically, the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist) issuing from the side of Christ, just as Eve was taken from the side of Adam.

Longinus converted to Christianity following Christ’s death

Longinus is said to have been converted to Christianity after noting the darkness descending following Christ's death, and because he was healed of his poor eyesight by Christ's blood flowing down his spear. The Centurion stood in the shadow of the cross and allowed the good news of Christ crucifixion to transform him as he cried out Surely this man was the Son of God!

Longinus is said to have given up his military life. He took instruction from the apostles and became a monk in Cappadocia. The fiery words of someone who had actually participated in the great events in Judea swayed the hearts and minds of the Cappadocians; Christianity began quickly to spread throughout the city and the surrounding villages. When he learned of this, Pilate sent a company of soldiers to Cappadocia to kill Longinus. When the soldiers arrived at Longinus’s village, the former centurion himself came out to meet the soldiers and took them to his home. After a meal, the soldiers revealed the purpose of their visit, not knowing that the master of the house was the very man whom they were