Happy Columbus Day, Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
On this October 12th, we look back to one of the most famous voyages in maritime history: the 1492 expedition of Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic Ocean.
On August 3, 1492, Columbus departed from Palos, Spain, with three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María. His goal was to find a westward sea route to Asia, opening new possibilities for trade and exploration. After stopping in the Canary Islands to prepare for the crossing,... moreHappy Columbus Day, Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
On this October 12th, we look back to one of the most famous voyages in maritime history: the 1492 expedition of Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic Ocean.
On August 3, 1492, Columbus departed from Palos, Spain, with three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María. His goal was to find a westward sea route to Asia, opening new possibilities for trade and exploration. After stopping in the Canary Islands to prepare for the crossing, the small fleet ventured west into the vast Atlantic.
For weeks, the sailors sailed beyond familiar waters, facing uncertainty, exhaustion, and the challenge of traveling across an ocean without knowing precisely what lay ahead. Then, in the early hours of October 12, a sailor aboard the Pinta sighted land.
The expedition had reached the Caribbean, landing on an island known to its Taíno inhabitants as Guanahani, which Columbus named San Salvador. The land was not uninhabited or unknown to its Indigenous peoples, but this voyage became a turning point in sustained contact between Europe and the Americas. Its legacy includes exploration and cultural exchange, as well as colonization, exploitation, and profound suffering for Indigenous communities.
For us as Christians and fellow Templars, this moment in history also invites reflection on courage, perseverance, and our dependence upon God when the path ahead is uncertain. Like sailors watching the horizon for the first glimpse of land, we must remember that our own journeys require patience, wisdom, and faith.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” — Psalm 24:1
The seas belong to the Lord. The lands belong to the Lord. Every nation and every people are His creation. May we never mistake human achievement for divine ownership, but instead approach the world with humility, gratitude, and respect for our neighbors.
So, brothers and sisters, as we mark Columbus Day, let us remember the history, reflect upon its lessons, and ask God to guide our steps wherever our journeys may lead.
May the Lord grant us courage in the unknown, wisdom in our decisions, and compassion for all those we encounter along the way.
— SGT Samuel Fisher
Priory of the Calvary Cross
Militia Christi
