Swords Beneath the Incense

Lyrics

[Intro — whispered chant] Sancte Michaël Archangele, Defende nos in proelio… Kyrie eleison… Christe eleison… [Verse 1] The bells still ring through ancient stone, Candles shake in trembling gold, Augustine wrote by empire’s fire Trying to guard the weak from wolves. Not every sword was forged for conquest, Not every shield was born from hate, Some men stood between the innocent And the armies at the gate. But Rome remembers every kingdom That baptized greed in holy names, Every tyrant cloaked in scripture, Every altar burned by flames. [Pre-Chorus] So the Church walks slow through history, Ashes underneath her feet, Holding both the cross of mercy And the scars of fallen streets. [Chorus] We are caught between the trumpet And the Sermon on the Mount, Between “defend the helpless child” And “forgive them” spoken out. Christian hearts in contradiction, Praying through the smoke and fear, Asking if the age of iron Still belongs to God down here. [Verse 2] Drones above like silent angels, Satellites replacing stars, Kings no longer ride on horses, Now they strike from screens afar. “Just war” once meant fearful limits, Chains to bind the hand of wrath, Never meant a blank permission For the strong to scorch the path. Yet every age corrupts its language, Every empire twists the creed, Calling vengeance “peace and order,” Calling conquest “human need.” [Bridge — Latin / Choir] Veni, Sancte Spiritus, Reple corda fidelium. Dona nobis pacem, Domine. Pacem… pacem… [Verse 3] And still the Gospel stands before us: Christ unarmed before the throne, Healing ears in Gethsemane While His friends reached for the sword. Peter struck and Rome kept building, Empires rose beneath the Cross, Some became protectors truly, Some forgot what Calvary cost. So the saints still argue softly Through the incense and the years: Can a soldier love his enemy While standing guard through tears? [Chorus] We are caught between the trumpet And the Lamb who chose the nails, Between the duty born of mercy And the grief of every shell. Christian hearts in contradiction, Begging heaven for release, Knowing justice without mercy Only multiplies the beast. [Outro — prayerful] Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, Miserere nobis. Dona nobis pacem. Not the peace of conquered nations. Not the peace enforced by fear. But the peace that bends the spearheads Before another mother weeps. In nomine Patris, et Filii, Et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.