I’m not sure it was a comfortable existence being a medieval peasant. Not only would peasants work the land but each knight would be required to provide men for his lord’s army if called upon. And peasant weapons were often reaping tools. Armour was only for those who could afford it. This is what feudalism meant - everyone apart from the king would owe some kind of service to someone. I would think that having to endure a loveless marriage might be the worst aspect of noble life. But sometimes arranged marriages worked out.
Every system has its good and bad sides, even communism, which is fundamentally bad because it denies human freedom given by God, which leads to the deprivation of other rights, had good sides as a political order. Feudalism is often romanticized through movies about moral and brave knights and kings, but even if you just look at the Bible you will see that those most holy kings like David and Solomon committed grave sins. For those like Herod, we know what kind of killer of innocents he was in order to preserve power and authority... He doesn't even belong in the 50% of the worst throughout history. Of course, feudalism offered protection to the peasants, that's where some of the first "protection" of the little man was organized, precisely because of numerous mistakes. But the reality is that human life was worth little. Every peasant was subservient to his lord, payment of large taxes, many were peasants by day and soldiers by night in numerous wars at that time... Castles were a breeding ground for immorality, adultery, mutual confrontations for power, and human life lasted 30- even years on average with numerous diseases, poverty, wars and famine that often decimated the population... The good thing, at least from the religious side, is that a difficult life often produces many great people. Man gets closer to God in suffering and weakness. When you are surrounded every day by the suffering, death and illness of your loved ones, your eyes look for God and the eternal where the same suffering, death and illness do not exist. Today, we see it as a "curse", but such a life may have been a blessing to them in the eyes of God if we are talking about the salvation of souls. Man renounced God when hedonistic society came where he has everything that feeds the body, and the body is in opposition to the spirit. Before God, we will see what the gifts were, and what the crosses were... In the end, any system that does not at least fundamentally deny human freedom can be good if the master is good and moral. Sometimes a handshake between two honest people is enough to close a deal and no contracts are necessary. Sometimes a detailed contract is not enough among thieves because one will look to cheat the other on a small matter. It all boils down to the morality by which society is guided, as well as individuals. We believe that the Holy Spirit guides the human race and history, but also allows people the freedom to decide their own destiny. I have no doubt that God will restore and "intervene" as needed. But I think that the human race will wait for a period for that to happen. Even the greatest atheist of all, Friedrich Nietzsche, said that without God and absolute truth and morality, the world falls into madness. In the Bible, it is a story about a prodigal son, who wandered away from his father and realized that life is not about hedonism, and man quickly falls lower than an animal without a merciful Father... God wants man back to himself, but he will not do it by force. He will give freedom, just as he gave it to the prodigal son, up to the extreme limits so that man understands that without God he is nothing and that only in union with Him is all the meaning of our existence. I think things will become far worse than they are because the voice of despair and cries is heard much better in silence under the cross, than in celebration. By the way, I agree with what you wrote, so you don't think my entry/post is a counter-opinion.
I agree with what you wrote, just to add a little more. There is a saying, pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you. I would say that it is similar in life and religion. We have to be focused on the present moment, I don't just mean apathy towards life because some are waiting for God to solve all the problems. Already this time was given to us on Earth, God placed us for a reason. As Padre Pio said, earth is a great battlefield and we must "earn" heaven. Even he who confessed for 15+ hours, said mass for 3 hours and comforted the sick and suffering, was looking for a way to build a large hospital, encouraged the construction of Catholic kindergartens so that children would not go to communist schools, and advocated in social life to promote religion and Christ. Our eyes must be on heaven, but we must not bury our talents here on Earth, but fight and do what we were appointed for, each with our own capabilities. Not through arguments, irritation and fear of the difficulties of the times, but through faith in Christ's victory that has already happened and hope for eternal life.
Seeing increasing chatter that Iran may be about to start an assault on Israel in revenge for killing of the Hezzbolah leader earlier this week. Flights into Israel being cancelled. Thus feels a bit different than what happened in April. . As always it found just be fake news but always good to pray as tensions are high in the region.
US government telling its citizens do not come to Lebanon and those there to get out immediately. I can only imagine what is coming. Prayers for ME https://lb.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-beirut-lebanon-july-31-2024/