(I am nearing the end of my western tour of the U.S. There is a host of work to be done when I get home – both in significant projects and with this site. I think we have crossed the border into deadly territory, both spiritually and temporally. In global affairs, Church controversies, political scrums and our own home lives, there is much to be dealt with. We will speak of it together, going forward. As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King and enter into Advent, I think this little story I wrote is very appropriate for contemplation. I wrote it while I was on my pilgrimage, working on it throughout Mississippi and Louisiana, finally finishing it in Denham Springs, Louisiana. It is hard to write any time, but when you are sleeping in the woods it is even harder. Lordy, you do get plenty of time to work through difficult passages as you walk, though! This is a fictional story, a meditation on the Annunciation. It is NOT private revelation and should not be treated as such. I like to enter into deep contemplation of aspects of the Mysteries of the Rosary, not to figure out how things were, but to think of how they could have been and walk a little in the shoes of the great heroes upon whose shoulders we stand in our Christian faith. I hope you enjoy this and that it triggers some deep contemplations of your own. A hat tip to James I. MacAuley for suggesting publishing it now to me.-CJ)
By Charlie Johnston
Satan was brooding.
Eons ago, when he seduced Adam and Eve, Satan had expected the Ancient to drop mankind as a failed experiment and put things back to normal. Instead, at the very moment of this first triumphant indictment of the worms, the Ancient set a grand, celestial dance into play. Though he could not divine its meaning, the devil was sure it boded him no good. Since then those fly-eaten curs the Ancient called His prophets had proclaimed that the stately dance of the stars heralded the coming of a Messiah, one who would redeem the Ancient’s people and nullify the consequences of the fall. Much as he loathed them, Satan assumed the prophets were right. They usually were. Oh, occasionally he had been able to manipulate their fears, their vanity, sometimes even their compassion to implant a false notion into their heads. But it was rarely long before they corrected themselves, so it was not nearly as effective in sowing confusion as he had hoped it would be.
No matter. Lucifer had recruited plenty of false prophets of his own – and they had sowed plenty of confusion. It was easy. The gullible fools the Ancient so doted on loved a fortune-teller – and loved a sensation even more. If anything, Satan was a master showman. He
filled his ‘prophets’ with much frothier pronouncements then the real things usually produced. He gave quick results, too. There was little waiting, wondering and contemplating required to understand what his men were getting at. Best of all, his ‘prophets’ were masters at telling the little fools what they wanted to believe. Even when he sent gloomy messages of doom (which he did quite often) it was not calculated to change men’s hearts, but to set them against each other. Oh, how quickly even the most pathetic of the creatures was willing to believe himself specially anointed and enlightened to seize power and ‘save’ his fellow creatures from themselves. But if the competing visions of the Ancient’s authentic prophets and Lucifer’s frothy frauds succeeded in clouding men’s minds, Satan was not deceived. He knew very well which were his servants and which, the Ancient’s.
Lucifer chuckled. He wondered if the Ancient really understood what valuable information he was able to glean from the authentic prophets. Since being evicted from eternity, he could no longer see the future or read men’s thoughts. It had not been as debilitating a handicap as it sounds. He was, after all, Satan, a master of inductive, deductive and yet six other forms of logic mankind had nary a clue of. Most of the fools were so transparent and slow-witted it was a trifle to know what they were going to think before they thought it; what they were going to do before they did it; even what they were going to eat for breakfast a month from today and what they would wear while eating it. That was usually enough to convince men of his power. If more was needed, that was almost as simple. Send a false prophet out to tell a man he will meet another eating a pomegranate while riding west on a camel at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Take another of the servants you possess, give him a pomegranate and set him riding west on a camel at the proper moment and voila! It was enough to deceive the devout for a time; it would invariably make disciples of the silly.
For every authentic prophet the Ancient sent, Lucifer sent a thousand frauds. It should have been enough to discredit prophecy altogether, yet somehow it didn’t. Men could not see the distinctive halos that surrounded the real prophets, so that couldn’t be it. Lucifer thought of a father calling out, “Son!” in a crowd of children. However many heads turned, the father’s actual son snapped to attention. The Ancient must have given them some similar rudimentary instinct that recognized His Voice.
But now, urgent business was at hand. The celestial dance was nearing its climactic moment. A Messiah was at hand – and Lucifer was determined to identify the family into which this redeemer would be born so he could strangle the brat in its cradle. He summoned the only demon with whom he regularly took counsel, Mordred, to consider the matter.
“What news, Mordred? Have any new candidates for mother of the redeemer popped up?” he asked.
“We think you are right, eminence. It will be Rebekah. The lineage is perfect and they are one of the foremost families in Jerusalem. I have personally confirmed that her husband, Josiah, is secretly a Maccabite who burns for the overthrow of the Roman overlords. They are the perfect family to produce a redeemer,” Mordred bowed, then continued. “I must tell you, however, that a particularly intense light has flared from the womb of Elizabeth. We have not seen its like since Elijah. It is an agony for any of us to get within a mile of her. Is it possible…”
“I know of it,” Satan interrupted. “It’s a good catch. But remember, the Ancient loves to mislead us into wasting time and effort chasing smoke. What you must do is learn to think as He does. He misleads us by putting emphasis on matters that cause us to misinterpret His intentions. But He never lies on matters not subject to interpretation. The Messiah must come from the line of David. Elizabeth’s kid will undoubtedly cause us a host of problems, but he is a Levite. He is not the one we seek. What about Rachel? You’re not ignoring her, are you? It would appeal to the Ancient’s warped sense of humor to have the redeemer proceed from the namesake of the weeping mother of the lost children of Israel. Never underestimate the Old One’s guile.”
Mordred considered. “We are watching her, master,” he assured Satan. “She is the most obvious alternate to Rebekah. But the light coming from her does not feel right. It has not the martial quality one would expect from one who would be king. That quality was quite pronounced in David, Moses…even Abraham. It just isn’t there with Rachel. We will keep watch on her, though, for any change. Wormtail has suggested there is another we should watch.”
“Who is it?” Lucifer asked. “Wormtail is a bit slow, but he has a real knack with these humans – perhaps for that very reason. I am interested in his thoughts.”
Mordred cleared his throat. “Well, he says we should keep an eye on Mary of Nazareth…”
Satan’s eyes widened in astonishment. “You mean the daughter of Joachim and Anne? She isn’t even married, much less pregnant. And the family is just a tattered remnant of the royal line.
“Yes, I know. But she has just been betrothed to Joseph, the carpenter. The Davidic lineage is solid,” Mordred replied.
Satan’s eyes remained wide. “The Davidic lineage is laughable,” he spat. “That branch of the family is the impoverished detritus of the royal line.”
“With deference, your eminence, that is true…’
“Can it with the deference,” Satan interrupted. “You know I rely on your candor to help me frame my thinking. Just don’t let the others get any ideas about assuming such liberties.”
“Well, my point is, look at the prophets. Almost every one has come from a broken, decrepit line. You said, yourself, how crafty the Ancient is. Our problem is we think too much along the lines men do…”
Mordred faltered. Satan was glaring at him with smoldering fury. “We do not think like they do. They think like we do – and getting them to do so was no little accomplishment,” Lucifer bellowed, then calmed himself. “I take your point, though. What you are missing is that, in this case, it works very much in our favor. The people will not follow a pauper.”
“But eminence, David the King was, himself, a poor shepherd boy,” Mordred rejoined.
“Irrelevant!” snapped Lucifer. “At the time the Hebrews were just a contentious rabble. The glories of Israel had not yet been established. They would have followed anyone who promised them a little order and a little glory. But now they are captives of the pride and vanity that glory brought. If David, himself, appeared now as a poor shepherd and claimed to be their king they would have him stoned to death. You might as well suggest Mary’s brat will be high priest.”
“But as you, yourself, noted, that actually is impossible,” Mordred protested. “They would have to be Levites…”
Again, Satan interrupted. “Precisely my point. We have co-opted most of the leadership, Mordred. Really, almost all are in bed with the Romans. More important, every one of the leaders would rather remain overseers of a captive people than mere citizens of a great nation. They will be savagely hostile to anything or anyone that threatens their position. I’m telling you, Mordred, it would be easier for a non-Levite to become high priest than for a pauper to become king of this bunch.”
Mordred bowed his head. “Very well, master, but there are some things about this Mary Wormtail thought you should know. We are both puzzled concerning her.”
Satan pondered his servant a moment, then nodded his consent for Mordred to continue.
“Well first (and even her own parents do not know this) it was she who approached Joseph and encouraged him to speak to her father,” Mordred began.
“Ho ho!” chortled Satan, “A bold wench, eh? Sounds like my kind of girl.”
“No, master, that is what is most strange. She is the very model of modesty. It was not lustiness that moved her to act, but…well…we’re not really sure what it was,” Mordred stammered. “I think it has something to do with the strange light that emanates from her. It is unlike anything we have ever encountered. It is soft, but incredibly intense – and forms a strange boundary around her we cannot cross. It has some of the characteristics of the light Adam and Eve originally had…”
“Why worry, then?” Lucifer asked. “Adam and Eve worked out quite nicely for us.”
“I said it has some of those qualities,” Mordred retorted, more tartly than he intended. “There is much more to it than that. It is not painful at all to us, but if we draw too near to her it’s like…well, it’s like we start to dissolve. Everything gets dark, and it’s so cold…oh, so cold. We are suddenly all alone. It feels that if we did not back away quickly we would dissolve into nothing.”
Mordred shuddered. Lucifer was not chuckling any more. The Dark Lord was finally gazing into the distance with real concern. He sat in silent contemplation, then shook himself and looked back up at Mordred.
“Okay. Keep an eye on her. She and any kid she has will be serious trouble for us. But the Messiah will not come from her – and that is where we need to keep our focus right now. I want you to stay on Rebekah and Rachel. Send Wormtail out to watch Mary. He has a knack with humans, particularly those that cannot ever be possessed,” Satan ordered.
“Is that the cause of the peculiar barrier around her? Doesn’t that make her even more likely to be the source of the Messiah, master?”
Satan sat in silent contemplation. Part of his punishment was to be confined to the normal flow of time. He could not ‘look ahead’ into human affairs anymore. Not that it made much difference. He was not supposed to ‘look ahead’ without leave of the Ancient even when he had been counted among the favored of the heavenly host. Doing so without leave was part of what got him cast down in the first place. But in his eagerness to identify the redeemer, the devil had tried mightily to slip the bonds of time and sneak a furtive peak. It had been a complete failure – and trying to enter eternity had been frighteningly like what his servant had just said it was like to approach Mary. This was bad. Very, very bad.
“I’m not sure what it means, Mordred,” Satan told his servant frankly. “This is something new. What it does not mean is that she will be mother of the Messiah. People do think as we have trained them now. I tell you, they would not accept a redeemer from that seedy branch of the family if the Ancient, Himself, came crawling out of her womb. She will certainly be a new and vexing sort of trouble for us, but we must identify the Messiah before worrying about her. If we don’t stop him all our plans could collapse. Send Wormtail to glean what he can. YOU stick to the plan.”
“As you command, eminence. Forgive me if I remind you that Wormtail prefers to be called Barnabas when on mission. He says it helps him blend in with them.”
Satan’s somber face was suddenly re-animated with rakish mirth. “Oh yes…helps him blend, does it? Oh my goodness, he is almost as foolish and vain as the worms he infiltrates. What he thinks is that it lends him dignity and stature. Well, Barnabas it is, then. We need his very best work on this.”
Gabriel paced restlessly. He thrummed with nervous energy.
“Why are you so worried, Gabriel?” Chloe asked him. “You have been sent to speak to men countless times before. You are the Father’s most trusted messenger. Who else did you think He would entrust with the most important message in human history? And why would it make you nervous?”
“That’s why I needed to see you,” Gabriel explained. “I am the chief messenger, but when I am sent it is always as Grand, High, Exalted, Mystic Delegate of the Mighty God. I puff myself up to my most intimidating stature, call up my most commanding, imperious voice, toss off a few “Thou shalts…” and “Thou shalt nots…” and am on my way. But this time I am to announce, to soothe, even to try to persuade if necessary – and with the woman who would be the mother of the Son, no less! You have been guardian to so many noble souls. How do you talk to them…I mean…like in normal conversation?”
“Why, like you talk to me, Gabriel,” Chloe replied. “How else would you go about it?”
“Now don’t have fun with me, Chloe. I know they will be greater than us after passing 
through the cocoon of mortality, but we both know they are very slow-witted at this stage. How do you get through to them without scaring them?”
Chloe considered. “Well, yes, the best of them must contemplate the simplest concepts for years before they even begin to understand. They are easily distracted and really don’t listen very well. I often have to whisper the same thing over a thousand times to get them to hear me once. And that is the really good ones. So be patient and persistent, but very gentle. If you proceed in this manner, you will be startled at how much they can grow, even in that state. Trust me, if you keep at it, you will find yourself falling in love with them. I know I fell in love with the race long ago.”
“But how?” Gabriel asked. “It has to be maddening to cover the same ground over and over with them and still see them crawling off in the wrong direction. I have seen that too many times myself. I deliver a clear, compelling directive from the Father. They listen with awe, then go muddling off on some random tangent completely unrelated to God’s directive, while boasting bombastically that this is what God commanded them. How do you get through to them?”
Chloe considered, then smiled. “Tell me, Gabriel, have you ever closely watched a litter of puppies?”
“Why, yes, they’re adorable creatures. So brave and eager.”
“Ever tried to reason with them?” she pressed.
Gabriel opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. Finally he grinned. “I take your meaning. But the thing is, people reason almost as poorly. They are forever crowing with triumph over some insight they have had today that will obviously bring disaster tomorrow, but they can’t see it until they’re surrounded with ashes.”
Chloe started to respond, but Gabriel pressed on. “I know, I know. They are formed in the Divine Image. He has even made them participants with Him in creation. He allowed me to see what some of them will be when they are here. They are breath-takingly magnificent. Chloe, I was never, not even for a moment, swayed by Lucifer’s resentment that creatures who are so feeble there should become so glorious here. But they are feeble there. They routinely butcher each other; and for what? Their sojourn there is as transient as an anthill before an oncoming tornado, yet they value nothing so much as being lord, for a moment, of the anthill. All their most elaborate schemes only further enfeeble them. Even our old companion, Lucifer, has a purpose in mind with his war on men: to preserve our race’s pre-eminence in heaven and restore himself to favored status. It is a bafflingly foolish purpose, given the abundance we enjoy. It is as silly as if you were to resent me for being a messenger or I, you, for being a guardian. But at least it is a purpose. Men on earth, though, march mindlessly and relentlessly to their own destruction. How many times would they have succeeded already without the Father’s intervention? And they cheer…they cheer the most mindless destructors while celebrating the most ignorant, blind bullies among them as models of wisdom and enlightenment.”
“Are you finished?” Chloe asked, an affectionate twinkle lighting her eyes.
The wounded wonder melted from Gabriel’s face. He twinkled right back at her and broke into a toothy grin. “I do like to talk out loud, don’t I?”
“To the delight of all of us, the Almighty included,” Chloe smiled.
“Yeah, I know. I’ve noticed the mirth behind his eyes when I start emoting. I do love how quickly I can make Him smile,” Gabriel observed brightly. “But my questions…I really need to know.”
“You’re always so transparently and urgently earnest, Gabe. What a lovely gift it is! Let’s go back to the image of the puppies for a moment. They start off blind and feeble. As they grow a little, they love to fight and scrabble. At that stage they are usually lumbering and clumsy. It is their eagerness that charms. Throw a stick and the clumsiest will fall all over itself to get it and bring it back to its master in exchange for a pat on the head. Their joy, eagerness and transparent need to have their affection returned melt all but the hardest hearts.
“Yes, people are slow and clumsy. They are capable of the most savage cruelty. But they are also capable of the most sublime love. Consider it: they are so blind even the best of them struggle to see beyond their little existence there. The fear that death is their end, that there is nothing else lurks like a snake in their hearts, ever ready to strike. Even so, all but the meanest of them will sacrifice himself to save one he loves. Think about that. It takes your breath away, given their infirmities. The best give their lives for others they have never even met. As plodding as they are, I suspect the Almighty has given them a capacity for love greater than our own – even in that plane of existence. And we both know that love is the fundamental essence of the Trinity.”
Color rose in Chloe’s cheeks as she continued. “I wonder if your grief over the rebellion of your old friend, Lucifer, isn’t obscuring your own vision a bit. His work is much more destructive to his own stated ends then you think. Forget, for a moment, his colossal presumption in seeking to correct what he believes to be God’s error in creating humanity. Every savage cruelty they visit on each other is inspired by him – every single one. He exploits every element of their frailty; their fear, their vanity, their greed. Sometimes he even exploits their love – and that is one of the meanest forms of blasphemy. He doesn’t understand love, Gabriel. Anyone capable of doing to poor humanity what he has done is not fit to be called angel, much less named Bringer of Light. It is himself he destroys in his war against them – and we are well rid of him.
“The Divine Image is imprinted in each man, but they can choose to embrace the satanic image. Some embrace Satan so eagerly it obscures all evidence of the divine imprint in them. But their cruelty, their savagery, can only be a pale reflection of the master they have chosen. When you see brutality what you really see is the true face of Lucifer – a face he went to great pains to slyly hide from you here. How piteously sorrowful it is to see men seduced into abandoning their birthright. It has taught me about hate. I loathe Lucifer and would not want him re-instated to the heavenly host if he abandoned his savagery right now.”
Chloe was shaking with emotion, her face entirely flushed. Gabriel was shocked. She was usually the most generous and gentle of the angelic host. After a few moments, she calmed and continued.
“The main thing that prepares me in working with people, Gabriel, is to keep firmly in mind both what they are and what they may be. Most of all, I keep my duty to them firmly in mind. Do not indulge their weakness when they need correction. Neither let their weakness frustrate you to the point of disgust. Your duty is to help them become the saints they are called to be.
“The ones who are in most danger fancy themselves giants among their fellows. It is hard to reach them. But take care; some who know their weakness puff themselves up in an effort to hide it. With patient resolve you can reach them. The true ones figure out early how little they are, but their love makes them tenacious. They grab hold of sanctity like a bulldog with a rag – and Satan’s most vicious efforts can’t tear it from them.
“You will fall in love with those who are true, Gabriel. They start with such handicaps and such enormous obstacles, but nothing stops them. They stumble, they fall, they go charging up random blind alleys. But they keep getting up and starting over again. They only stop to minister to others along their way – and they do that even when they have stumbled themselves. Somehow, they get outside of themselves and their frailties and have eyes only for God. They actually learn to see Him through their fellows. In some of these you will see tantalizing contours on earth of the glorious beings they will be in the Father’s house. I have learned so much about how powerful love really is from them. You will, too, Gabriel.”
The great archangel gazed at Chloe in fascinated wonder. He was dazzled by her earnest conviction. He thought carefully before he spoke.
“Well, it is but to Mary that I am sent,” he began. “If she says yes, she will be mother of the Son. She will become Queen of Heaven, itself, in the fullness of time. Oh, Chloe, this is the pivot of civilization, the critical moment of salvation history. How do I speak to her?”
“Why, Gabriel, use your personality,” Chloe said. “You know how you rally us here. Your bubbly enthusiasm, your little pranks; we have all seen the Almighty, Himself, laughing with delight at you. And your sensitive, delicate compassion. When you had me laughing myself to tears with your silly little stories after I lost Aminadab to Satan, did you think I didn’t know what you were doing? But it worked. I went on to my next assignment with joy in my heart. Let her see you, Gabriel. Yes, she is subject to the infirmities of her state, but remember – she is exempted from original sin. She is immaculate. If any of them could appreciate you as we do, it is Mary – if you let her see you, fully.”
“Maybe I should make myself small when I first appear so I don’t frighten her,” Gabriel suggested.
“No!” Chloe exclaimed. “You go to her in all the glorious majesty with which God has cloaked you. Hide nothing. I tell you; she will appreciate you as we do. She is full of grace.”
Gabriel went and was true.
The coppery taste of fear filled Mordred’s mouth. Now it sat cold and heavy, like a rock, in the pit of his stomach – and was just as indigestible.
Lucifer eyed his lieutenant with wary impatience. “Are you going to tell me what disaster has befallen us or just stand there gobbing air,” he asked.
Mordred stiffened. “Permission to speak candidly, master,” he said formally.
“Blazing infernos, you know that is what I demand of you. Ask again and you’ll earn a trip to the pits,” Satan replied furiously.
“Eminence, I think you should consider appearing at court to end this. Ask Yahweh’s pardon, I mean,” Mordred said, still stiff and formal despite his trembling.
“What?!!! You dare speak the Name here?” Satan roared. “I should send you to the pits to gather your wits before you address me again.”
Mordred remained stiffly at attention. Lucifer considered. Something must have terrified his lieutenant beyond reason for him to speak in this manner. Satan shifted uncomfortably. Truth is, he had not been invited to appear at court again since the business with Job. The Ancient had seemed rather put off with the intense, gleeful relish he had taken in afflicting the man. But what had He expected? If the Ancient had wanted him to make just a token effort, He shouldn’t have agreed to the wager in the first place. Besides, the Ancient had won the bet in a convincing and unexpected fashion, so what was the harm?
“What has gotten you into such a state?” Satan demanded. His tone was by no means kindly, but made clear that a trip to the pits was no longer among the possible consequences Mordred might face for candor.
Relaxing, Mordred explained. “I was so curious about the peculiar effect that the light emanating from Mary causes that I set myself in her path as she went to draw water from the village well. I figured if I was completely disabled when she came near enough, the effect would eventually pass as she drew away from me.”
Lucifer’s eyes glistened with malevolent curiosity. “What happened?”
“It was horrific, eminence. I melted into nothing. It was so dark and so cold…but that was not the worst of it. If I had just ceased to be, as many of these humans fear happens with death, that would have been bad, but bearable. I remained fully conscious, though. And all there was to be aware of was darkness and cold and despair and hopelessness. Thank God it lifted as she passed away from me.”
Satan glared balefully at that last comment.
“Sorry, master, you know what I mean,” Mordred continued. “I wondered, what if this is the logical end of our rebellion? What if all we accomplish is to consign ourselves to the same cold, despairing darkness we are trying to consign them to?”
“It is the logical end,” Satan responded, “…for them. Look, I was the Ancient’s favorite. All we are doing is demonstrating that these new pets of His are not worthy of Him – and certainly don’t deserve to rank higher than us in eternity. You know, yourself, that the Ancient, Himself, invited me to prove my point with Job.”
Mordred did not look at all mollified, but stood in silence.
“Out with it,” Satan commanded wearily. “Let’s put this completely to rest.”
Mordred stared at his own feet for a moment, then gathering himself, lifted his head and 
said, “Begging your pardon, your grace, but the Ancient won the wager concerning Job. And you handled it yourself. You threw our very best stuff at him and lost. And in the process, four of his friends we had duped into thinking they were serving the Ancient while they were actually serving us were lost to us.”
Mordred waited for the blast he knew must come, but when Satan spoke it was almost gentle.
“That’s not the point. Yes, these humans sometimes show more reserves of strength and resiliency than I expect.” Satan waved his hand in the air and wiggled his fingers dismissively as he added, “The truth is, the matter with Job could have gone either way. The point is that the Ancient gave me leave to tempt and afflict him. What we do we do with the Ancient’s approval.”
“But what if the Ancient expected us to concede after that loss?” Mordred asked. “We keep getting deeper. Our temptations and afflictions keep getting more subtle and intense. What if we pass a point of no return? I don’t want to be alone in cold, darkness for all eternity. When was the last time you appeared at court?”
Lucifer was pleased that his visage showed no hint of how badly the last question stung. What he said was, “If we can destroy or seduce the Messiah or, even better, get mankind to reject him, then surely the Ancient will see that the whole business with humanity was a mistake. Then things will be put back to what they were. I assure you, Mordred, once I am restored to my rightful place as first in the Ancient’s favor, you will be first in my favor.”
Mordred pondered that. “Yes, eminence, but will you promise that if we fail this time, you will appear at court and ask pardon?”
Satan nodded. But what he thought was, “I will never take second place at table to these worms.”
Gabriel was overflowing with excitement. Joy bubbled out of him like water from a spring.
“Oh, Chloe, you cannot believe how magnificent some of these creatures can be!”
“Gabriel, I’m a guardian. It’s what I do. I have been working with them since the dawn of creation. I told you they would capture your heart.”
“But Mary of Nazareth…she was praying in a garden when I went to give her the message. I had thought and re-thought how to greet her and ended up just saying, ‘Hail, full of grace.’ She was startled as she looked up at me. I immediately wished I had come up with something more elegant. But after her initial surprise, I could feel what she was thinking. You won’t believe it. Take a guess,” Gabriel gushed.
Chloe suppressed the knowing smirk rising out of her and simply told the Messenger, “I can scarcely imagine…”
“She could sense I was nervous and wanted to make me comfortable…me, God’s chief messenger!” Gabriel exuded in wonder. “I fell for her right then and there. I explained everything to her. I was really eager to answer the barrage of questions I knew she would have. But you know what? She only asked one: how it would come about since she 
had taken a vow of perpetual virginity. I explained that to her and waited. All she said was, ‘I am the handmaiden of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to His word.’ That’s it. She didn’t ask how she was supposed to explain it to Joseph; she didn’t ask how she was supposed to avoid being stoned as an adulteress; she didn’t ask how to spare her family the shame of what it would appear to be. She just said, ‘Let it be done to me according to His word.’ I have spoken to white-bearded patriarchs who asked me dozens of questions and still didn’t get it right. But Mary of Nazareth…’Let it be done to me according to His word…” Gabriel mused in delighted wonder. “I just wish I had come up with a greeting that was more poetic, more worthy of her.”
“Why, Gabriel, you did better than you think,” Chloe replied. “Yes, ‘Hail, full of grace,’ is a bit stilted, but simply add her name and it takes on a lovely rhythm and describes her perfectly. It would not surprise me if, ‘Hail, Mary, full of grace,’ becomes the opening line of a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving that sounds throughout the ages.”
Gabriel was delighted. “That really does have a marvelous rhythm to it, doesn’t it?”
Chloe smiled. “And it is your greeting.”
“Oh, let me tell you about Joseph,” Gabriel said. “The Father had me stay near the family until all was accomplished. I figured I would have a hard time with Joseph. Sure enough, when Mary gave him the news he was shattered. I thought it would take weeks for him to get through the shock, hurt and self-pity enough so he would be able to hear me. But that very night, instead of wallowing in self-pity, he cried out, ‘O God, my God, what do You intend for me in this terrible situation?’ Can you believe it? I was able to speak to him right off in a dream. He understood, believed and rejoiced. How well the Father chose the people to whom He would entrust the Son, once He took on their humanity. I knew that Mary was Immaculate, but silent Joseph is nearly as wise as she. Though they are not as knowledgeable, I think these two may already be wiser than we are.”
“But the Son is not yet born,” Chloe objected. “I thought you were supposed to stay with them until all was accomplished.”
“Oh yes,” Gabriel answered brightly. “Once they set off on the road to Bethlehem all was accomplished until the time of the Nativity. A cohort of angels travels with them now. I will lead a band to announce the Son’s birth to some shepherds and others, then there are several things I will have to speak to Joseph and Mary about after the King is born. But I have a little break now to prepare. I’ve got to tell you what Mary did after she and Joseph were all settled about their Divine Charge…”
As with most of the heavenly host, Chloe had watched all that had happened, but she loved listening to Gabriel tell her how it had moved him.
“Mary heard that her cousin, Elizabeth, was pregnant,” Gabriel continued. “Knowing that Elizabeth was older (and how difficult a late in life pregnancy can be) Mary set off across the hill country to help her cousin through it. Astounding, isn’t it? In her own Annunciation she knows to leave the terrifying details to God. Then, hearing of Elizabeth, she knew to be an instrument through whom God would accomplish His purpose – all without being told. Are any of us in the heavenly host that full of grace?
“And, of course, it is the new Elijah, John the Baptist, that Elizabeth is pregnant with. So the first encounter between the Son and John was while both were still in the womb. John started kicking with joy the moment Mary entered the house, and God gave Elizabeth wisdom to know what this was. Then Mary began the most beautiful prayer I have ever heard with the words, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord…’ Oh, Chloe, that one sentence describes the unmistakable mark of all the varieties of authentic saints. Their souls do magnify the Lord, drawing the furious malice of those who are attached to the world or seduced by Lucifer; while giving hope to the broken, comfort to the afflicted, and new heart to the weary believers. She captured such profound truth in her opening words. You and I both know how terribly hard it is to capture even small profundities when constrained by language – and that is practically the only tool they have to communicate with each other.”
Gabriel was basking in the memory of it all and Chloe, in the contented glow radiating from Gabriel.
After a while Gabriel asked, “Do you think the Father will let me continue to visit with His servants rather than just carry commands? They are so delightful – and now I have seen the regal imprint of divinity that is in them, even in this state, when they bear it. Lucifer has gotten it all wrong. They are worthy heirs of the kingdom we are servants in. I want to help them and be their friend as they struggle to gain their inheritance.”
Chloe answered immediately. “Gabriel, you are a natural. I am sure the Father will send you to help many of His servants as He fulfills the Old Covenant and enters into the New. Just remember that they can abjure their inheritance, too, and go chasing after the paper and paste they think are riches in that world. When they scorn the precious gems and pearls that proceed from the Father in order to horde the worthless trinkets they think are riches, it will break your heart.”
“I know, Chloe, I have visited many such men over the millennia,” Gabriel responded sadly, “But now that I have seen up close what they can be, I want to help and know as many as the Father will send me to.
“You know, the only thing I will miss while the Son is there are the stories. The Father tells such wonderful stories, but He only tells them through the Son.”
“Why, Gabriel, your excitement has gotten the better of your wit,” Chloe exclaimed. “That is exactly what the Father is doing right now. This has got to be the greatest story ever told – and you are its opening act.”
Gabriel gaped at Chloe in astonished wonder. “It is, and I am, aren’t I? How abundantly the Lord has blessed His servant!”
Just then, an event in time caught the angels’ attention. A gentle plume of brilliant light bloomed in Bethlehem and grew to fill all the earth. The birds and beasts cooed and mooed in joy. The trees swayed in adoration. The winds sighed through the mountains in glad relief.
Gabriel looked from Bethlehem to Chloe and said, in hushed awe, “He is with them.”
“You better get moving, Gabriel. I believe you have some announcements to make,” Chloe smiled.
Nine months earlier, hell had gone on red alert.
Wormtail, who had been trailing Mary of Nazareth, had been badly hurt when it happened. The light was so powerful that both Mordred and Lucifer came rushing as near as they dared. It could only be an archangel. Lucifer recognized the glow at once as that of his former friend, Gabriel. Still, even Lucifer could not draw near an archangel without leave of the Ancient. To do so was to suffer unbearable agony – agony that lasted long after the encounter had ended.
“What does it mean, Eminence?” Mordred asked. “Is Mary to be mother of the Messiah, after all?”
“I don’t know,” Satan responded. “It could be a distraction to focus all our forces around Mary and miss our main chance. On the other hand, the Ancient never sends Gabriel unless He means business. Send five more demons to watch Mary until Wormtail recovers, but keep those that are on Rebekah and Rachel with them. Whatever this means, the time is at hand and I want at least three tails on every serious suspect.”
It was just a few more days before Satan knew exactly what Gabriel’s visit meant.
“Aiieeee!” he screamed as the Savior took root in Mary’s womb. “Is there no end to the Ancient’s trickery? He has come, Himself, in the person of the Son. We cannot touch Him.”
A Sign of Hope 
Good call, James! Thanks, Charlie.
And THIS has echoed in my heart since I first visited TNRS: “On the other hand, the Ancient never sends Gabriel unless He means business.”
Chop, chop, chop chop, chop.
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If a high school student were to ask me to succunctly describe the nature of the Dimocrat Party now in general, and their typical Presidential candidate’s morality in particular –voila, I have found a perfect summary here in Charlie’s tale by substituting “Dimocrat” for “prophet”:
” Best of all, his ‘prophets’ were masters at telling the little fools what they wanted to believe. Even when he sent gloomy messages of doom (which he did quite often) it was not calculated to change men’s hearts, but to set them against each other. Oh, how quickly even the most pathetic of the creatures was willing to believe himself specially anointed and enlightened to seize power and ‘save’ his fellow creatures from themselves. “
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Yippy skippy new piece😄😄😄 looks like long one and I just got home so I’ll comment soon…thanks Charlie…praying for you and hope you get to go home for Thanksgiving 🤗😇😘🦃
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Loved your “story,” and wanted it to go on, to see how it ended!😉
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I’m really greedy. I want one for every mystery! Love it, Charlie. BTW, then I want them bound in a hard book so I can hold it. Yes, greedy, I know.
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That is the intention, Nance. Of course, I will have to make a special presentation to Granny’s Farm!
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Charlie, what are your thoughts on Sister Sasagawa’s receiving a new message on October 6, 2019. I read about it on Father Heilman’s website on November 3. An angel appeared to her at 3:30 am on October 6, 2019 (the date of the beginning of the Amazon Synod) gave her a private message and to convey to everyone to “cover in ashes” and “pray a Penitential Rosary every day.” If you go to Father Heilman’s Roman Catholic Man site, you will be able to read about it.
Sincerely, Julie
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I will have to get back to reading this, it is a long one. Interesting they could not tempt Mary.
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I can’t wait for some “quiet” time to read this ….Theresa323..probably during Browns game sunday…lol…but I distinctly remember the last time Charlie put this up (I believe it’s the same one I remember. ..) and being totally amazed Our Mother had to go fetch watee daily for their veggie stew broth they made communally. ..oh and the fresh baked bread…I bet it was soooooo good🍞🍜🍷😄
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I still haven’t read it yet because I want to take my time…but we saw David Daleiden on Fox news tonight. .it was the Martha hour, but wasn’t Martha. A different girl…but very very good coverage and David did a wonderful job…God bless him soooooo much…oh my gosh…just HUGE!!!!
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My favourite Charlie story. Thank you for sharing this again, Charlie!🙂😀
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Hi Charlie, I never read this post before. I’ve read other meditations on Mysteries of the Rosary, but no this one. How wonderful, especially as you said in anticipation of both the Solemnity of Jesus King of Kings and Advent in preparation for Christmas. A great reminder of the good, holiness, and light in the universe, not just the darkness that seems to be all around us lately. I liked the C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters style of this meditation. It makes me want to meet Chloe and Gabriel all the more. God’s blessings to you, Charlie, also Beckita and all here. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.
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Happy Thanksgiving to you as well, Deon, and all our ASOH families.
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P.s. love how you call God the “Ancient” very cool…that word alone draws one into deep contemplation and wonder…🤗😇(sigh)🤗
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Man, Charlie. I’m only 1/3 of the way through this, and so many current applications come to mind. You wrote this several years ago, when you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Or maybe you had . . . .
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Charlie says: “There is a host of work to be done when I get home – both in significant projects and with this site.”
Phooey. More work. Whatever happened to vacations!?! 😀 😀 😀
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I know Stevebc I pondered that too…lol..
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Charlie, this beautiful story makes me anxious to join in the angelic conversation. Much work to be done here, though, so in His time.
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Charlie A most delightful tale. I particularly enjoyed the nuances that told the basic tale with deep insights, the humorous way you portrayed the angels with human emotions and thought patterns. You got the points across simply and respectfully with inspiration. Loved it. jas
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I have been going through a very busy and somewhat stressful time. The past couple of days I was feeling that I was not at all ready for Advent in my mind or heart. I was asking God what I could do to put me more in the presence of the season that is upon us.
This wonderful meditation has swept away the cobwebs and chased away the shadows in my brain. By the time I finished reading I was energized, hopeful and looking forward to the preparation time of Advent and the joy of Christmas.
Thank you Charlie for a wonderful story and a very timely reprinting.
Let us prepare our hearts for the child King!
JT
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Jtbrannigan I so get that what you said…life is just too busy and seems to get busier the more modern conveniences we get.. lol…hang in there though. ..we are all hanging together
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Amen. ❤
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Loved this. A copy of your first picture hangs to the left of the main altar in our parish church St Hillaires here i Blanzay.
Christus Vincit
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Very enjoyable and insightful piece of work, Charlie.
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Up to this part…and isn’t this all true of the spiritual life…wow
“You will fall in love with those who are true, Gabriel. They start with such handicaps and such enormous obstacles, but nothing stops them. They stumble, they fall, they go charging up random blind alleys. But they keep getting up and starting over again. They only stop to minister to others along their way – and they do that even when they have stumbled themselves. Somehow, they get outside of themselves and their frailties and have eyes only for God. They actually learn to see Him through their fellows. In some of these you will see tantalizing contours on earth of the glorious beings they will be in the Father’s house. I have learned so much about how powerful love really is from them. You will, too, Gabriel.”
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As Always! ……. CHRIST the KING is the GOOD NEWS 😉
https://www.thesacredpage.com/2019/11/the-end-is-here-feast-of-christ-king.html
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/kristine-marsh/2019/11/22/huge-win-judge-allows-sandmanns-suit-proceed-against-nbc
https://stream.org/jesus-wasnt-nice-and-his-followers-shouldnt-be-either/
YUP!! Considering what we have witnessed these past 10 years I don’t have any reasonable explanation other than Satanic/Demonic Power myself:
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/franklin-graham-claims-demonic-power-behind-attacks-on-trump
https://townhall.com/columnists/katieyoder/2019/11/22/media-hype-planned-parenthood-abortion-app-ignore-prolife-ones-n2556928
https://cnsnews.com/blog/craig-bannister/44-blacks-say-civil-war-likely-within-next-5-years
We know there is massive Voter Fraud in the USA & we know it’s 99% Democrat Fraud ’cause if it were otherwise ABCNNBCBS-PBS would be howling 24/7.
https://cnsnews.com/article/washington/susan-jones/sen-graham-seeks-documents-joe-bidens-dealings-ukraine
Let’s see if Spineless RINOs will allow the below to be thoroughly investigated in Senate?
https://cnsnews.com/article/washington/susan-jones/sen-graham-seeks-documents-joe-bidens-dealings-ukraine
https://www.theepochtimes.com/sens-johnson-grassley-seek-records-on-obama-officials-meetings-with-ukrainian-and-dnc-officials_3154740.html
YUP!! Considering what we have witnessed these past 10 years I don’t have any reasonable explanation other than Satanic/Demonic Power myself:
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/franklin-graham-claims-demonic-power-behind-attacks-on-trump
… & Ol’ Pegs cast her lot with The Swamp long ago:
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2019/11/peggy-noonan-reminds-us-why-trump-won-bruce-thornton/
https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2019/11/22/peggy-noonan-trumps-defenders-have-no-defense/
https://townhall.com/columnists/sheriffdavidclarkeret/2019/11/23/obamas-deadly-school-discipline-policy-n2556756
GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
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I sometimes wonder if such a drama (as above) is happening. I often wonder about the huge void historical knowledge from before Noah’s, we know next to nothing of that era, which our generation is compared to. I often wonder if humanity knew their true history, we would fare better…
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Very enlightening article…
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Wonderful, Charlie! It reminds me of meditating on a mystery of the Rosary once, don’t remember which mystery. However I saw a scene so clearly in my mind, a true gift from the Lord and Mama. I could actually feel myself on a narrow cobbled road in the middle east, Jerusalem maybe, walking down this road that looked like little more than an alley. Don’t remember all of it, except for the feeling I had that I was really there. God is so good!
The angels in your story are so real and I love speaking to the angels in my prayer time. As someone above said, won’t it be amazing to meet them after this life! If we really quiet ourselves and address an angel, or Mama, St. Joseph, etc. and tell them of our love and appreciation, we can feel their presence. How awesome to be part of a mystical body!
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Speaking of angels! Our youngest called this morning with a story of how their guardian angels protected him and his wife last night. Stopped at a red light which then turned green and M. turned and saw a car obviously not intending to stop on his red light. They paused and the other car plowed through missing them but hitting the car next to them. Thank God the people next to them had only the bumper hit which spun them around, but they were not hit broadside. M and his wife were not touched and they knew it was their angels who saved them. (All of you take heart, Mama and Jesus will bring our kids back to the Church, as they will with these 2 kids who pray, but need to come all the way back.)
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Amen! ❤
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Here is the video:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/watch-angel-car-saves-couple-with-stroller-from-red-light-runner/vi-AAJjnez
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Thanks for a well-written and delightful tale. There is much to think about here.
The Shire post was a good one as well.
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Just then, an event in time caught the angels’ attention. A gentle plume of brilliant light bloomed in Bethlehem and grew to fill all the earth. The birds and beasts cooed and mooed in joy. The trees swayed in adoration. The winds sighed through the mountains in glad relief.
Gabriel looked from Bethlehem to Chloe and said, in hushed awe, “He is with them.”
What a beautifully illustrated narrative of Holy events, Charlie. Oh Mother is so powerful in her humility. ..it was just surreal and such a joy to re-read…thanks for sharing, Charlie….gosh you can really write good!!!
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I remember reading this once before. It’s one of my favorites! Thank you so much, Charlie!
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A Blessed Advent to one and all! Love you.
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Same to you and love you too Dianebelvs 🤗😇😘
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Thanks so much dear Linda!
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Loved this, Charlie, even more this time.
Currently we are driving across Kansas in the dark with our 2 dogs from Pittsburgh to our new home in Colorado Springs
We will be sharing Thanksgiving with our new neighbor, a real rocket scientist who was responsible for clearing the skies safely on 9/11
With NORAD in Cheyenne Mountain
He said he was born for that day
His specialty is space debri
He is devoutly Jewish
And a great story teller just like you
I hope you get to meet him when you come to the Springs in February
Love
Narnialion
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Prayers for you and your family, Arwen, as you travel and settle into your new home.
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Enjoy “The Springs”, Arwen. It is a city of trees and friendly to hikers and cyclists. It was my home for many years and I know it well. Still go back to visit friends. God bless.
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This piece helped me to feel even closer to Our Blessed Mother. Personally, her sweetness, innocence and pure love for everyone came through. ..💞
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We have a Crisis of Truth in our country and worldwide. Some people’s “facts” are completely opposite of other people’s “facts.” Both can’t both be true. Sources of information can be true, mistaken, or intentionally deceptive. Somehow this fits into Charlie’s story posted here.
Of relevance in our current world, have you-all been following Rudy Giuliani’s recent twitter posts?
We’ll see how this all plays out.
Saint Michael the Archangel . . . .
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Too many *boths*. 😉
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Speaking of angels… I was at a craft show yesterday and met a former, converted Catholic who fell away after divorce with her cradle catholic husband…. she went on to working with crystals and taking lessons from a Shaman to talk to her “Angels”. Please pray for her. I did not correct her, or enlighten her about her “Angels”. All I said was sorry to acknowledge her feelings of being mistreated by the Church after the divorce.
Let me tell you all, it was my own Guardian Angel who helped me relate to this woman. I was naturally repelled by the darkness I perceived around her. I felt emboldened to represent the faith in little ways since the show was at a Catholic Church. Thank God.
It occurred to me later that hopefully she will be disposed to coming back to God during the illumination of conscience from her experience at the Craft show.
And so I think of all the other lost opportunities to evangelise and hope to do God’s Will in all things. Thank you Lord for your Great Mercy!
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Praying, Little One.
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Sometimes the best you can do is love them where they are…we will pray..plz pray too for my neighbor who’s name is Linda too…she’s been on antidepressants and has been having bad dreams about the satan..she says she’s sure it’s the satan as she’s trying to come to God and devil is mad mad mad. ..she said shes reading her bible and sometimes she feels God is giving her a sign He hears her, but then thinks…oh i must be imagining it…she’s not catholic so won’t pray rosary I offered her, so asking for prayers for her…thanks fellow tnrs’s… told her about suffering and offering up for other souls…quizzical about it but gave a nod…aren’t we lucky to know what we know …😆 I know, I know no junior partners but catholics that know their faith do have a slight edge with daily Mass, sacraments rosary, Saints etc etc etc…and yet…grace and mercy for all…we can all fail from time to time 😢😢😢
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Praying for Linda, Linda. 🙂
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Linda, I have offered a prayer for Linda. How blessed you are to have each other. ❤
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Thanks so much jlynnbyrd…I’ll say a prayer of thanksgiving for you🤗😇😘
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If you can, have her pray the “Auxilium Christianorum”
I have been praying it and the rosary and no longer use any anti/depressants. I am inclined to think that I had a case of Oppression which my new prayer life dissipated.
Also, my thoughts were clearer after going off medicine. Praying for Linda.
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Yes, I pray those prayers too…in my case, I feel confession gets the demons to leave me alone for a bit..yikes…great spiritual battles going on…not sure she would though..she’s one of those very anti go to Mary girls..too bad…she’s the one who could help her the most..thanks for prayers littleoneinpa🤗😇😘
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Happy Solemnity of Christ Our King everyone!!! 👑🌎 (😣There is no emoje for universe!)
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Hail Redeemer King Divine!
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❤
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Beautiful!
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Radiant Beckita 🤗😇😘
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Lovely, touching, beautiful prose. Thank You, Charlie!
My “irish” daughter sent this in our group chat this morning. I don’t preach much to my 6 kids, but every now and then it shows that they are hearing the message!
“We went to Frozen 2 last night and loved it! Couldn’t help thinking of mom’s ‘right next step ‘ during this song!!”
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❤
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Ha! We took out daughters to see Frozen 2 on Friday night and I had the same thought. At the time the song is sung, the character singing is in a dark place where all hopes seems lost – and she determines that all she can do is “the next right thing”. All that was missing was the “Acknowledge God” part, which we can supply!
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How perfect for us all.. Thank-you MaryC!
God bless us all.
katey in OR
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Randomly opened this message from green book this am…Jesus is soooooo wonderful 🤗😇😘 thought it would help hearten ya’ll. ..reminds me of Jesus telling Charlie, “YOur a game little puppy!”Was that the quoteam corectly?
January 15th 2004
Jesus the king message to Anne a lay apostle 👑
My brothers and sisters of the world must prepare their hearts to welcome their King. In past times when groups of humanity were ruled by Kings, all would prepare for the return their ruler following his absence. Well, I have been away from your world in the physical sense for many years. Now I’m prepared to return. I am ready. Your world is not. What must you do to be ready? My brothers and sisters in the world must prepare their hearts. How do you want me to find you when I come back? Would you be so immersed in the world that my return will be an unpleasant and shocking Interruption of your worship of the false gods of materialism and sensuality? That will not be good for you, dear Soul, because you will not understand or fully experience the joy that is rightfully yours. You must be prepared to claim that joy. You must set an example of peaceful and watchful Readiness. When I find you, you will want to welcome Me in all recollected Holiness. Do I demand that you become a saint overnight? My little soul, of course I do not. This is not even possible for you. I do not expect it. Like a welcome and beloved guest, I look not at how high you have reached spiritually, but how willing you are to work with me on your soul. I am looking for a calm acceptance that you are my subject and live in My Kingdom. You’ll be lifted up in My kingdom. You re one of my close advisers and friends who, upon my return, will bring me all manner of news and request. You will say, “Lord, God of this world, all is not well with this Soul. This Soul needs your special help.” And Because you are my faithful one, the souls who you recommend will have My special help and also My special Mercy. You will say also, “Lord, God of this world, I would like to see your influence more strongly in this school, this hospital, this church, this religious order, this political group. ” I will say, “Good idea, servant of the king. You shall have what you request, because you are My faithful subject who waited for me in faith and love.” Do you see how we will spread My kingdom? You will not be spit upon any longer. You will have the power that is heaven propelling My ways throughout your world. I have selected you and place you right where you are so that you would be available to bring me where I need to go. Prepare your heart, My beloved servant. I am coming. I will scatter the darkness with one wave of my arm. Evil will cower in vain, as I see all. There will be no more hiding behind the guise of goodness. Now in all joy, and all gratitude, prepare your heart to receive Me.
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This is beautiful, Linda. How I hope I am one of those the Lord can count on! It is wonderful to hear Him say that those we ask Him to help will receive that help and mercy because we have been faithful. Oh, let it be so for each of us, Lord!
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Anine W. I know her messages are true like Charlies are. I cannot tell you how often I feel nudged to randomly open this book or that book and it’s always so appropo to what’s going on….I’m so sure you’re one of those Jesus was talking to…for you read it, and was heartened. I’m learning with God that there are NO consequences with God😆 I still remember where I was and what I was doing…cleaning..lol…when I heard fr pacwa talk about Charlie on then…annunciation radio..tnrs asoh
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I just LOVE this story! Glory! Viva Cristo Rey!
Listening to Handel’s Messiah on this great solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
Praising God. Holding you all in prayer.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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Happy Christ the King Day … Viva Christo Rey! 😉
http://blog.adw.org/2019/11/king-thieves-king-universe-homily-solemnity-christ-king-2/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/christian-school-florida-prayer-federal-court-football-game
https://stream.org/a-jim-crow-future-for-christians/
https://www.afa.net/projects/naughty-or-nice/2019-naughty-or-nice-list/
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2019/11/22/atheist-group-calls-kanye-west-prison-worship-service-egregious-violation-of-constitution/
The below Head-Lines & articles tell me that Old Christendom is Toast within a generation sans Divine Intervention….. USA same course ;-( :
The Two-Faced Muslim Leader that Pope Francis Loves and Trusts
Human Excrement Smeared at Vandalised French Church
Bosnia: 24-hour curfews introduced at overwhelmed migrant camps along the Croatian border
Norway: Anti-Islam Group Slammed After Violence at Quran Burning Event
Men arrested for Halloween gang rape of 14-year-old German girl identified as Iraqi, Afghan, and Iranian
Illegal Immigration Likely to Become a Problem Post-Brexit, British Experts Warn
https://gatesofvienna.net/2019/11/its-1801-all-over-again/
https://www.crisismagazine.com/2019/europe-is-falling-to-islam-will-america
https://www.citizenfreepress.com/breaking/disturbing-tweet-from-katie-hopkins/
I’ve been wondering for a long time when/if an Argentine Church Scandal would develop that might implicate the Pope. The Media that seems to “love” PF so much now will turn on him in a NY Second to destroy The Catholic Church. ;-(
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2019/11/21/argentina-issues-arrest-warrant-for-msgr-zanchetta_7fd46b21-7830-41de-a01f-d9c69ce6fedb.html
…an article that was sup[posed to be with comment in yesterday’s post!?
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/11/election_fraud_on_a_national_scale.html
GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
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Hahaha just remembered! “You’re a game little fellow!!!” Not puppy…lol…sorry, Charlie 😆
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Great memory, Linda! “You’re a game little fella,” it is. May we all be game little fellas for the Lord. 🙂
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Lol..Beckita I have horrible memory..can’t believe I called Charlie a puppy…hahahahaha 🐶
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Ha! No worries, Linda. It sounded like a sweet and frisky pup in the story. 🤩
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Sure did…what adorable imagery it produced in our minds, eh😂🐶
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Becks..😄Amen…that’s what I thought was interesting in God’s wink this am randomly opening up the message from anne…Jesus tells Anne He just wants us to be “willing…” aka game little fella😄🐶 so cool
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And isn’t that key in the next right step? Be willing. 😇
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Yes…oh my gosh…never thought of that…you are right!🤗😇😘
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General Flynn (ably represented by Sydbey Powell) has just posted the #SpiritCooking tag on twitter.
https://mobile.twitter.com/genflynn/status/794651828981993473?lang=en
The Spiritual has just re entered American politics.
Pray, pray, pray.
Grace and peace and steel
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My read of that is that it’s a post from November 4, 2016, just a few days before the election of Donald Trump. That tweet is being brought to the public’s attention again. It tells me that General Flynn knows a LOT, and knew it then. Can’t imagine why anyone would want to silence him . . . .
This is definitely a time for prayer.
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Amen! ❤
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I don’t know if this link is current. It displays year 2016.
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“Pray, pray, pray.
Grace and peace and steel”
Indeed, Timothy. ❤
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I finished Archbishop Chaput’s angels last week. This week’s angels are going to New York’s Cardinal Dolan.
May God continue to bless and guide all here. jas
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J.A.S. I’m so glad to see your post. Thank you to whoever shared this. I first learned if Jesus KoAN last February on this blog. I’ve been offering my communions ever since. I ask the Holy Spirit for each ‘subject’. I’ve written the names down in a journal. It’s a motley Crew of sinner, saints, and scroundrals….
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Charlie’s short story and the below about St Paul’s “Trip to Rome” remind us that God has a plan and works with/through some unlikely agents … just as He is doing today I’ll wager. Let’s Pray for God’s Starnge Agents 😉
https://www.newoxfordreview.org/documents/st-paul-the-centurion/
https://stream.org/protecting-life/
https://stream.org/wind-down-instead-of-winding-up/
Might be a good time to review 1 Thessalonians 5
https://biblehub.com/drb/1_thessalonians/5.htm
I’m betting that Pastor Roger Anghis is, no doubt, despised by The Usual Suspects which probably makes him a Good-Guy. I did a quick search to see if he has anti-Catholic leanings … didn’t see any. I still have no explanation for Islam being “embraced” by The Left in EU & USA … except Demonic Influence … as Rev Graham pointed out recently.
http://newswithviews.com/islam-is-not-compatible-with-civilized-society/
http://newswithviews.com/islam-is-not-compatible-with-civilized-society-part-2/
https://religionnews.com/2019/05/07/how-abortion-unified-catholics-and-evangelicals-to-become-a-power-on-the-right/
People with 75 years of hindsight, an ignorance of History …… and a South American inbred dislike of Norte Americano Gringos love to bash the USA every August…. & apparently on Official Papal Visits to Japan.
I’ve been meaning to do a little research on PF and his Italian family. I understand they emigrated to Argentina in the 20s which tells me that they were fleeing Mussolini & Gang …. and probably had Italian Communist leanings. The Reds had been a very vocal and prominent political force in Italy …. as they were in Spain before their Civil War. I have not been to Italy since 1984 (before fall of Berlin Wall) but then you could not walk down the street without running into 4/5 Communists waving red flags and shouting slogans… and since PF sounds like the Democrat Reds who would be Prez?? ;-(
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2019/11/24/Pope-Francis-in-Japan-Use-of-atomic-weapons-is-immoral/9971574613839/?sl=16
Plenty of Potential Hot Spots …. Here & Abroad ;-(
https://dailycaller.com/2019/11/24/epidemic-racist-police-shootings/
https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Intensity-of-US-military-visits-shows-urgency-of-Iran-threat-analysis-608892
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-election-analysis/fresh-headache-for-china-after-hong-kong-democrats-rout-pro-beijing-candidates-idUSKBN1XZ0RB
GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
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@CD: Possible explanation for Islam being embraced by the Left in US and EU is “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Both Islam and the Left are anti-Christ and that is why they embrace.
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This is a captivating tale, Charlie. So glad you repost some of your writings, (esp for semi-newbies like myself.)
Just pondering: If David’s D. case does zig zag all the way to SCOTUS, it could be precarious there also; as this article states, the conservatives break rank more than the liberal justices who maintain solidarity… (and last yr. Roberts n Kav. both sided with the left for a PP case.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/09/10/liberal-supreme-court-justices-vote-in-lockstep-not-the-conservative-justices-column/2028450001/
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Latest Medjugorje Message, November 25, 2019
https://www.medjugorje.ws
“Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer for you. Without God you do not have peace. Therefore, little children, pray for peace in your hearts and families, so that Jesus can be born in you and give you His love and blessing.
The world is at war because hearts are full of hatred and jealousy. In the eyes, little children, peacelessness is seen because you have not permitted Jesus to be born in your lives. Seek Him, pray, and He will give Himself to you in the Child who is joy and peace.
I am with you and I pray for you. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”
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Is it the 25th????? Yikes😲
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You know Charlie, when I think about the story above, a similar drama from the Book of Revelations comes to mind, the fallen principalities & powers plots and schemes are described in vivid details, but next to nothing is mentioned of God’s plans, only that God wins in the end…
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Hi Charlie. I have a small thought in light of today’s readings — the prophesy of Daniel, the acclamation from Revelations, and Jesus’ prophesy of these and future times. Also from something a reader here said. But know I am not hoping to make a square peg fit in a round hole here with your past prophesy about 2017.
You once did indicate that what may seem to humans like a flashy occurrence may be mild to the residents of Heaven; and, conversely, what seems like a whimper or nothing at all to us may be a major, history-changing event for mankind to those in Heaven. Also, what we expect will be a small point in time (i.e. 9/11) may actually come as a quieter, protracted event (i.e. the Cold War). Regarding January 20, 2017 and the transition of power from one U.S. president to the next: As the days drew closer, many TNRSers could only imagine that something cataclysmic must occur to disrupt the normal political flow that happens in our country every 4 years. (In one of your talks, you once joked that God needs to “get a move on” in order to accomplish in the few remaining years all the hefty things you were shown). We were prepared for the worst: our pantries were stocked and we held our breath and fervently prayed. But the inauguration passed and nothing flashy occurred.
Today, we are breathing more normally but continue to pray….more fervently than before.
As the last few years have passed and shocking new information continues to come to light, it doesn’t appear there was a peaceful transition of power. Sure, the figurehead Obama did leave his residency with smiles, handshakes and relatively little violence in the streets, but his secret and loyal army remained in power fully armed with the deep state. They had their orders and have engaged in relentless, covert war against the new president — and us — from day one until now. Power has only incrementally returned as the current president fights to gain his full due power. Once most of his enemies have been purged and he has that power completely (nearly there), perhaps then we will see that flashy violence we were all anticipating….it’s just taken longer to manifest than we humans expected.
You shared with us how your Angel delighted when you managed to get 3 out of 10 right when it came to correctly interpreting what you were shown. You indeed were mistaken about the details of Inauguration Day. I cannot dispute your self assessment or decision to withdraw from the prophesy business, but regarding this most remarkable blessing as a prophet of God, I add this: Your Angel delighted in you when you got 7 out of 10 wrong!
And we delight in you too, Charlie.
All signs of evil and division in these historic times continue to point in the same direction, to the same place, to the same Event that you have been prophetically pointing to all along….toward the Rescue from Our Blessed Mother.
God bless you, Charlie. Welcome home and Happy Thanksgiving!
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Beautifully expressed, Patrick Daniel. I concur.
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Beautifully said, Patrick! ❤
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It is perfectly reasonable (and good, I think) to imitate Mary and contemplate these things in our heart, Patrick. If it leads us to the point where we abandon the restless and sterile pursuit of figuring out in precise detail how God will unfold His plan, but to trust that He will do so, always keeping His covenant with those who hear Him, but in ways we just can’t fully foresee, than it truly is the beginning of wisdom. I sometimes like to think of myself as a sturdy old jalopy, prone to occasionally backfiring or stalling, but chugging along steadily, even so. How lovely to think that God is amassing an army of jalopies, undeterred by the knowledge they will backfire and stall from time to time, to take on the sleek, anti-God Lamborginis that think they rule.
It was all good for me, though it sometimes stung like mercurochrome on a fresh cut. I always said that God never gave me messages to promote, but I believed He gave me a job to do and, for a time, that job included explaining some of the private messages publicly – and even failing at that ancillary task in some key areas. If I got all the messages right, but failed in the job, it would be a disaster. But if I got some of the messages wrong (even as I always have privately) but got the job done, the Lord would be pleased with me – and what a cool neighborhood we would all have in heaven.
Thank you for your kindness – and may this little army of jalopies participate joyfully with God in renewing the world!
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Beautiful, Charlie. Amen. Alleluia!
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I am reminded that Mother Theresa said that God doesn’t reward us so much for being successful but for being faithful. May we be ever committed to acknowledging God, taking the best next step and being a sign of hope to those around us. Just another old jalopy chugging along. May God continue to bless and guide all here. jas
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Amen and God bless you too! ❤
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Yup ;-(
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/11/david_horowitz_reminds_us_of_our_founding.html#ixzz66NWx3qbe
There is an Evil Sickness in our Land ;-(
https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/vortex-trump-satan?mc_cid=fbb856f2c3&mc_eid=2a0b6c7ef6
https://amgreatness.com/2019/11/24/the-hatred-that-fuels-impeachment/
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/luxury-brand-pulls-1-800-holocaust-concentration-camp-uniform-fashion-line
https://californiaglobe.com/section-2/government-is-okay-failing-at-solving-californias-self-imposted-homeless-crisis/
https://townhall.com/columnists/victordavishanson/2019/11/26/are-thought-crimes-impeachable-n2557016
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/11/transgenderism_and_the_olympics.html
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/11/are_the_pincers_closing_on_the_deep_state.html
https://www.foxnews.com/media/actor-jon-voight-on-pelosi-and-schiff-these-people-are-not-well
https://pjmedia.com/trending/it-cant-happen-here-muslim-organization-wants-international-law-criminalizing-criticism-of-islam
https://libertynewsnetwork.com/breaking-patriots-take-action-massive-gun-law-decision/
GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
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@CD: Thank you for your updates and headline aggregation.
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More thoughts, our battle in today’s storm of evils is against the fallen principalities & powers and only God can oppose those fallen angels, as we human beings are powerless to do anything else than go on knees and start praying. Even people could shoot & kill every Hitler, we would only be hacking away at the symptoms, as the puppet masters would simply move on to the next puppet and evil would continue…
A recent quote that a parish priest focused on was “by your endurance you will find your souls…”
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With the EU trying impose it’s brand of globalised communism upon the world, our only hope of stopping globalism is the fall of the EU. Pray for Great Brittian that they will succeed with BREXIT, denying the EU a “carbon tax” would also speed up it collapse.
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Today’s Divine Office First reading speaks of our times. Read onto verse 22 for the complete picture…
Catholic Study Bible
2 Peter 2:1-9
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their licentiousness, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.
3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words; from of old their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction has not been asleep.
4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of nether gloom to be kept until the judgment;
5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven other persons, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction and made them an example to those who were to be ungodly;
7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the wicked
8 (for by what that righteous man saw and heard as he lived among them, he was vexed in his righteous soul day after day with their lawless deeds),
9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,
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Amen. I pray that we all find the strength & the faith to endure & not be fooled by the globalist liberals and their false morality.
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“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”
https://www.catholiccompany.com/content/Learn-More-About-the-Miraculous-Medal.cfm
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The angels’ view of humans — and their comments about God’s view of humans — impressed me deeply.
By the way, is the title a deliberate mocking of Margaret Sanger’s book of the same name, the book in which she glorifies birth control and the “improvement” of the human race through eugenics? If so, the irony could not be more perfect!
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Yes, it is, Creative. Some 30 years ago when I first read Sanger’s awful book, I just hated it’s title and thought about what was the TRUE pivot of civilization. And I decided it was the moment a created being, with full free will, agreed to cooperate with God in facilitating the Incarnation. So I had the title for this story about two decades before I had a story to go with it – but it could not have had any other title.
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The Cukierski family has an offer regarding Christmas Novena
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Today’s reading at Mass was from Daniel Chapter 5 where the handwriting was placed on the wall by God and interpreted by Daniel to show that a proud king was being removed and his kingdom was being given to others. As for us can God remove bad leadership from our nation, or at least prevent them from regaining power? Let us pray that God himself would remove the proud from positions of authority and place good leaders in their place, and would continue to purify ourselves from any problems we may have with ungodly pride also.
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I believe we’re going witness destruction of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar (the kingdoms of men & the devil) and the birth of a way of life that’s closer to God.
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