“God destroyed the bodies of evil but their souls prevailed. He put their souls into a prison. King Bloodstone managed to open the prison in darkness of the sea of death,” said the abbot.
“It would explain why there is still so much evil in the world,” said Brother Benedict.
“It would also explain why there is still sickness in the world,” said Brother Leo.
“Evil has many faces. Two of the ugliest ones are Lucifer and Satan. Lucifer is the God of Venus. The name Satan comes from Set. Set was an Egyptian God and was accompanied by a snake called Apophis which tried to destroy the sun to bring darkness over the world,” said Brother Benedict.
“We celebrate the victory over darkness on Christmas,” said Brother George.
“We celebrate the victory of Jesus Christ over darkness. He came to this world to save our souls which were wandering through darkness. The sun in human beings is Jesus Christ. He saved our souls from going into darkness,” said the abbot.
“I do not believe that any of the skeletons are either Set or Lucifer. However, one of the fossils could be Leviathan, the sea monster described in the Old Testament. There was a male and female Leviathan but they were destroying the world. God slew the female Leviathan and stored its body to be served at the feast of the righteous at the End of Times.”
“If these fossils are the incarnation of evil or sin then they would exploit any weakness to abduct our souls into the kingdom of darkness,” said Brother Leo.
“King Bloodstone is gathering all evil against God,” said Brother Martin.
“And Jesus Christ is uniting the angels to defeat the demons,” said Brother Benedict.
“The battle of All Saints is close,” said Brother Martin.
“King Bloodstone is resurrecting sin from the chambers of death. I should have killed him when we rescued the Morning Star,” said Brother George.
“You cannot kill somebody you do not know. Nobody has seen King Bloodstone yet. We have only heard of him,” said the abbot.
“His soul is older than yours, Brother George. Only Jesus Christ and the archangels can challenge him,” said Brother Martin.
“It happened in the past and will happen in the future. There is no future without past and no past without future,” said Brother Benedict.
“The future is the child of the past,” said Brother Martin.
“But there will be a time without evil and this time is coming soon,” said Brother Benedict.
“The creatures of the Underworld are a reflection of our sins. They are fed by our sins,” said Brother Leo.
“Sins are lying on a lower level of our conscience we are not aware of,” concluded Brother Benedict.
“God created our soul before he created our bodies. Our soul is an angel who lived on earth,” said Brother Leo.
“And was killed in the Battle of All Saints. God saved the angel by creating human beings,” said the abbot.
“Do you mean that we are angels?” asked Brother Thomas.
“Body and soul are different. The soul is spiritual and know God,” replied the abbot.
“There are so many mysteries in the spiritual world of God. This is just one and will be revealed to you at All Saints Day when we will travel back in time to the birth of our souls.” said the abbot.
“God will reveal the mystery of the Queen of Heaven next to us.”
“Brother Benedict and Sister Verena are supposed to be going to Mount Mary to celebrate the feast of Annunciation with the orphans,” said Brother George.
“We’d better cancel the pilgrimage to Mount Mary this year. It is too dangerous,” said Brother Thomas.
“The orphans are looking forward to the first pilgrimage in spring,” said Brother George.
“I will send you some monks on the way to protect you against the attacks of King Bloodstone,” said the abbot.
After a little pause, Brother George said.
“I will stay here and look for the children who have been abducted by the dragon. I will leave no stone untouched until I have found them.”
“I think you should take a painting of the lost sheep to Mount Mary to the Celebration of the Annunciation.”
“We cannot hold Saint Peter much longer. I am afraid I have to tell you. We will have to bring all our soul paintings to Mount Mary, the mountains of the angels and Mount Jesus where they are safe,” said the abbot.
“What do you mean?” asked Brother George.
“I met the abbots of Mount Mary, the Mountain of the Angels and Mount Jesus recently. They said that the Romans are planning a devastating attack.
“The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep. Saint Peter is built on a rock and I will not move from here,” said Brother George.
“Do not be stubborn. We have to leave Saint Peter eventually,” said the abbot.
“Can I see the fossils you found at the Mountain of the Angels?” asked Brother Thomas.
The abbot looked at the floor and then said,
“Are you all ready to go on your pilgrimage, Benedict?” ignoring Brother Thomas’ question.
“Can I see the skeletons?” insisted Brother Thomas.
“I warn you! Do not go close! These fossils are the archetypes of evil. This predator fish has been killing for millions of years. Look at its teeth! They are massive and can tear a whale apart. Their hunger has burnt a hole in the earth. Murder, greed, addiction and hate; the sins of the old world are captured in the cosmic hell,” said the abbot still looking at the floor.
“If you come in contact with the fossils you get sucked into the spiral of evil. We have seen good tempered monks turning into beasts. Only the bravest can escape their bad influence. I am making sure that there are at least three monks together in the caves at all times.”
“The fossils are the incarnation of evil. Leviathan is one of the guardians of hell,” said Brother Benedict.
“The dragons appear to be puppies compared with the fossils you have discovered. God have mercy on us when the gates of hell open and King Bloodstone releases Leviathan and Behemoth,” said the abbot.
“How can evil escape a cosmic grave and become alive?” asked Brother Thomas.
“We will find out. King Bloodstone is a mastermind of evil,” said the abbot.
Winter fell back on Saint Peter. A cold wind blew from the Mountains in the North and brought winter back. The wind was howling over the mountains with a terrible noise. It sounded like tools producing weapons of destruction for the army of evil.
The storm lasted for days but then the black clouds disappeared. The mild southerly wind chased the clouds away and spring came back. The Rhone carried the melted snow from the mountains into the valleys rising like green bowls out of the landscape.
The memories of the liturgical year were melting with the snow and flowing through Steve’s mind when he was following the river down the mountains. The advent time had become a stream of pictures leaving its footprints in the soul which was like a spiritual memory.
Steve’s mind as he followed the river down the mountains. The Advent time had become a stream of pictures leaving its footprints in the memory of the soul. The feast of Annunciation was rising on the horizon like the sun in the morning. He took a rest at the shore of the river and listened to the waves of the Rhone thundering down from the mountains. The old people in the village said that the river had its source in the earth and flowed through the earth before reaching the surface at Mount Mary.
A fish was hiding behind a stone in the water and reminded him of the insignia on the walls of the monastery. The tumbling noise of the water blended in with the bells of Saint Peter, inviting the faithful for prayers. The river foam embraced the sound of the bells. They danced like bridal couples over the rainbows gleaming like visions over the liturgical year.
Thick stone walls surrounded the monastery and protected Saint Peter against its enemies. A fish was painted on the wall at the right side of the entrance. A painting of a
n elephant was at the left side.
The choir in the monastery chapel was rehearsing a song in veneration of Mary. Steve listened to the melody. The male voices in the choir were strong like the sun in the summer. The female voices blended into the melody like moonshine. They were tender like the first winter snow. The voices shone like stars in the sky.
Steve walked slowly in front of the chapel, careful not to disturb the rehearsal. The choir fell silent. Then he heard the voice of the abbot. The door of the chapel opened and the members of the choir poured into the courtyard. The courtyard was filled with the smell of roses. Catherine stepped out of the chapel. She smiled when she saw Steve and walked down the steps.
The Dragon Abducts Jack
Jack sat in a carriage Brother George built for him. His old horse was trotting in front of him pulling the wagon over the narrow path connecting Saint Peter and Saint Andrew together.
Jack had saved enough money to organize the most beautiful wedding Saint Peter had ever seen. Everybody was invited. They would all meet at the church and he would hold the hand of his bride, Margaret, when standing in front of the altar. Brother George would conduct the wedding. Jack was in the seventh heaven with all the angels playing the harps. He felt as if a thousand butterflies were caressing him at the same time, butterflies which had been sitting on spring flowers, filling the air with sweet-smelling pollen. Everything around him was in harmony. Emotions were sweeping through his body like the waves of the river flowing through the green valleys. He could not think properly anymore. His emotions took control over his mind. He wanted to go to church and thank God for the fortune he had bestowed on him.
Jack did not see the black shadow following behind him as walked down to Saint Peter. The dragon had left the valley of death and flew down onto a hill overlooking the field where Jack was walking. The dragon sat in a tree, watching Jack’s movement. Unlike the guardian angels protecting, praising and guiding humans on the way to heaven, the dragons accused humans to take their self-esteem and drag them on the way to darkness. God had killed the dragons millions of years ago but their evil deeds survived in the consciousness of the world. King Bloodstone had found a way to use the evil of the dragons to enhance his power and make war against the human beings on earth because he wanted the earth for himself. The dragons targeted the vulnerable, children and elderly people and were sent by the conspirators living in the sea of death. The dragon charged down from a tree stretching its legs revealing three razor-sharp claws winking in the sun light. The claws grasped Jack around his neck and lifted him in the air. The dragon flew into the mountains where it was hiding the children of Saint Peter in a cave.
A woman had seen the attack and went straight to Saint Peter. There was big grief over the loss of Jack. Everybody had forgiven him for the incidence in the church a few weeks ago.
Families gathered at home praying for the children and Jack. The praying candles initiated at the feast of Mary Light mass were burning behind the windows. More and more lights were lit and the village looked like a field of lights moving in prayers. People gathered in the church to share their grief. The church was filled with burnt incent and candle wax. The wall paintings appeared like doves flying to Mount Jesus and then to the mountains of the angels to proclaim the abduction of the children and Jack. The church bell was ringing hastily like the breath of the sheep dog when they went out to find a lost sheep. The church of Saint Peter was filled with praying people. A painter put a drawing with Jesus holding a lost sheep in his arms on the altar.
“The lost sheep, Luke chapter 15,” said Brother Thomas.
The congregation followed the abbot and the two boys who carried the soul painting to the monastery. Warrior monks from Saint Peter stood with their spears and swords in front of the entrance into the mountain of memory. An altar boy disappeared with the soul painting in the dark cave.
The Pilgrimage to Mount Mary
It was the day before Annunciation. The excitement was high and the spirit flew like an eagle over the mountains of the angels. The pilgrims met in front of the church. The dew was on the fields and filled the air with a strong smell.
Brother Benedict left the orphanage followed by Verena and the orphans. The forest was filled with the singing of birds announcing a new day. It was as if the birds knew about the pilgrimage to Mount Mary and could not wait to follow the pilgrims on their spiritual journey. The smell of freshly baked bread accompanied them on the narrow path. The moon was disappearing. Its silver shine reflected on the surface of a pond like the wings of a bird following the night in its sleep. The cheerful voices of children echoed over the fields and hills, filling the village. The early morning was filled with the strong smell of spring rising from the warm earth.
Steve arrived. He immediately looked for Catherine. When he could not find her among the waiting children and youth groups, he became worried. Brother Benedict was talking to Brother Leo.
A clanking noise penetrated the forest. A boy opened the door of the church shed. A strong man with a grey beard appeared behind the blaze of a fire. It was Brother George holding the hammer in his right hand, hitting the red hot iron which he pulled out of the fire. Sparks flew like stars in a summer night over the ambos. When he finished he gave the wheel to two boys who rolled it through the shed. Three men tried and failed to put the wheel on the chariot carrying the orphans to Mount Mary. Brother George observed the men before he lost his patience.
“Go away,” he said to the men and boys.
He lifted the wagon himself with his left arm and put the wheel on the axis with his right hand.
Brother George left the stable with two horses. He harnessed the wagon to the horses. Then he asked Steve to follow him in the shed. He took a red-hot iron out of the fire. The iron was gradually taking shape under the strong blows of the hammer. Sparks jumped from the iron block into the air.
“May these sparks become a fire in our hearts and inspire our lives like the Holy Spirit,” said Brother George.
Then he cooled the iron in a wooden barrel filled with water. Vapor clouds shot with a hissing sound out of the barrel and rose into the air like snakes.
“The Morning Star will allow Saint Peter to use the resources of the earth for the benefit of the world. I will show you what we are going to do with the iron,” said Brother George and went to the adjacent shed followed by Steve.
Iron wheels lined the walls of the shed.
“These wheels will soon be stuck on wagons carrying goods from Saint Peter to Mount Mary. The Morning Star will help us to produce the best steel in the world. Every village needs wagons like that and we will produce them. They will create plenty of jobs and help hundreds of fathers to feed their families. We have been victorious because we resisted Queen Jezebel and kept faithful to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our success filled us with courage and inspiration to produce our own goods,” said Brother George. The smithy was built into a hill. Brother George took the Holy Lance out of a gap in the granite rock.
“The water from Mount Mary, the ore from the mountains and the heat of the morning star will help us to build the best wagon in the whole world.
Brother George opened the gate of his shed and stepped outside.
“The Holy Lance will protect us against our enemies. Maurice brought the lance from Jerusalem. It belonged to a Roman officer with the name of Casius Longinus. Cassius Longinus was the first to declare that Jesus Christ was God. The Lance carries the breath of Jesus Christ. Jesus cleared hell from all demons when he descended to hell for three days as his father did. He was resurrected from the dead and ascended to his father in heaven. The three Mary, Mary Salome, Jacobee and Magdalene, went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body. They met an angel declaring that Jesus had risen from death. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene personally. I am talking about the mystery of Easter and it is not Easter yet,” said Brother George holding the Holy Lance in his right hand.
“The lance changes the nature of things.
It turns destruction into construction and demons into angels. It is an engine of creation and stronger than the rod of Aaron. The breath of Jesus Christ is in the Holy Lance. Jesus Christ won a triumphant victory when he descended into hell to rise with the lost souls into heaven. God killed Leviathan with this Lance. He handed it down to the Archangel Michael, who killed the dragon attacking our Holy mother Mary, the queen of heaven.”
“You will discover the mystery of Annunciation tomorrow. The second holy mystery of Mary,” said Brother George. He swung his right arm backwards then he threw the spear towards the mountains in the north. The dark entrances of the caves appeared in the forests. The spear hit a tree in the forest. A group of boys followed the lance. The strongest amongst them grasped the Lance with both hands and tried to pull it out of the tree but did not manage. Another boy grabbed the spear and pulled it vigorously but without success. More boys came to the rescue. The boys hung off the Holy Lance like bees on a beehive but the spear had stuck deep in the trunk and would not move one bit.
“They will be busy for a while,” said Brother George, walking into the shed.
“Are you going to run up the mountain to the Shrine of Saint Mary together with the monks of Saint Peter today?”
“Yes, I will and I cannot wait to compete with the monks and see if I am as strong as they are,” replied Steve smiling.
“Good. You need to work on your stamina. The football tournament is coming up soon. We will need some strong runners to win. I was thinking of getting the team together next week and do some training. What do you think?”
“Good idea Brother George,” said Steve following him.
“I want to show you my latest invention, Steve.” Brother George and took another lance from the wall.
“What do you think about that?” He stuck the Lance in the air.
“We can defend ourselves against our enemies attacking us from their horses,” said Brother George pointing to the ceiling.
“I hope that will teach them to leave us in peace.” He gave the weapon to Steve, who held it in both hands.
“It is quite heavy,” said Steve and pointed the weapon to the ceiling of the shed as if he was attacked by a soldier. Then he gave the lance back to George.