“Your soul has turned black. You cannot see it anymore in the darkness of your sins,” said Brother Benedict.
“The Underworld is rising against Saint Peter and will soon be strong enough to brush you from the surface of this planet. You cannot beat sin. So better join us here. We are the strong and mighty. Stop begging with the weak,” said Solek.
“The empire of Sobek was destroyed a long time ago,” said Brother George to the old man. A new world emerged from the ashes of Babylon. Jesus Christ turned hate into love. He turned weapons into ploughs.”
“Why should you touch a plough? You get rich here without moving a finger,” said Solek.
“You do not want to see how your daily work is changing the world into a better place, making the angels in heaven jealous so they want to live on earth again?” said Brother George.
“I do not want to see things growing. There is no joy in my heart. I do not want to see the angels in heaven above. Deep is hell and I wanted to sink on the ground to experience all pleasures of the flesh…” responded Solek.
“My soul is drunk from the blood of sin,” said Solek.
“Your sins will drag you down into the well of darkness. Come with us, old man. Life is so miserable here. Become a knight of Christ and fight for the rights of the poor. Not far away is the day when Jesus comes down on earth to judge the living and the dead,” said Brother Martin.
“You are talking about Jesus Christ. I know more about him than you might think. Can you turn stones into bread?” asked the old man.
“No, because bread does not feed our souls,” said Brother Thomas.
“King Bloodstone’s heart is hard as steel. He can smash the strongest army in this world,” said Solek.
“The hardest material in this world will eventually crumble without the love of God,” said Brother Martin.
“Come to Saint Peter old man and celebrate Christmas with us. Dark and selfish is King Bloodstone’s world. He sucks your soul dry and leaves it to rot,” said Brother Benedict.
“Is Queen Jezebel living in the castle?” asked Brother George.
“She lives in the lower layer of hell protected by her army,” responded the old man.
“And where does King Bloodstone live?” asked Brother George.
“In the deepest part of hell with all the souls which have been judged to fall,” said Solek. Suddenly he fell to the ground.
A black cloud left his body as he lay on the ground. His grey hair turned brown and his shriveled skin became firm. The features of Christian started to show in his face and body.
“It is Christian,” Brother Thomas exclaimed more surprised than anybody else.
Christian opened his eyes as if he was waking up from a bad dream.
“What happened to me? Where is the Morning Star? Where is my family?”
“Your family is waiting for you to return with the Morning Star from the Underworld,” said Brother George.
“Can you tell us what happened?” asked Brother Martin.
“My family was attacked by the soldiers of King Bloodstone when we brought the Morning Star to Saint Peter on Advent eve. A soldier forced me to drink out of a cup. He said it was the blood of a dragon strengthening my body and mind. I fell unconscious and when I woke up, I was hearing the howling of wild animals restlessly chasing through hell in search of food. There were no trees and no water. I was hiding in caves. I followed a voice to this place,” said Christian.
“The souls of the sea of death are infiltrating our minds and stealing our bodies to lead us into wars against our brothers and sisters,” said Brother Martin.
“Prayers saved you. You heard our prayers and followed them until you found us,” said Brother Benedict.
“I know who will have the most beautiful Christmas: Your mother, young man. She was so sad when you were kidnapped by the soldiers of King Bloodstone,” said Brother Leo.
“It is getting dark, friends. The feast of the Lost Souls is coming up tomorrow. A big day lies ahead of us. Let’s have a rest,” said Brother George.
The Rescue of the Lost Souls at All Souls Day
A dark planet was rising over hell taking the earth in its cold arms. The night was carrying a black heart in her chest. A black mountain was rising from the sea of death sucking the souls of the earth in the depth of sin. Death had destroyed all life.
The entrance opened its jaws. Julian followed the path as if he knew it from a dream. The bridge of destiny spanned over the cemetery of hell. Huge bones rose rising out of the oily swamp like the hands of death, dragging all life down into destruction. The ribs of a fossil were reared out of the morass like the blades of scissors. Voices rose from the center of the mountain, carrying the pain of the lost souls from the underground. Joy had turned into agony and greed into hunger and thirst torturing the soul which could not die. Thousands of voices were crying for help, clawing the black rock and trying to escape.
“I recognize this place. I saw it when I prayed for the lost souls not long ago,” said Brother Benedict walking over the bridge of destiny.
Fresh blood dripped from the walls. King Bloodstone and his demons were celebrating their victory over the week human soul succumbing to sin. He was accusing humanity of all the bad things they had done in his name. He proclaimed the victory of blood over the spirit of God. The innocent voice of a child sank into the fountain of death. A river of blood was streaming through the mountain. Black shadows rose from the river. Seashells were sticking on the walls of the river.
“Pray for the lost souls… and remember. Remember! No soul is lost as long as there is a human being praying for it,” said Brother Benedict and knelt on the floor.
“Eternal rests grant them, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine on them. And may the souls of all our brothers who left us rest in eternal peace with the help of Christ our Lord, Amen,” he continued.
The other men repeated the prayer. The walls started to tremble and the shells fell into the water and cracked open. Blue and yellow flames rose from the shells into the air. Thousands of shells opened and the flames rose into the air breaking through the dark ceiling like the tails of shooting stars.
The earth opened and Felix, a soldier of Maurice, fell into the lower inning of hell into the cemetery of eternal condemnation. Skulls and bones appeared in the lights of the torches. The bones were remains of humans who followed their instincts to the wells of power. The wells of power promised control over other human. The skulls scattered the earth like the eggs of reptiles.
“We will get trapped here. We have to go back to Saint Peter before it is too late,” said Brother Thomas.
“I will not leave one man behind. Felix is innocent. He does not deserve to be trapped in the cemetery of eternal condemnation,” said Maurice and followed his friend in the dark crevice opening like the shells of a gigantic oyster.
Brother George and Julian followed him.
“Do not go. No human as ever entered the second inning of hell, where the fallen angels are buried,” said Brother Thomas.
But it was already too late. The men had followed Maurice into the depths of hell to rescue Felix.
“He must have fallen into the river,” said Julian who could not hear the warning words of Brother Martin anymore.
The river of blood was creeping through the mountain towards the sea of death like a snake. Crabs crawled out of the sticky oily water. Brother George followed the crabs through the opening into a dark cave.
Felix’s arms and legs were stretched out on a giant black sea star. He stuck on the black wall like the body of a slaughtered animal. The sea star was sucking the blood out of his body and his lips had turned blue. Felix screamed in agony. His voice sounded like thousands of needles falling on an ice plate in winter. A terrible noise came from deep from the mountain of bitterness.
“We have woken up Leviathan, the sea monster and Behemoth the land monster,” said Maurice holding his lance close to his body.
; “Leviathan, the snake drinking the blood of the innocent,” said Brother George who was ready to jump into the next inning of hell.
“Wait, George. Only the Archangel Michael and Jesus Christ himself have the authority to kill Leviathan,” said Maurice dragging his friend back.
“I can kill them too,” said Brother George.
“No George. That is enough. Our mission is not to kill Leviathan. We need to rescue the Morning Star and bring it back to Saint Peter before Christmas. The Morning Star is hiding in the pyramids of Queen Jezebel,” said Julian.
“Don’t let pride get the better of you,” said Brother Martin who had followed the three men.
“I am not proud but now I have the chance to do humanity a great favor and liberate them from the old snake which has brought so much destruction over us. If God wants he will help me and bring me back safely,” said Brother George.
“Give me the Holy Lance, Maurice and I will kill the creatures of hell even if I have to give my own life.”
“No, I will not give the lance to you. Come back now,” said Maurice
“I was waiting for this opportunity for too long. Now I have the chance to wipe out evil forever. I will go on my own, if nobody wants to follow me,” said Brother George and went deeper in the mountain.
Maurice followed George deeper into hell.
“Wait for me,” said Julian and followed.
“Fools they are. Nobody has left the second inning of hell alive,” said Brother Martin and followed his friends.
The Liturgical Year
Everybody missed the mysterious Advent Time. A candle was usually lit each Sunday at church under the Christmas tree from the forest of Sapinar. Jack had told the boys at the orphanage that the forest of Sapinar was the oldest forest in the mountains. The Christmas tree in the church symbolized the tree of life. Some of the pine trees growing on the mountainsides were several thousand years old.
The Advent candles flooded the garden in front of the church with light. The closer to Christmas it got, the more lights shone on the small paths leading through the mountain village of Saint Peter. The feast of Saint Barbara and Saint Nicolas fell into the Advent Time. The houses emerged in a sea of lights on Christmas Day. Christmas was the time when the soul flew to heaven to meet Jesus Christ in the highest heaven. Christmas was the time for spiritual experiences with God after having made the transition from the carnal into the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. The liturgy of Advent left deep prints in the soul of the children.
People gathered in front of the church with their personal praying candles at the end of every Advent Sunday. The candles were made out of bees wax, crafted by the monks in the monastery of Saint Peter. A candle was given to each member of the congregation at Mary Light Mass at the end of the Christmas season in February. The candles were used to pray in privacy or with the family or friends. The congregation gathered around the candles and thanked Jesus Christ for all the gifts they had received or prayed when somebody was ill or injured. The new altar candles were also baptized in the church of Saint Peter.
With the intensity of light rose the excitement of the children. When the fourth candle was lit Christmas was close. All creation rose in the light of the Morning Star touching the world with magic. The dreams and hopes of the people shone together with the candles on the Christmas tree. The tree breathed the ceremonial atmosphere reflecting the joy of the congregation like a mirror of the souls. The garden in front of the church changed into a world of dreams inspired by the people in the village.
Christmas was followed by the Celebration of the innocent children. After that came the celebration of the wise men from the east one of Steve’s most favorite liturgical feasts. The year continued with the carnival or the fifth season. Everybody liked the happy time of the fifth season. Children and adults dressed up in costumes. Everybody was invited to dance and celebrate in the biggest party of the year for one week.
After the carnival followed the fasting season leading into Easter culminating in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter was like two rivers: one filled with tears of sadness and the other with tears of joy.
The celebration of Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit into the community followed in spring opening the mind of the believers to new spiritual awareness. Life was a transition from the physical into the spiritual world. A time of spiritual growth. A caterpillar morphing into a butterfly at the End of Times to take the soul to heaven to Jesus Christ, Mary, the angels and the Saints.
The time of the pilgrimages started to Mount Mary and the mountain of Jesus in early spring followed by the pilgrimages to the fisher priest in summer. The feast of the guardian angels and the Archangel Michael on the Mountain followed in late summer
The pilgrimages were the most important part of the liturgical year opening the mind to new spiritual experiences giving the soul the energy to rise after death.
The autumn celebrations were as vigorous as the autumn storms sweeping through the mountains and valleys and preparing for a new time. Thanks giving followed the celebration of the guardian angels and Archangel Michael.
The Feast of Saint Barbara
The people of Saint Peter prepared for the feast of Saint Barbara which was celebrated in the Advent time every year.
Saint Barbara was the only daughter of a rich man in Asia who adored her very much. She studied the ancient gods. The more she studied the more she became aware that these gods were a hollow copy and that something more powerful existed. Without the permission of her father she became Christian. Her father wanted to marry her with a very prosperous man to double the fortunes of the family. But Barbara refused to marry him. Her father was furious. He handed her over to a Roman judge for punishment. The judge tried to make her denounce her Christian faith with kind persuasion but she refused. The next day he tortured her. Her faith was so strong that her wounds immediately healed. The day after her tortures she was ordered to pay tribute to the Roman gods. She still refused and was mutilated brutally and eventually sentenced to death by the sword. Mine workers who engaged in very dangerous activities chose Saint Barbara as their patron saint because of the dangers she endured during her life time.
Verena and Catherine decorated the big pine tree in front of the church with the help of the children of the orphanage. Luke and Simon climbed up the tree and fixed the candles. It was their duty to light the candles of the tree Monday and Tuesday. John and Paul were taking over Wednesday and Thursday whilst Simon and Mathew covered the weekend shifts. The tree did not warm up the cold autumn nights but it did warm the hearts of the children. A little boy came to Verena asking,
“When is Christmas?’
“Soon,” replied Verena
A girl came five minutes later asking,
“How many days until Christmas?”
“Not many,” answered Verena.
Time had carved holes in a rock lying on the ground behind the church. Verena and Catherine placed candles in the holes. They said to the children that Christmas would come when all the candles were burning.
The children gathered in front of the rock to light a candle for the Advent before going to bed. They sat in front of the rock and sang Christmas songs. The lights of the candles flickered over the white rock like wings. Verena said that the wings belonged to angels flying down from the Mountain of the Angels bringing Christmas dreams to the children. The children wanted to know more about the angels and Verena told them stories of angels who visited earth. Each angel had specific characteristics such as courage, compassion and wisdom.
Catherine told stories too. The children’s eyes were fixed on her lips. She talked about the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary at the Annunciation. She also told the story of the visitation of Mary at her cousin Elizabeth. She told them about the angels who told Joseph to take the Holy Family to Egypt to avoid being killed by King Herodes.
After Verena had finished the nativity story everybody went back to the orphanage wher
e they ate some of the delicious scones Verena and Catherine had baked from sweet bread and fruits. They tasted extra delicious during the holy Advent time. The children sat at the big table in the dining room. The window was open and the smell of pine wood filled the orphanage. A painting of Jesus Christ washing the feet of his disciples hung on the wall. Verena and Catherine put the children to bed.
“The candles are a path to heaven,” Andreas said. “I dreamt that I visited the Mountain of the Angels yesterday. When I came down from the pilgrimage, the bells of the churches in the valleys were ringing. The dream was so peaceful and still living in my memory. The dream was so real. It did not really happen on earth but in heaven.”
Verena was smiling at Andreas.
“When all the candles are lit, we will be in heaven. It will be Christmas. Jesus Christ will be born,” said Sister Verena covering his body with a blanket.
“I dreamt that the holes in the rock were pigeon holes. We wrote messages and put them in the pigeon holes. When we fell asleep heaven opened and the pigeons descended from heaven. They picked the messages and flew straight into heaven,” said little Catherine.
“And what was written in the messages?” asked Catherine who had listened to the conversations.
“All our dreams and wishes,” said Ruth.
“And what were these dreams and wishes?” asked Catherine.
“Peace and Love and a happy Christmas to every creature in the world including all the animals and trees,” replied Ruth.
“Close your eyes and fall asleep and tell us all what the angels have whispered in your ears tomorrow,” said Verena.
It was getting very quiet in the dormitory. The children could not wait to escape into the world of dreams.
Verena was standing in the kitchen when Catherine came from the dormitory. Verena was holding a broom in her right hand. Catherine stood still and observed Verena for a moment. Verena had cared for people her whole life. Housework had been flowing through her hands like the water over the wheel of a mill and had shaped her hands into tools. Every movement, every action was elegant. She swept the floor quickly. The world stood still for a second. Catherine was standing there thinking that this moment would never pass. The broom in her hand became a symbol of her mission to care for other people and to clean up sorrow and pain weighing on their hearts. A new life was unraveling under the surface. The burden had gone. There was a smile on Verena’s face.