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mittens-220 · 4 years

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Hataraku Maou-sama! Volume 21 Detailed Chinese Summary Part 5

Detailed preview summary: Read here

Detailed summary part 1: Read here

Detailed summary part 2: Read here

Detailed summary part 3: Read here

Detailed summary part 4: Read here

Demon King and Hero Challenge God

End of July, the distance between the two moons were pretty close, the preparations for battle sped up. The strike team was Maou and Acies, Ashiya and Urushihara, Emi and Alas=Ramus, Lailah and Gabriel, Utsushihara and Amane, as well as Camio and Farfarello. Amane was only in charge of monitoring Utsushihara and would not participate in the fight. They then launched the Demon Fortress to Heaven at a closer distance, Heaven was very quiet, and no one was seen, with no one responding to their intrusion. Maou said, let’s go find the Tree of Life, our goal is not to fight a war but to free the Sephirah, Lucifer objected, saying that the other Sephirah might be like Iron and were being taken care of by Ignora, and asked Gabriel, as a guardian angel, did he know what state the Sephirah were in? Or were there no other guardian angels who I know anymore? Gabriel said that other than who was mentioned before, there was only Malkuth’s guardian angel, known as Sandalphon, he was a rather old angel, because even if they were immortal, they could not reverse age.

Maou asked Gabriel, wasn’t it said that once civilisation matures, there will be no holy magic, why can you still use spells? And why don’t use Gate to return to their home planet? Gabriel said it was because they did not know the exact location of their home planet, normally speaking, they could only go if they have specific coordinates, it was very lucky that you could end up on Earth. As for spells, they could use them when they were born, it might be because their Sephirah did not feel that spells were a power which exceeded the boundaries.

Then Gabriel brought them to the Tree of Life and the Sephirah management area, the Tree of Life was a withered tree in a huge expense of wilderness, with ten shrines surrounding it. He said that Guardian Angel Kamael was appointed by Ignora, Sandalphon and Gabriel volunteered for the position. Maou and Emi transformed in preparation for battle, and were even talking about combining the two swords together (using a common phrase used to describe couples in love), the rest of the group even tsukkomi-ed them.

They entered one of the shrines, something like a drain wrapped around the root on the ground and caused it to curl, Amane said it was like seeing a relative getting tortured and interrogated. Gabriel said that they just needed to destroy the drains, but do not break number 4 (Iron), number 9 (Yesod) and number 10 (Malkuth). Gabriel had never seen Malkuth because Malkuth was being managed by Ignora and Kamael. Then they started breaking things, and no one cared about them after breaking five or six of them, or it was more like they did not see anyone after arriving in Heaven. Gabriel said that the facilities they destroyed were used by Ignora to make people misunderstand the world, and she basically succeeded. After that, they destroyed 10, 5 and 9 in order, there was a huge shock after destroying everything, the Tree of Life bloomed. Utsushihara said that based on the differences in the areas they control, Malkuth would wake up first, next would be Kether, Geburah and Yesod. Ashiya said that they were now in enemy headquarters and they could not leisurely wait for the results of the flowers blooming and should just attack first. Utsushihara agreed and then sighed and said it was troublesome. Lucifer said, you look like me, why do you have the same thought process as me as well. Utsushihara said, could it be that you do not want to fight with your mother? Lucifer said, no, I also have my own goals. So when they reached an agreement, they were about to set off and Kamael’s trident finally burst into the scene

Then they realised that the trident did not belong to Kamael, but Heaven’s troops. Maou commented about finally being able to fight and told Ashiya not to kill them as much as possible, then left him behind to occupy the Heaven troops for as long as possible, the rest followed Gabriel to look for Ignora. As they flew, they reminded each other, even if no one came to stop them from destroying the shrines, they could not let their guard down. In the past, it was Ignora’s battle tactics which defeated Sataniel. For the small number of pursuers they met on the way, they were all defeated, and Maou and Emi worked very well together during this time. Finally they flew to a place where they could see a huge man made building. Lucifer said it was not much different from before, that was basically a dead place. That was a metallic round building which looked like a UFO, and was named “Ship of Hope”, the research base. Maou asked, they were born because someone was play acting as Demon King in this place? Lucifer said, I understand what you feel, my feelings were even more complex, I came to understand my family, and destroy this whole place before Ashiya returns. Utsushihara, who could read minds, even added on that Lucifer was speaking the truth. Only Lailah felt shaken at Lucifer’s murderous words. Maou ignored him and declared battle loudly, asking all of them to come out if they did not want to die! He had come to kill their leader! And in the end, only Kamael came out.

Gabriel tried to address him in a familiar way, but Kamael did not say anything and attacked directly, Maou saved Gabriel and everyone noticed that Kamael’s spear had a layer of golden glow which they had not seen before. Lucifer reminded them about paying attention to fire prevention (due to what happened in vol 8). Maou said to leave it to him, and once he went forward, Kamael started to chant Satan’s name again, then Kamael said Sataniel was a traitor, an uncivilised person who did not understand Ignora’s ideals, and also his wife’s enemy, he would never forget that battle which caused his wife’s body to be left on the red moon. Then he declared that he would not allow them to obstruct Ignora’s path and they started fighting. During the battle, Kamael started to lose, Maou was about to give him a lethal blow when a pair of hands suddenly reached out to block the holy sword. Acies turned back to her human form, and Kamael’s spear turned into a white haired girl around 17 or 18 years of age, yellow and black fringe, it was Malkuth.

Malkuth’s name is Eros and said that she choose Kamael as her Yadorigi, Acies said this group of people destroyed their Sephirah and enslaved us, why did you choose him. Eros said that she knew, not long ago, she did not have such plans, but Daath has already been born. Acies said she knew, he looked exactly the same as Lucifer. Kamael said, this is the result of Daath’s choice. Ignora was waiting for the choice the whole time, it was such a long period of time and she experienced many betrayals, obstructions and setbacks, but after experiencing such a long wait, we finally obtained a place to belong. Maou rebuked, they treated all of like this, how could they talk about a place to belong? Kamael said, the planet this satellite (the moon) belonged to, its chosen human, Daath believed it was the Head of the second generation angels, Lucifer. The race Lucifer belonged to, is the race who should be reigning this planet, the race who should be evolving. Even if you kill me and Ignora here, our victory will not be shaken. Then he smiled in a contempt after saying this.

On the other end, the rest entered the UFO when Maou was holding Kamael back, there was still no one, Lailah said that this place used to be very lively, and Gabriel had only left for half a year, it was not like this in the past. Gabriel was very uneasy and wanted to go with his own Heaven troops to find someone he knew, guaranteeing that he would not betray the Landlady. Lucifer said he would go with him, he could deal with Raguel as well, Gabriel’s Heaven troops would not disobey him, then Utsushihara also followed them. Emi went down another route with Lailah and after they walked for a while, there was an explosion, causing a hole in the wall. Maou and Acies rolled in, they were trashed by Kamael and Eros. Eros was stronger than Yesod, Acies and Eros fought until it was like two large armies fighting against each other, even though it looked like they would not be able to win, Emi and Lailah could only take this chance to continue moving further in. Eros had a lot of leeway when fighting Acies, and it could even be said that she was taking it easy on Acies, telling Acies that all of this was unnecessary, Daath already made his choice, there is no need to go against Ignora anymore. Acies said she did not care, they caused me and Nee-chan to be separated from the others, it’s fine if you do not want to help, at least let me beat them up.

Eros did not let her, and said that Yesod’s characteristics was like a mirror, your eyes have turned red due to demonic magic and negative emotions, other Sephirah have a duty to stop you. Your affinity with that demon is too strong, Yesod, as the source of demonic magic, if it sinks too deep, all the Sephirah would be negatively affected, such that all demons and angels would be destroyed. Then she started to absorb Acies’ power, when she was about to succeed, Maou forcefully merged with Acies, coughed up blood, and said they were so wrong choosing Lucifer, they could actually entrust the future to that kind of HikkiNEET who plays games? Then with a burst of energy, he grabbed Eros and said, what the heck was she talking about, you and us, angels, demons, Demon King and Hero, we are only “humans” who do not need to eat and sleep! Do not look down on humans! As he grabbed Eros, he slammed her into the ground, and after that flew up to get into a fist fight with Kamael, knocking off his helmet, he has silver hair and red eyes and was a burly man, half his face had burn marks. Then Eros also climbed to her feet, Acies was also let out, the two continued to fight.

On the other end, Emi and Lailah finally reached where Ignora was, Ignora calmly greeted them with “Good morning”. Ignora was very thin and her eyes were listless, so it was not known why the other angels would submit to her. Ignora said, that is your daughter next to you, right? It feels nice to be a mother, right? You feel that you can overcome all difficulties, right? So you can also understand, the despair I feel when I lost my son, right? Therefore, when we meet again, I would feel limitless hope and happiness. Without waiting for Lailah to speak, she reached out and Lailah knelt in pain. Emi wanted to help, Ignora said, children should not interrupt when the adults were speaking, then she called for a young girl known as Nuxe to deal with Emi. Nuxe had reddish brown hair, olive fringe, golden eyes and addressed Ignora as Mama. Ignora said she was introducing this person to Alas=Ramus, and after she finished speaking, the two Sephirah children started to fight, Ignora also did not care and disappeared with Lailah.

Nuxe introduced herself as Malkuth, Eros’ younger sister, but Alas=Ramus did not know her and only knew Eros. Nuxe reached out to touch Emi’s evil repelling armour. The evil repelling armour disappeared, becoming Yesod fragments in Nuxe’s hand, Nuxe is that astronaut. Nuxe smiled with soulless eyes and said, Mama was afraid of me coming in contact with bad things outside and had me wear the astronaut suit, can I ask you to return the Yesod fragments? Of course Emi refused, letting out a light explosion shockwave to give Nuxe a concussion, temporarily losing her ability to fight. Alas=Ramus said Nuxe is “outside”. Emi’s understanding was that Nuxe was not merged with anyone, therefore Alas=Ramus dragged Emi along had Nuxe merge with Emi (I’m confused too, please don’t ask me about this). Nuxe’s consciousness struggled in Emi’s mind, and remembering Ignora, Emi tolerated the mental shock of someone arguing in her head and went to find Ignora and Lailah

When Emi stepped into that room, there was already three people inside. Lailah was currently being tortured by Ignora, Ignora asked Gabriel who rushed over why he suddenly betrayed her. Raguel was also inside the room, he was sealed inside a chamber (forced sleep), it was the same for Sandalphon who was mentioned earlier. Gabriel asked Ignora aggressively, why are you treating them like this, Sandalphon had been supporting you the whole time, and Daath chose us after so much effort. It was not known if the person beside Gabriel was Lucifer or Utsushihara. Ignora smiled, finally letting go of Lailah, but grabbed her hair and started dragging her along, saying “what happens if the ‘people who were not chosen’ spread across the world, all of you have seen it, right? All of you hidden too deeply, both of you, and also my husband, there was actually no need for this. All of you let the Theocracy grow to that state, that’s why things became like this. After saying this, she stepped on Lailah’s back, and spoke to someone unknown, “Isn’t that right, child?” That unknown person was expressionless, saying “It might be like that, Mama.”

Time skip to three years later again, Maou, Emi and Chiho received a call from Lucifer at the same time, but he did not pick up when they called back. By the way, Lucifer was using a function mobile phone which Maou bought for him earlier. At that time, Lucifer complained why it was not a smartphone, but Maou felt that Lucifer was a homebody and did not need to contact anyone, so it was fine as long as he could make calls. They felt he might have something urgent going on, but since he did not pick up, they could only send messages over to ask. In the end, it was because Lucifer was dragged out by a group of Sephirah to eat and could not afford the bill. The ones present were Lucifer, Acies, Iron, Nuxe and Eros. These few people probably ate a whole cow and Maou could not afford it as well, so he dragged Lailah and Nord in to pay the bill and emptied their wallets. After they finished eating, they chatted as they walked. Lucifer fit in perfectly with the group of Sephirah and Nuxe addressed Lucifer as onii-chan, and even asked him to treat all the Sephirah fairly and not just favour Yesod alone. Chiho offered to pay but Lucifer said there was no need, these Sephirah are my responsibility as their Management Supervisor, so there is a source of finances. Maou said that if he wanted to claim the bill, then keep the receipt properly, Lucifer happily took out the receipt and played with it on the tip of his fingers, an evil light in his eyes.

Three years later, Gabriel was staying in Room 103, he was the one responsible for giving the finances, but he would not pay for Lucifer’s share. Lucifer said that he only drank tea and that the barbecue meat he was looking forward to was not like this! The young Sephirah were playing loudly and Gabriel said that it looked like Lucifer was already an adult and was like an older brother, he was really happy. Then Maou pointed at the second floor and asked how was the situation, Gabriel said there was not much change and she only promised that she would eat. Maou and Lucifer returned to Room 201, talking about the growth of the Sephirah. It seemed like Sandalphon’s life was saved and Maou even had a coffee machine in his room. Lucifer said taking care of these children is like taking care of a tree and he did not think that the gardening skills described by Suzuno were really interesting, Maou said that Suzuno probably did not think that gardening skills could be used in this aspect. Then the two went to the door of Ignora next door, saying that she was eating a little more now, are you worried? Lucifer said he was a little worried. Maou said that if Nuxe was brought over, she might improve a little. Lucifer said, then he would just send Nuxe back, he keeps feeling that she should not let her recover too quickly, it took him a lot of effort to almost get used to this job, it would be troublesome if she came to criticise this and that. Maou said, are you actually Utsushihara? Lucifer said, who knows, but if I really am him, then you better not think of bad things, okay? And he was resented by Maou.

#hataraku maou-sama!#hataraku maou-sama #the devil is a part timer

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dearlazerbunny · 5 years

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Lie to Me (Ch. 24 of 28)

Pairings: Loki x Reader

Genre/Ratings: M eventually (aiming for a slow burn here); warnings for kidnapping and subsequent anxiety/PTSD (will be marked before every chapter)

Words: 2100

Summary: If you had to guess what the captured, traitor, trickster god Loki Laufeyson wanted or needed at this moment, a babysitter would be far, far down on the list. (Set after the events of Avengers 1.)

SHOUTOUT TO @molmcb and @jessiejunebug, whose faces I have cared into marble so they shall forever be immortalized as gods

Requested Tags: @deraniel, @iamverity, @yasnooshka24, @wegingerangelica, @themusingsofmany , @dark-night-sky-99, @tarynkauai, @stuffandstuff-stuff, @angelicshinigami, @my-current-fandom-is, @geekysimmerthings, @lokis-butter-knife, @help-i-need-a-social-life, @vodka-and-some-sass

WARNING: descriptions of anxiety, PTSD, and severe depression

When the cab finally drops you off at your apartment, you flash him your badge, tell him to charge it to Tony Stark, and then wander away without another word.

Your hands shake as you try to unlock the door- these damn tremors, they haven’t gone away yet, even though the doctors promise they will- and it takes you much too long to finally get the key into the lock and twist and open the door and close it behind you and lock it back.

Then you secure the chain, tugging it tight. And turn the lock again a few times, just to be sure it’s latched. Paranoia has become something of a friend since the incident.

Your small home speaks volumes about your mental state. The bookshelf, normally pristinely kept, is full of tomes that have been unceremoniously shoved back into their places any which way. The sink is overflowing with dishes. You’re not sure if there’s anything remotely edible in the fridge. The blinds are drawn tight and patched with cloth to block out as much of the outside world as possible, because sometimes even seeing the sky is too much on a bad day.

Today qualifies as a bad day. You reach for the bottle of pills you know will be close at hand and pop one into your mouth, swallowing it dry. After a second thought, you swallow another.

You stand in the doorway for a moment, not sure what to do. Amongst the panic attacks, the healing scars, and the demons lurking in every shadow, Loki was the only thing keeping you functioning as vaguely as you were. Now you feel like there’s nothing to tether you from spiraling out of control- no green eyes, no warm smiles, no stories to smooth over your ragged nerves. He’s gone, facing a fate you can’t even begin to imagine, and you won’t even get to be his knight in shining armor. He’ll forever be your hero, and you can never return the favor.

Somewhere in the back of your mind, a kind voice whispers, “No, my dear. I believe you saved his.”

The sweater Loki magicked gets wrapped tighter around you, even though the warmth has long since worn off. Your bed is cold, despite all the blankets piled onto it, and once you’re finally burrowed in amongst the pillows you let yourself release the sobs that you’ve been holding back, making your chest ache with emptiness.

Sleep is going to be a long time coming.

Weeks pass in a blur. You don’t really keep track. It takes you far too long to realize you haven’t been in to work- would there really be any point in going back? Did they believe you were brainwashed? Would they try and ‘recalibrate’ you?- but SHIELD hasn’t called you either, so you just let it lie. You keep up with those mandated therapy appointments a few times, and then they switch to conference calls, since you start having difficulty going outside. Eventually when your phone rings you just sit there and watch it chime until the screen goes dark once more. You’re not really in the mood to tell someone all about how pathetic you’re being.

Because you know it’s pathetic. The anxiety attacks, the nightmares, the listless spells where you’re content to do nothing but watch shadows creep over the walls as the sun moves from dawn to dusk. You can’t even go to the grocery store without someone accidentally jostling your arm and having to reflexively hold back a shriek. Most days seeing your own reflection in the mirror is enough to make you jump.

So you spend your time sleeping, though that sleep is consumed by nightmares. The taste of blood on your tongue, the sharp crack of your ribs splintering into pieces, the feeling of concrete beneath you as you make peace with your final resting place. Sometimes you see Loki as he appeared in front of you, hazy and surrounded in green magic, ready to slaughter enemies as he sees fit. Your guardian angel. But in your dreams, he never reaches for you like he did that day. He just watches as you feel breath slipping away moment by moment, an indifferent sort of smirk on his lips. You cry, you scream for him, willing your broken fingers to close the gap between you- your bones crumble to dust before you do.

When you’re tired of living your own personal hell on repeat, you make a habit of sitting at the window looking up at the stars, trying to keep him alive in your mind. You hope he isn’t in pain. You hope that Thor has kept his promise, keeping him safe the best he can. You hope… well. You hope a lot of things.

You take to imagining a thousand and one ways you might get to him. Break into Stark’s lab and demand information on the Bifrost. Sneak into SHIELD’s vaults and swipe the Tesseract; use it to do… something. Somewhere in the universe he’s standing judgement before a judge who’s been biased against him from the start- why would he think to be fair now? Thousands of years ago, a little baby frost giant was thrown into a narrative where he’d always be five steps behind, always second best. He never even got a fair shot. You wipe a tear from your cheek. Life isn’t fair, but if it’s going to be this brutal, the least it could do is offer you a happy ending.

You must’ve fallen asleep against the window pane, because for once your dreams are ethereal and covered in stars. You float past space and time, and when you reach out to touch the sparks lazily floating through the air, they collect like small galaxies on the tips of your fingers. Some invisible string tugs you forward, gentle yet relentless, and you allow yourself to follow it, wherever it might lead. Over a glittering rainbow bridge that floats in a dark, vast ocean; towards a golden castle pointed towards the heavens. There’s a strange sense of familiarity here, as though you’ve walked this path before. Perhaps in another dream; perhaps in another life. The thread winds you through the halls of the gilded castle. You pass a throne room that could hold a nation, a single dias fit for a king. There’s a library on your left, full of powerful things, illuminated by a crackling hearth. A room with a locked door that shimmers with runes and wards glowing blue. They say hello as you pass.

Finally, descent- layers upon layers of staircases, past whom you assume to be guards, with their armor and swords, though they don’t even turn an eye toward you as you float by. Your feet don’t make a whisper on the stone floor. There are glass cages all around you, similar the ones at at SHIELD, but they reek of power. Only, it isn’t glass, exactly- it shimmers and refracts in the dim light. A beckon. You fingers pass through the wall of energy easily enough, then your hand- then you start to feel some resistance. You frown and push harder, determined, though you don’t know why or what waits for you on the other side.

There’s something in the corner, and it moves with a heavy clanking noise when the rest of you finally gets through the boundary. It can sense you, unlike everyone else in this strange place. “Who is there?” A man’s voice, tired and wary. Familiar? More rattling, which you can now see comes from thick golden chains sprawled on the floor and looping off into the darkness. “Show yourself!”

Yes. You know that voice. And his hair, though it’s messier than you’ve ever seen it. His eyes, dull as they may be, are still the ones you’ve been dreaming of since the day he left. With a cry, you rush to Loki, kneeling on the ground in front of him where he sits with manacles binding his wrists and ankles. “Loki! Loki I- can you hear me? Oh god, please…” gently, you let your fingers tuck a piece of his black hair away from his eyes. He jerks back, confused, but more alert. “No, it’s okay, don’t be scared. It’s just me. I- I found you, I don’t know how but-”

“Y/N?” You don’t think your name has ever sounded more beautiful than in that moment. “Love, is that you?”

“Yes! Yes, can you see me? I’m right here. I’m right in front of you.”

“No… perhaps? A little, out of the corner of my eye.” Tentatively, he raises a hand and traces a gentle thumb against your cheekbone. It feels as insubstantial as a breeze, but you could cry from that small touch nonetheless. It’s him.

“I found you,” you whisper again. It’s him it’s him it’s him.

“So it would seem.” You giggle as a child would, proud of yourself. “And how, precisely, did you manage that?”

“I- I don’t know. I fell asleep and wandered around this castle for a bit, and then I was here. Where am I? Where are we?”

“Ah.” There’s something he’s not saying- you can hear it hiding underneath his tongue. “I think you must be dreaming, my love.”

“I- are you sure?” You glance down at your ghostly hands, still shimmering with starlight. “It seems so real.”

“You always did have quite the active imagination, Witling.”

You hum nonchalantly, taking in the dark circles under Loki’s eyes, the rings on angry flesh trapped underneath his cuffs. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“I am fine, love. Do not worry about me.”

“Bullshit,” you huff. “Don’t think I can’t see these.” You reach for a chain and tug, frowning when they barely move an inch.

He easily moves the restrains behind him, out of your reach. “Stop. I am far more concerned with you than myself.” Worried eyes roam your face. “What is wrong?”

“I’m tired,” you say simply, and your voice breaks halfway through. “Sleeping is… hard. And eating. And I need…” You is the missing word there, and though you don’t say it, he hears it nonetheless.

“I know, love. I know you are.” His voice is full of regret. “I never should have left you.”

“It’s not like you had a choice.”

“All the same. I wish it could have ended differently.”

The world around you wavers for a moment, then two. You look around, confused, instinctively reaching for Loki to pull him closer. “What…?”

“You can’t stay much longer, love.”

“I’m not leaving you! How will I find my way back?”

“You shouldn’t have come in the first place.” Green eyes darken. “I wish I could see you better.”

“I’ll find you again,” you say confidently, even though whatever strength that carried you here is slowly slipping away. “I promise.”

You wish Loki’s smile was more genuine, but as it is, you’ll take what you can get. “Such a brave Witling. Sleep, now. I am with you, even when you wake.”

A feather-light brush to your nose that feels strangely like a kiss makes your eyes open. You’re in your apartment, curled up next to the window, just like when you fell asleep. No rainbow. No castle. No Loki.

Only… you trace your cheek where maybe-Loki had done the same. It was so real. He was so real. Wasn’t he? Either way, you feel more at ease than you have in months. You have no idea what happened, but you don’t care. Seeing him was worth it.

To your surprise, you’re able to repeat your little cosmic jaunt every so often. You can’t control when or why, but the wandering seems to happen on the days you need them most. Sometimes he can’t hear you even when you sit beside him and confess everything you’ve ever wanted him to know, but others he’s so tangible you can lean against his side and press a kiss to his shoulder, if you work up the courage.

It isn’t perfect. You watch each other weaken by counting the shadows that appear under eyes and cheekbones, unable to offer any substantial comfort. You still break down more often than you should, and think of him even more frequently than that. But it’s easier to sleep at night knowing that even though he might as well be on another plane of existence, not even that can keep you apart forever.

Life still isn’t fair, not by a long shot. And you wouldn’t exactly call this limbo a happy ending. But it’s better than nothing, and so you savor every last drop.

A/N: I used the link below to work out the specifics of Loki’s cell; it’s a funny read if you’re interested:

https://missviolethunter.tumblr.com/post/105099519018/mcuasgard-afterthought-lokis-toilet-prison

New chapter in honor of my new phone! :D Now all my fanfics are in SUPER HI DEF!

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araitsume · 4 years

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The Desire of Ages, pp. 788-794: Chapter (82) “Why Weepest Thou?”

This chapter is based on Matthew 28:1, 5-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18.

The women who had stood by the cross of Christ waited and watched for the hours of the Sabbath to pass. On the first day of the week, very early, they made their way to the tomb, taking with them precious spices to anoint the Saviour's body. They did not think about His rising from the dead. The sun of their hope had set, and night had settled down on their hearts. As they walked, they recounted Christ's works of mercy and His words of comfort. But they remembered not His words, “I will see you again.” John 16:22.

Ignorant of what was even then taking place, they drew near the garden, saying as they went, “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?” They knew that they could not remove the stone, yet they kept on their way. And lo, the heavens were suddenly alight with glory that came not from the rising sun. The earth trembled. They saw that the great stone was rolled away. The grave was empty.

The women had not all come to the tomb from the same direction. Mary Magdalene was the first to reach the place; and upon seeing that the stone was removed, she hurried away to tell the disciples. Meanwhile the other women came up. A light was shining about the tomb, but the body of Jesus was not there. As they lingered about the place, suddenly they saw that they were not alone. A young man clothed in shining garments was sitting by the tomb. It was the angel who had rolled away the stone. He had taken the guise of humanity that he might not alarm these friends of Jesus. Yet about him the light of the heavenly glory was still shining, and the women were afraid. They turned to flee, but the angel's words stayed their steps. “Fear not ye,” he said; “for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead.” Again they look into the tomb, and again they hear the wonderful news. Another angel in human form is there, and he says, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

He is risen, He is risen! The women repeat the words again and again. No need now for the anointing spices. The Saviour is living, and not dead. They remember now that when speaking of His death He said that He would rise again. What a day is this to the world! Quickly the women departed from the sepulcher “with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word.”

Mary had not heard the good news. She went to Peter and John with the sorrowful message, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid Him.” The disciples hurried to the tomb, and found it as Mary had said. They saw the shroud and the napkin, but they did not find their Lord. Yet even here was testimony that He had risen. The graveclothes were not thrown heedlessly aside, but carefully folded, each in a place by itself. John “saw, and believed.” He did not yet understand the scripture that Christ must rise from the dead; but he now remembered the Saviour's words foretelling His resurrection.

It was Christ Himself who had placed those graveclothes with such care. When the mighty angel came down to the tomb, he was joined by another, who with his company had been keeping guard over the Lord's body. As the angel from heaven rolled away the stone, the other entered the tomb, and unbound the wrappings from the body of Jesus. But it was the Saviour's hand that folded each, and laid it in its place. In His sight who guides alike the star and the atom, there is nothing unimportant. Order and perfection are seen in all His work.

Mary had followed John and Peter to the tomb; when they returned to Jerusalem, she remained. As she looked into the empty tomb, grief filled her heart. Looking in, she saw the two angels, one at the head and the other at the foot where Jesus had lain. “Woman, why weepest thou?” they asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she answered, “and I know not where they have laid Him.”

Then she turned away, even from the angels, thinking that she must find someone who could tell her what had been done with the body of Jesus. Another voice addressed her, “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?” Through her tear-dimmed eyes, Mary saw the form of a man, and thinking that it was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away.” If this rich man's tomb was thought too honorable a burial place for Jesus, she herself would provide a place for Him. There was a grave that Christ's own voice had made vacant, the grave where Lazarus had lain. Might she not there find a burial place for her Lord? She felt that to care for His precious crucified body would be a great consolation to her in her grief.

But now in His own familiar voice Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Now she knew that it was not a stranger who was addressing her, and turning she saw before her the living Christ. In her joy she forgot that He had been crucified. Springing toward Him, as if to embrace His feet, she said, “Rabboni.” But Christ raised His hand, saying, Detain Me not; “for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.” And Mary went her way to the disciples with the joyful message.

Jesus refused to receive the homage of His people until He had the assurance that His sacrifice was accepted by the Father. He ascended to the heavenly courts, and from God Himself heard the assurance that His atonement for the sins of men had been ample, that through His blood all might gain eternal life. The Father ratified the covenant made with Christ, that He would receive repentant and obedient men, and would love them even as He loves His Son. Christ was to complete His work, and fulfill His pledge to “make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Isaiah 13:12. All power in heaven and on earth was given to the Prince of Life, and He returned to His followers in a world of sin, that He might impart to them of His power and glory.

While the Saviour was in God's presence, receiving gifts for His church, the disciples thought upon His empty tomb, and mourned and wept. The day that was a day of rejoicing to all heaven was to the disciples a day of uncertainty, confusion, and perplexity. Their unbelief in the testimony of the women gives evidence of how low their faith had sunk. The news of Christ's resurrection was so different from what they had anticipated that they could not believe it. It was too good to be true, they thought. They had heard so much of the doctrines and the so-called scientific theories of the Sadducees that the impression made on their minds in regard to the resurrection was vague. They scarcely knew what the resurrection from the dead could mean. They were unable to take in the great subject.

“Go your way,” the angels had said to the women, “tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you.” These angels had been with Christ as guardian angels throughout His life on earth. They had witnessed His trial and crucifixion. They had heard His words to His disciples. This was shown by their message to the disciples, and should have convinced them of its truth. Such words could have come only from the messengers of their risen Lord.

“Tell His disciples and Peter,” the angels said. Since the death of Christ, Peter had been bowed down with remorse. His shameful denial of the Lord, and the Saviour's look of love and anguish, were ever before him. Of all the disciples he had suffered most bitterly. To him the assurance is given that his repentance is accepted and his sin forgiven. He is mentioned by name.

“Tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him.” All the disciples had forsaken Jesus, and the call to meet Him again includes them all. He has not cast them off. When Mary Magdalene told them she had seen the Lord, she repeated the call to the meeting in Galilee. And a third time the message was sent to them. After He had ascended to the Father, Jesus appeared to the other women, saying, “All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshiped Him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.”

Christ's first work on earth after His resurrection was to convince His disciples of His undiminished love and tender regard for them. To give them proof that He was their living Saviour, that He had broken the fetters of the tomb, and could no longer be held by the enemy death; to reveal that He had the same heart of love as when He was with them as their beloved Teacher, He appeared to them again and again. He would draw the bonds of love still closer around them. Go tell My brethren, He said, that they meet Me in Galilee.

As they heard this appointment, so definitely given, the disciples began to think of Christ's words to them foretelling His resurrection. But even now they did not rejoice. They could not cast off their doubt and perplexity. Even when the women declared that they had seen the Lord, the disciples would not believe. They thought them under an illusion.

Trouble seemed crowding upon trouble. On the sixth day of the week they had seen their Master die; on the first day of the next week they found themselves deprived of His body, and they were accused of having stolen it away for the sake of deceiving the people. They despaired of ever correcting the false impressions that were gaining ground against them. They feared the enmity of the priests and the wrath of the people. They longed for the presence of Jesus, who had helped them in every perplexity.

Often they repeated the words, “We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel.” Lonely and sick at heart they remembered His words, “If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” Luke 24:21; 23:31. They met together in the upper chamber, and closed and fastened the doors, knowing that the fate of their beloved Teacher might at any time be theirs.

And all the time they might have been rejoicing in the knowledge of a risen Saviour. In the garden, Mary had stood weeping, when Jesus was close beside her. Her eyes were so blinded by tears that she did not discern Him. And the hearts of the disciples were so full of grief that they did not believe the angels’ message or the words of Christ Himself.

How many are still doing what these disciples did! How many echo Mary's despairing cry, “They have taken away the Lord, ... and we know not where they have laid Him”! To how many might the Saviour's words be spoken, “Why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?” He is close beside them, but their tear-blinded eyes do not discern Him. He speaks to them, but they do not understand.

Oh that the bowed head might be lifted, that the eyes might be opened to behold Him, that the ears might listen to His voice! “Go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen.” Bid them look not to Joseph's new tomb, that was closed with a great stone, and sealed with the Roman seal. Christ is not there. Look not to the empty sepulcher. Mourn not as those who are hopeless and helpless. Jesus lives, and because He lives, we shall live also. From grateful hearts, from lips touched with holy fire, let the glad song ring out, Christ is risen! He lives to make intercession for us. Grasp this hope, and it will hold the soul like a sure, tried anchor. Believe, and thou shalt see the glory of God.

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thewahookid · 3 years

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This prayer calls on Michael, Gabriel and Raphael to provide heavenly assistance in our hour of need.

This prayer calls on Michael, Gabriel and Raphael to provide heavenly assistance in our hour of need.

When God created the angels he appointed many of them to be at the service of humanity. Besides giving everyone a personal guardian to protect them in this life, God has also sent three archangels to provide us aid on our pilgrimage to heaven.

This fact shows how much care God has for us, surrounding us with powerful angelic beings to serve, guard and protect us. In particular, these three heavenly helpers were given specific roles and we are encouraged to invoke them in our hour of need.

Below is a beautiful prayer to the Archangels that highlights the role each Archangel has been given by God and how that role can help us when we need them the most.

Heavenly King, You have given us archangels

to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth.

Saint Michael is our protector;

I ask him to come to my aid,

fight for all my loved ones,

and protect us from danger.

Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News;

I ask him to help me

clearly hear Your voice

and to teach me the truth.

Saint Raphael is the healing angel;

I ask him to take my need for healing

and that of everyone I know,

lift it up to Your throne of grace

and deliver back to us the gift of recovery.

Help us, O Lord,

to realize more fully the reality of the archangels

and their desire to serve us.

Holy angels,

pray for us.

Amen.

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n333rdypirate · 3 years

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FSYY 1 001 - King Zhou and the Goddess Nu Wa

The Shang Dynasty replaced the Xia Dynasty and ruled China for nearly 650 years. The Shang court produced twenty-eight kings of whom King Zhou was the last.

Before King Zhou ascended the throne, he and his father, King Di Yi, and many civil and military officials were walking in the royal garden one day, viewing the blooming peonies, when suddenly the Flying Cloud Pavilion collapsed and a beam flew towards them. Rushing forward, King Zhou or then Prince Shou, caught the beam and replaced it in a display of miraculous strength. Deeply impressed, Prime Minister Shang Rong and Supreme Mei Bo advised King Di Yi to name him Crown Prince.

When King Di Yi passed away after thirty years on the throne, Crown Prince Shou was immediately crowned king to rule the country in his father's place. King Zhou established his capital at Zhaoge, a metropolis on the Yellow River. The king appointed Grand Tutor Wen Zhong to be in charge of civil affairs and Huang Feihu, Prince for National Pacification and of Military Prowess, to supervise military affairs. In this way, the king hoped the nation would live in peace under a civil administration backed up by the military. The king placed Queen Jiang in the Central Palace; Concubine Huang in the West Palace and Concubine Yang in the Fragrant Palace. They were all virtuous and chaste in their behavior and mild and gentle in manner.

King Zhou ruled his country in peace, and was respected by the neighboring states. His people worked happily in their different professions, and his peasants were especially blessed by favorable winds and rains. There were 800 marquises in the country who offered their allegiance to four dukes, each of whom ruled over 200 of these marquises on behalf of King Zhou. There four dukes were: the East Grand Duke Jiang Huanchu, the South Grand Duke E Chongyu, the West Grand Duke Ji Chang and the North Grand Duke Chong Houhu.

In the second month of the seventh year of the reign of King Zhou, a report reached Zhaoge of a rebellion of seventy-two marquises in the North Sea district, and the grand Tutor Wen Zhong was immediately ordered to lead a strong army to suppress the rebels. One day when King Zhou was holding court, Shang Rong stepped out from the right row, knelt and said, “Your humble Prime Minister Shang Rong begs to report something urgent to Your Majesty. Tomorrow is the 15th day of the third month, the birthday of the Goddess Nu Wa, and Your Majesty should honor her and hold a ceremony at her temple.”

“What has Goddess Nu Wa done that a great king such as myself is obliged to go to her temple and worship her?” King Zhou asked.

“Goddess Nu Wa's been a great goddess since ancient time and possesses saintly virtues. When the enraged demon Gong Gong knocked his head against Buzhou Mountain, the northwest section of Heaven collapsed and the earth sunk down in the southeast. At this critical moment, Nu Wa came to the rescue and mended Heaven with multi-colored stones she obtained and refined from a mountain,” Shang Rong explained. “She's performed this great service of the people, who've built temples to honor her in gratitude. Zhaoge in fortune to have the change to worship this kind goddess. She'll ensure peace and health tot he people and prosperity to the country; she'll bring us timely wind and rain and keep us free from famine and war. She's the proper guardian angel for both the people and the nation. So I make bold to suggest that Your Majesty honor her tomorrow.”

“You're right, Prime Minister. I'll do as you advise.”

Returning to his residential palace, King Zhou ordered a notion be issued that His Majesty, together with his civil and military officials, were to make a pilgrimage to worship Goddess Nu Wa at her temple the next day.

It would have been better if he hadn't gone at all, for it was this very pilgrimage that caused the fall of the Shang Dynasty, making it impossible for the people to live in peace. It was as if the king had tossed a fishing line in to a big river and unexpectedly caught numerous disaster leading to the loss of both his throne and his life.

The king and his entourage left the palace and made their way through the south gate of the capital. Every house they passes was decorated with bright silk, and the sheets were scented for ht eking by burning incense. The king was accompanied by 3,000 cavalrymen and 800 royal guards under the command of General Huang Feihu, Prince for National Pacification and of Military Prowess and followed by all the officials of the royal court.

Reaching the Temple of Goddess Nu Wa, King Zhou left his royal carriage and went to the main hall, where he burned incense sticks, bowed low with his ministers and offered prayers. King Zhou then wandered about the hall, finding it splendidly decorated in gold and other colors. Before the statue of the goddess stood golden lads holding pennants, and the jade lasses holding S-shaped jade ornaments which symbolized peace and happiness. The jade hooks on the curtain hung obliquely, like new crescent moons suspended in the air, and hundreds of fine phoenixes embroidered on the curtain appeared to be flying towards the North Pole. Beside the altar of the goddess, made of fragrant wood, cranes and dragons were dancing in the scented smoke rising from the gold incense burners and the sparkling flames of the silvery candles.

As King Zhou was admiring the splendors of the hall, a whirlwinds suddenly blew up, rolling back the curtain and exposing the image oft he goddess to all. She was extremely beautiful, much more than flowers, more than the fairy in the moon palace, and certainly more than any woman in the world. She looked quite alive, smiling sweetly at the king and staring at him with joy in her eyes.

Her utter beauty bewitched King Zhou, setting him on fire with lust. He desired to possess her, and thought to himself in frustration, “Through I'm wealthy and powerful and have concubines and maid servants filling my palace, there‘s none as beautiful land charming as this goddess." He ordered his attendants to bring brush and ink and wrote a poem on the wall near the image of the goddess to express his admiration and deep love for her. The poem ran like this:

The scene is gay with phoenixes and dragons,

But they are only clay and golden colors.

Brows like winding hills in jade green,

Sleeves like graceful clouds, you're

As pear blossoms soaked with raindrops,

Charming as peonies enveloped in mist.

I pray that you come alive,

With sweet voice and gentle movements,

And I'll bring you along to my palace.

When he finished writing, Prime Minister Shang Rong approached him. “Nu Wa's been a proper goddess and the guardian angel for Zhaoge, I only suggested that you worship her so that she would continue to bless the people with timely rains and favorable winds and ensure that they'll continue to live in peace. Bur with this poem, you've not only shown tour lack on sincerity on this trip but have insulted her as well.” He demanded, “This isn't the way a king should behave. I pray you wash this blasphemous poem off the wall, lest you be condemned by the people for your immortality.”

“I found Goddess Nu Wa so beautiful that I wrote a poem in praise of her, and that’s all. Hold your tongue. Don’t forget that I am the king. People will be only too glad to read the poem I wrote in my own hand, for it enables them to identify the true beauty of the goddess.”

King Zhou dismissed him lightly. The other civil and military officials remained silent, no one daring to utter a word. They then returned tot he capital. The king went directly to the Dragon Virtue Court, where he met his queens and con in a happy reunion.

On her birthday, Goddess Nu Wa had left her palace and paid her respects to the three emperors, Fu Xi, Shen Nong and Xuan Yuan. She then returned to her temple, seated herself in the main hall, and received greetings from the golden lads and jade lasses.

Looking up, she saw the poem on the wall. “That wicked king!” She flew in to a rage. “He doesn't think how to protect his country with virtue and mortality. On the contrary, he shows no fear of Heaven and insults me with this dirty poem. How vile he is! The Shang Dynasty's already ruled for over 600 years and is coming to an end. I must take my revenge on him if I'm to assuage my own conscience.”

She took action at once. She mounted a phoenix and headed for Zhaoge.

King Zhou had two sons. One was Yin Jiao, who later became the “Star God Presiding over the Year," and the other Xin Hong, who later became the "God of Grain." As the two gods paid their respects to their father, two red divine beams rose from the tops of their heads and soared high in the sky, blocking the way of the goddess. Looking down through the clouds, Nu Wa at once realized realized King Zhou had still twenty-eight years to go before his downfall. She also realized that she could do nothing about it at this moment. Since that would go against the will of Heaven.

The goddess returned to her temple, highly displeased. Back in her palace, Goddess Nu Wa ordered a young maidservant to fetch a golden gourd and put it on the Cinnabar Terrace outside her court. When its stopper was removed, Nu Wa pointed at the gourd with one finger and suddenly a thick beam of brilliant white light rose from the mouth of the gourd and shot up fifty feet into the air. Hanging from the beam was a multi-colored flag called the Demon Summoning Pennant. As soon as this pennant made its appearance, glittering high up in the sky, all demons and evil sprites, no matter where they were, would gather round.

Moments later, dark winds began to bowl, eerie fogs enveloped the earth, and vicious-looking clouds gathered in the sky. All the demons in the world had arrived to receive her command Nu Wa gave orders that all the demons return home except the three sprites that dwelt in the grave of Emperor Xuan Yuan.

Who were these three sprites? The first was a thousand—year-old female fox sprite; the second was a female pheasant sprite with nine heads; and the third was a jade lute sprite.

“May you live eternally, dear goddess!” the three sprites greeted Nu Wa, kowtowing on the Cinnabar Terrace.

“Listen carefully to my secret orders. The Shang Dynasty's destined to end soon. The singing of the phoenix at Mount Qi augurs the birth of a new ruler in West Qi. This has all been determined by the will of Heaven, and no one has the power to change what must happen. You may transform yourselves into beauties, enter the palace, and distract King Zhou from state affairs. You’ll be richly rewarded forgiving the new dynasty an auspicious start and helping the old one to its downfall. However, you mustn‘t bring harm to the people.”

at the end of her order, the three spirits kowtowed, turned themselves into winds, and flew away.

Since his visit to the Temple of the Goddess Nu Wa, King Zhou had sunk into a deep depression. He ardently admired the beauty of the goddess and, yearning for her day and night, lost all desire to eat and drink. He had no passion for his queen, his concubines, or the numerous maids in his palace. They now all appeared to him like lumps of clay. He would not be bothered with state affairs.

One day, he remembered Fei Zhong and You Hun, two minion courtiers who would flatter and slander as he pleased. King Zhou sent for Fei Zhong, and the latter appeared in no time.

“I went to worship Goddess Nu Wa recently,” King Zhou began. “She’s so beautiful I believe she has no rival in the world, and none of my concubines is to be compared with her. I’m head over heels in love, and feel very sad as I cannot get her. Have you any ideas with which to comfort me?”

“Your Majesty! With all your honor and dignity, you're the most powerful and the richest man in the world. You possess all the wealth within the four seas, and are virtuous as the sage emperors Yao and Shun. You may have anything you wish for, and you should have no difficulty in satisfying your desires. You can issue an order tomorrow demanding 100 beauties from the grand dukes. You’ll then have no trouble finding one as beautiful as Goddess Nu Wa,” Fei Zhong suggested. King Zhou was delighted. He said, “Your suggestion appeals to me greatly. I’ll issue the order tomorrow. You may return home for the time being. ”He then left the throne hall and returned to his royal chambers to rest.

If you wish to know what happened thereafter, please read the following chapter.

#fsyy vol1 #fengshen yanyi #rip the ocr of my phone app sucks i had to format and spell check this entire thing lmao #unsure of when i'll be done with the second chapter #the last sentence of please read the following chapter is literally in the book lol i dont know why

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pamphletstoinspire · 6 years

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Novena to the Holy Guardian Angels Recited From: September 23rd through October 1st - Feast Day: October 2nd (Both Latin Calendar and Ordinary Time)

Novena

The word Novena derives it name from the Latin word “novem” meaning “nine.” A novena can be either a private or public devotion in the Catholic Church to obtain special graces.

NOVENA TO THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS

Novena Prayer

(Said Daily before each day’s prayers)

Heavenly Father, Creator of heaven and earth, I praise and thank You, not only be-cause You have created the visible world but also because You have created the heavens and called the numberless spirits into being. You created them most splendidly, endowing them with power and understanding, and pouring out upon them the riches of Your grace.

I praise and thank You for having showered these blessings upon the good Angels, especially upon my Guardian Angel, and for having rewarded them with eternal glory after the time of their probation.

Now they surround Your throne forever, singing jubilantly: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts! Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.

Hosanna in the highest!

Eternal Son of God, I honor You as the King of the Angels. Yet You Yourself were pleased to take their name and office and to dwell among us as the Angel and Messenger of God. You were the faithful Companion and constant Leader of the chosen people. By Your Incarnation You became the Ambassador of our heavenly Father and the Messenger of the great decree of our redemption.

For Your greater glory, loving King of the Angels, I wish to praise and honor Your servants, the Holy Angels, especially my own Guardian Angel. In union with these Holy Angels I adore and revere You as my Savior and my God.

Holy Spirit, Divine Artist, Finger of God's right hand, by Your power and love the hosts of the Angels were brought into being to adore and serve God. They do so with constant fidelity and ready obedience. They carry out Your commands with fervent love and holy zeal. Divine Spirit, You also created us in Your likeness and made of our souls Your living temples.

I thank You for having given us Your Holy Angels to help, protect, and guide us that we may persevere in Your grace throughout life's journey and safely reach our heavenly home. Help me to be attentive to their guidance that I may do Your holy Will perfectly and at the same time find true happiness in this life and in the next.

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in honor of the Holy Angels, I ask You to grant my special request if it be Your holy Will:

(Mention your request).

Day One—Ardent Seraphim, you who dwell in the eternal home of love, unceasingly absorbed in the rays of the Sun of Justice, we beg you in virtue of the Divine Blood, to enkindle in our hearts that holy fire with which you are consumed.

St. Michael, the Archangel, and all the Holy Angels, protect us in our combats, that we may not perish in the tremendous judgment of God.

Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Day Two—Bright Cherubim, you who are allowed a deeper insight into God's secrets, dispel the darkness of our souls, and in virtue of the Divine Blood, give that supernatural light to our eyes that will enable us to understand the truths of salvation.