“Maid Maleen” by the Brothers Grimm (translated into English by Margaret Hunt)

            There was once a King who had a son who asked in marriage the daughter of a mighty King; she was called Maid Maleen, and was very beautiful. As her father wished to give her to another, the prince was rejected; but as they both loved each other with all their hearts, they would not give each other up, and Maid Maleen said to her father, "I can and will take no other for my husband." Then the King flew into a passion, and ordered a dark tower to be built, into which no ray of sunlight or moonlight should enter. When it was finished, he said, "Therein shalt thou be imprisoned for seven years, and then I will come and see if thy perverse spirit is broken." Meat and drink for the seven years were carried into the tower, and then she and her waiting-woman were led into it and walled up, and thus cut off from the sky and from the earth. There they sat in the darkness, and knew not when day or night began. The King's son often went round and round the tower, and called their names, but no sound from without pierced through the thick walls. What else could they do but lament and complain? Meanwhile the time passed, and by the diminution of the food and drink they knew that the seven years were coming to an end. They thought the moment of their deliverance was come; but no stroke of the hammer was heard, no stone fell out of the wall, and it seemed to Maid Maleen that her father had forgotten her. As they only had food for a short time longer, and saw a miserable death awaiting them, Maid Maleen said, "We must try our last chance, and see if we can break through the wall." She took the bread-knife, and picked and bored at the mortar of a stone, and when she was tired, the waiting-maid took her turn. With great labour they succeeded in getting out one stone, and then a second, and a third, and when three days were over the first ray of light fell on their darkness, and at last the opening was so large that they could look out. The sky was blue, and a fresh breeze played on their faces; but how melancholy everything looked all around! Her father's castle lay in ruins, the town and the villages were, so far as could be seen, destroyed by fire, the fields far and wide laid to waste, and no human being was visible. When the opening in the wall was large enough for them to slip through, the waiting-maid sprang down first, and then Maid Maleen followed. But where were they to go? The enemy had ravaged the whole kingdom, driven away the King, and slain all the inhabitants. They wandered forth to seek another country, but nowhere did they find a shelter, or a human being to give them a mouthful of bread, and their need was so great that they were forced to appease their hunger with nettles. When, after long journeying, they came into another country, they tried to get work everywhere; but wherever they knocked they were turned away, and no one would have pity on them. At last they arrived in a large city and went to the royal palace. There also they were ordered to go away, but at last the cook said that they might stay in the kitchen and be scullions.

            The son of the King in whose kingdom they were, was, however, the very man who had been betrothed to Maid Maleen. His father had chosen another bride for him, whose face was as ugly as her heart was wicked. The wedding was fixed, and the maiden had already arrived; but because of her great ugliness, however, she shut herself in her room, and allowed no one to see her, and Maid Maleen had to take her her meals from the kitchen. When the day came for the bride and the bridegroom to go to church, she was ashamed of her ugliness, and afraid that if she showed herself in the streets, she would be mocked and laughed at by the people. Then said she to Maid Maleen, "A great piece of luck has befallen thee. I have sprained my foot, and cannot well walk through the streets; thou shalt put on my wedding-clothes and take my place; a greater honour than that thou canst not have!" Maid Maleen, however, refused it, and said, "I wish for no honour which is not suitable for me." It was in vain, too, that the bride offered her gold. At last she said angrily, "If thou dost not obey me, it shall cost thee thy life. I have but to speak the word, and thy head will lie at thy feet." Then she was forced to obey, and put on the bride's magnificent clothes and all her jewels. When she entered the royal hall, every one was amazed at her great beauty, and the King said to his son, "This is the bride whom I have chosen for thee, and whom thou must lead to church." The bridegroom was astonished, and thought, "She is like my Maid Maleen, and I should believe that it was she herself, but she has long been shut up in the tower, or dead." He took her by the hand and led her to church. On the way was a nettle-plant, and she said,

"Oh, nettle-plant,

Little nettle-plant,

What dost thou here alone?

I have known the time

When I ate thee unboiled,

When I ate thee unroasted."

"What art thou saying?" asked the King's son. "Nothing," she replied, "I was only thinking of Maid Maleen." He was surprised that she knew about her, but kept silence. When they came to the foot-plank into the churchyard, she said,

"Foot-bridge, do not break,

I am not the true bride."

"What art thou saying there?" asked the King's son. "Nothing," she replied, "I was only thinking of Maid Maleen." "Dost thou know Maid Maleen?" "No," she answered, "how should I know her; I have only heard of her." When they came to the church-door, she said once more,

"Church-door, break not,

I am not the true bride."

"What art thou saying there?" asked he. "Ah," she answered, "I was only thinking of Maid Maleen." Then he took out a precious chain, put it round her neck, and fastened the clasp. Thereupon they entered the church, and the priest joined their hands together before the altar, and married them. He led her home, but she did not speak a single word the whole way. When they got back to the royal palace, she hurried into the bride's chamber, put off the magnificent clothes and the jewels, dressed herself in her gray gown, and kept nothing but the jewel on her neck, which she had received from the bridegroom.

            When the night came, and the bride was to be led into the prince's apartment, she let her veil fall over her face, that he might not observe the deception. As soon as every one had gone away, he said to her, "What didst thou say to the nettle-plant which was growing by the wayside?"

            "To which nettle-plant?" asked she; "I don't talk to nettle-plants." "If thou didst not do it, then thou art not the true bride," said he. So she bethought herself, and said,

"I must go out unto my maid,

Who keeps my thoughts for me."

She went out and sought Maid Maleen. "Girl, what hast thou been saying to the nettle?" "I said nothing but,

"Oh, nettle-plant,

Little nettle-plant,

What dost thou here alone?

I have known the time

When I ate thee unboiled,

When I ate thee unroasted."

The bride ran back into the chamber, and said, "I know now what I said to the nettle," and she repeated the words which she had just heard. "But what didst thou say to the foot-bridge when we went over it?" asked the King's son. "To the foot-bridge?" she answered. "I don't talk to foot-bridges." "Then thou art not the true bride."

            She again said,

"I must go out unto my maid,

Who keeps my thoughts for me,"

And ran out and found Maid Maleen, "Girl, what didst thou say to the foot-bridge?" "I said nothing but,

"Foot-bridge, do not break,

I am not the true bride."

"That costs thee thy life!" cried the bride, but she hurried into the room, and said, "I know now what I said to the foot-bridge," and she repeated the words. "But what didst thou say to the church-door?" "To the church-door?" she replied; "I don't talk to church-doors." "Then thou art not the true bride."

            She went out and found Maid Maleen, and said, "Girl, what didst thou say to the church-door?"

            "I said nothing but,

"Church-door, break not,

I am not the true bride."

"That will break thy neck for thee!" cried the bride, and flew into a terrible passion, but she hastened back into the room, and said, "I know now what I said to the church-door," and she repeated the words. "But where hast thou the jewel which I gave thee at the church-door?" "What jewel?" she answered; "thou didst not give me any jewel." "I myself put it round thy neck, and I myself fastened it; if thou dost not know that, thou art not the true bride." He drew the veil from her face, and when he saw her immeasurable ugliness, he sprang back terrified, and said, "How comest thou here? Who art thou?" "I am thy betrothed bride, but because I feared lest the people should mock me when they saw me out of doors, I commanded the scullery-maid to dress herself in my clothes, and to go to church instead of me." "Where is the girl?" said he; "I want to see her, go and bring her here." She went out and told the servants that the scullery-maid was an impostor, and that they must take her out into the court-yard and strike off her head. The servants laid hold of Maid Maleen and wanted to drag her out, but she screamed so loudly for help, that the King's son heard her voice, hurried out of his chamber and ordered them to set the maiden free instantly. Lights were brought, and then he saw on her neck the gold chain which he had given her at the church-door. "Thou art the true bride, said he, "who went with me to the church; come with me now to my room." When they were both alone, he said, "On the way to church thou didst name Maid Maleen, who was my betrothed bride; if I could believe it possible, I should think she was standing before me thou art like her in every respect." She answered, "I am Maid Maleen, who for thy sake was imprisoned seven years in the darkness, who suffered hunger and thirst, and has lived so long in want and poverty. To-day, however, the sun is shining on me once more. I was married to thee in the church, and I am thy lawful wife." Then they kissed each other, and were happy all the days of their lives. The false bride was rewarded for what she had done by having her head cut off.

            The tower in which Maid Maleen had been imprisoned remained standing for a long time, and when the children passed by it they sang,

"Kling, klang, gloria.

Who sits within this tower?

A King's daughter, she sits within,

A sight of her I cannot win,

The wall it will not break,

The stone cannot be pierced.

Little Hans, with your coat so gay,

Follow me, follow me, fast as you may."

"Bandeira Branca" by Max Nunes and Laércio Alves (in Portuguese)

Bandeira branca amor
Não posso mais
Pela saudade que me invade
Eu peço paz

Saudade mal de amor de amor
saudade dor que dói demais
Vem meu amor
Bandeira branca eu peço paz.

You can hear "Bandeira Branca" sung by Dalva de Oliveira here.

"Apparecchio alla Morte" by St Alfonso Maria de Liguori (in Italian) – XXVI

CONSIDERAZIONE XXV - DEL GIUDIZIO UNIVERSALE

«Cognoscetur Dominus iudicia faciens» (Ps. 9. 17).

PUNTO I

              Al presente, se ben si considera, non v'è nel mondo persona più disprezzata di Gesu-Cristo. Si fa più conto d'un villano che non si fa conto di Dio; perché si teme che quel villano, vedendosi troppo offeso, mosso a sdegno, si vendichi: ma a Dio si fanno ingiurie, e se gli replicano alla libera, come se Dio non potesse vendicarsi, quando vuole. «Et quasi nihil possit facere Omnipotens, aestimabant eum» (Iob. 22. 17). Ma perciò il Redentore ha destinato un giorno, che sarà il giorno del giudizio universale (chiamato appunto dalle Scritture, «Dies Domini»), nel quale Gesu-Cristo vorrà farsi conoscere per quel gran Signore ch'Egli è. «Cognoscetur Dominus iudicia faciens» (Psal. 9. 17). Quindi un tal giorno si chiama non più giorno di misericordia e di perdono, ma «Dies irae, dies tribulationis, et angustiae, dies calamitatis, et miseriae» (Soph. 1. 15). Sì, perché allora giustamente vorrà il Signore risarcirsi l'onore, che han cercato di torgli i peccatori in questa terra. Vediamo come avverrà il giudizio di questo gran giorno.

              Prima di venire il giudice, «Ignis ante Ipsum praecedet» (Psal. 96. 3). Verrà fuoco dal cielo, che brucerà la terra e tutte le cose di questa terra. «Terra, et quae in ipsa sunt opera, exurentur» (2. Petr. 3. 10). Sicché palagi, chiese, ville, città, regni, tutti han da diventare un mucchio di cenere. Dee purgarsi col fuoco questa casa appestata di peccati. Ecco il fine che avran da avere tutte le ricchezze, le pompe e le delizie di questa terra. Morti che saranno gli uomini, suonerà la tromba e tutti risorgeranno. «Canet enim tuba, et mortui resurgent» (1. Cor. 15. 52). Dice S. Girolamo (in Matth. cap. 5): «Quoties diem iudicii considero, contremisco; semper videtur illa tuba insonare auribus meis: Surgite, mortui, venite ad iudicium». Al suono di questa tromba scenderanno l'anime belle de' beati ad unirsi coi loro corpi, con cui han servito a Dio in questa vita; e l'anime infelici de' dannati saliranno dall'inferno ad unirsi con quei corpi maledetti, co' quali hanno offeso Dio.

              Oh che differenza ci sarà allora tra i corpi de' beati e quelli dei dannati. I beati compariranno belli, candidi, risplendenti più che il sole. «Tunc iusti fulgebunt sicut sol» (Matth. 13. 43). Oh felice chi in questa vita sa mortificar la sua carne, con negarle i piaceri vietati; e per tenerla più a freno, le nega anche i gusti leciti del senso, la maltratta, come han fatto i santi! Oh quanto allora se ne troverà contento, come un S. Pietro d'Alcantara, che dopo morte disse a S. Teresa: «O felix poenitentia, quae tantam mihi promeruit gloriam!» All'incontro i corpi de' reprobi compariranno deformi, neri e puzzolenti.

              O che pena avrà allora il dannato in riunirsi col suo corpo! Corpo maledetto, dirà l'anima, che per contentare te io son perduta. E 'l corpo dirà: Anima maledetta, e tu che avevi in mano la ragione, perché mi hai conceduti quelli4 gusti, che han fatto perdere te e me per tutta l'eternità.

Affetti e preghiere

              Ah Gesù mio e mio Redentore, che un giorno avete da essere il giudice mio, perdonatemi prima che arrivi questo giorno. «Non avertas faciem tuam a me». Ora mi siete padre, e qual padre ricevete in grazia vostra un figlio, che ritorna pentito ai piedi vostri. Padre mio, vi cerco perdono, vi ho offeso a torto, vi ho lasciato a torto; non ve lo meritavate, come io vi ho trattato; me ne pento, me ne addoloro con tutto il cuore; perdonatemi. «Non avertas faciem tuam a me»: non mi voltate la faccia, non mi discacciate, come io meriterei. Ricordatevi del sangue, che per me avete sparso, ed abbiate pietà di me. Gesù mio, io non voglio altro giudice che voi. Dicea S. Tommaso da Villanova: «Libenter illius iudicium subeo, qui pro me mortuus est, et ne me damnaret, ad crucem se damnari permisit». E ciò lo disse prima S. Paolo: «Quis est, qui condemnet? Christus Iesus, qui mortuus est» (Rom. 8).

              Padre mio, io vi amo, e per l'avvenire non voglio partirmi più da' piedi vostri. Scordatevi delle ingiurie che vi ho fatte, e datemi un grande amore verso la vostra bontà. Io desidero d'amarvi più di quanto vi ho offeso; ma se Voi non mi aiutate, io non posso amarvi.

              Aiutatemi, Gesù mio, fatemi vivere grato al vostro amore, acciocché in quel giorno mi ritrovi nella valle tra 'l numero de' vostri amanti.

              O Maria, Regina ed avvocata mia, aiutatemi ora, perché se mi perdo, in quel giorno non potrete aiutarmi più. Voi pregate per tutti, pregate anche per me, che mi vanto di esser vostro servo divoto, e tanto in voi confido.

PUNTO II

              Risorti che saranno gli uomini, sarà loro intimato dagli angeli che vadano tutti alla valle di Giosafat, per essere ivi giudicati: «Populi, populi in valle concisionis, quia iuxta est dies Domini» (Ioel. 3. 14). Radunati poi che saranno ivi, verranno gli angeli e segregheranno i reprobi dagli eletti. «»Exibunt angeli, et separabunt malos de medio iustorum» (Matth. 13. 49). I giusti resteranno alla destra e i dannati saran cacciati alla sinistra. Che pena sarebbe a taluno il vedersi discacciato dalla conversazione o dalla chiesa! Ma quale altra pena sarà allora il vedersi discacciare dalla compagnia dei santi: «Quomodo putas impios confundendos, quando, segregatis iustis, fuerint derelicti!» (Auct. op. imperf. hom. 54). Dice il Grisostomo che se i dannati non avessero altra pena, questa sola confusione basterebbe a fare il loro inferno: «Et si nihil ulterius paterentur, ista sola verecundia sufficeret eis ad poenam» (In Matth. cap. 54). Il figlio sarà separato dal padre, il marito dalla moglie, il padrone dal servo: «Unus assumetur, et alter relinquetur» (Matth. 24. 40). Dimmi, fratello mio, qual luogo pensi che allora ti toccherà? Vorresti trovarti alla destra? lascia dunque la via, che ti porta alla sinistra.

              Ora in questa terra son tenuti per fortunati i principi, i ricchi, e son disprezzati i santi, che vivono poveri ed umili. O fedeli, che amate Dio, non vi accorate, in vedervi sì vilipesi e tribolati in questa terra: «Tristitia vertetur in gaudium» (Io. 16. 20). Allora voi sarete chiamati i veri fortunati, e avrete l'onore di esser dichiarati della corte di Gesu-Cristo. Oh che bella figura che farà allora un S. Pietro di Alcantara, il quale fu vilipeso quasi apostata! un S. Giovanni di Dio, che fu trattato da pazzo! un S. Pietro Celestino, che avendo rinunziato il papato, morì dentro una carcere! Oh quali onori avranno allora tanti martiri straziati da' carnefici! «Tunc laus erit unicuique a Deo» (1. Cor. 4. 5). Ed oh che figura orribile all'incontro farà un Erode, un Pilato, un Nerone! e tanti altri grandi della terra, ma dannati! Oh amanti del mondo, alla valle, alla valle vi aspetto. Ivi senza dubbio muterete sentimenti. Ivi piangerete la vostra pazzia. Miseri, che per fare una breve comparsa sulla scena di questa terra, avrete poi a far ivi la parte di dannati nella tragedia del giudizio. Gli eletti dunque saran collocati alla destra; anzi per loro maggior gloria (secondo dice l'Apostolo) saranno sollevati in aria sovra le nubi, per andare cogli angeli ad incontro a Gesu-Cristo, che ha da venire dal cielo: «Rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aëra» (1. Thess. 4. 6). E i dannati come tanti capretti destinati al macello, saran confinati alla sinistra, ad aspettare il loro giudice, che dovrà far la pubblica condanna di tutti i suoi nemici.

              Ma ecco già si aprono i cieli, vengono gli angeli ad assistere al giudizio, e portano i segni della passione di Gesu-Cristo: «Veniente Domino ad iudicium (dice S. Tommaso), signum crucis, et alia passionis indicia demonstrabuntur» (Opusc. 2. c. 244). Specialmente comparirà la croce: «Et tunc parebit signum Filii hominis in coelo, et tunc plangent omnes tribus terrae» (Matth. 24. 30). Dice Cornelio a Lapide: Oh come allora al veder la croce piangeranno i peccatori, che in vita non fecer conto della loro salute eterna, che tanto costò al Figlio di Dio! «Plangent qui salutem suam, quae Christo tam cara stetit, neglexerint». Allora dice il Grisostomo: «Clavi de te conquerentur, cicatrices contra te loquentur, crux Christi contra te perorabit» (Hom. 20. in Matth.). Assisteranno ancora come assessori a questo giudizio i santi Apostoli e tutti i loro imitatori, che insieme con Gesu-Cristo giudicheranno le genti: «Fulgebunt iusti, iudicabunt nationes» (Sap. 3. 7). Verrà ancora ad assistere la Regina de' santi e degli angeli, Maria Santissima. In fine verrà l'eterno giudice in un trono di maestà e di luce. «Et videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nubibus coeli, cum virtute multa et maiestate» (Matth. 24. 31). «A facie eius cruciabuntur populi» (Ioel. 2. 6). La vista di Gesu-Cristo consolerà gli eletti, ma a' reprobi ella apporterà più pena che lo stesso inferno: «Damnatis (dice S. Girolamo) melius esset inferni poenas, quam Domini praesentiam ferre». Dicea S. Teresa: Gesù mio, datemi ogni pena, e non mi fate vedere la vostra faccia sdegnata con me in quel giorno. E S. Basilio: «Superat omnem poenam confusio ista». Allora avverrà quel che predisse S. Giovanni che i dannati pregheranno i monti a cader loro sopra e nasconderli dalla vista del loro giudice irato: «Dicent autem montibus: Cadite super nos, et abscondite nos a facie sedentis super thronum, et ab ira Agni» (Apoc. 6. 6).

Affetti e preghiere

              O caro mio Redentore, o agnello di Dio, che siete venuto al mondo, non già a castigare, ma a perdonare i peccati, deh perdonatemi presto, prima che venga quel giomo, in cui mi avete da essere giudice. Allora la vista di Voi agnello, che avete avuto tanta pazienza con me in sopportarmi, se mai mi perdessi, sarebbe l'inferno del mio inferno. Deh replico, perdonatemi presto, cacciatemi colla vostra mano pietosa dal precipizio, dove mi trovo caduto per li miei peccati. Mi pento, o sommo bene, di avervi offeso, e tanto offeso. Vi amo giudice mio, che tanto mi avete amato. Deh per li meriti della vostra morte datemi una grazia grande, che mi muti da peccatore in santo. Voi avete promesso di esaudir chi vi prega: «Clama ad me et exaudiam te» (Iob. 33. 3). Io non vi chiedo beni di terra, domando la grazia vostra, il vostro amore, e non altro. Esauditemi, Gesù mio, per quell'amore, che mi portaste morendo per me sulla croce. Amato giudice mio, io sono il reo, ma un reo che vi ama più di se stesso. Abbiate pietà di me.

              Maria Madre mia, presto, aiutatemi presto, ora è tempo che potete aiutarmi. Voi non mi avete abbandonato, quando io vivea scordato di Voi e di Dio, soccorretemi ora che sto risoluto di volervi sempre servire, e di non offendere più il mio Signore. O Maria, Voi siete la speranza mia.

PUNTO III

              Ma ecco già comincia il giudizio. Si aprono i processi, che saranno le coscienze di ciascuno: «Iudicium sedit et libri aperti sunt» (Dan. 7. 10). I testimoni contro i reprobi saranno per prima i demoni che diranno (secondo S. Agostino): «Aequissime Deus, iudica esse meum qui tuus esse noluit» Saran per secondo le proprie coscienze: «Testimonium reddente illis conscientia ipsorum» (Rom. 2. 15). Di più saran testimoni che grideranno vendetta, le stesse mura di quella casa dove i peccatori hanno offeso Dio. «Lapis de pariete clamabit» (Habac. 2. 11). Testimonio sarà finalmente lo stesso giudice, ch'è stato presente a tutte le offese a Lui fatte. «Ego sum iudex, et testis, dicit Dominus» (Ier. 29. 23). Dice S. Paolo che allora il Signore «illuminabit abscondita tenebrarum» (1. Cor. 4. 5). Farà vedere a tutti gli uomini i peccati de' reprobi più segreti e vergognosi, che in vita sono stati nascosti ancora a' confessori. «Revelabo pudenda tua in facie tua» (Nahum 3. 5). I peccati degli eletti, vuole il Maestro delle sentenze con altri che allora non si manifesteranno, ma si troveranno coverti, secondo quel che disse Davide: «Beati quorum remissae sunt iniquitates, et quorum tecta sunt peccata» (Ps. 31. 1). All'incontro, dice S. Basilio che i peccati de' reprobi si vedranno da tutti con un'occhiata, come in un quadro: «Unico intuitu singula peccata velut in pictura noscentur» (Lib. I. de Ver. Virg.). Dice S. Tommaso (Opusc. 60): Se nell'orto di Getsemani in dire Gesu-Cristo, «Ego sum», caddero a terra tutti i soldati ch'eran venuti a prenderlo; che sarà quand'egli sedendo da giudice dirà a' dannati: Ecco io sono quello che Voi avete così disprezzato? «Quid faciet iudicaturus, qui hoc fecit iudicandus?»

              Ma via su, già si viene alla sentenza. Si volterà prima Gesu-Cristo agli eletti e dirà loro quelle dolci parole: «Venite, benedicti Patris mei, possidete paratum vobis regnum a constitutione mundi» (Matth. 25. 34). S. Francesco d'Assisi in essergli rivelato ch'era predestinato, non capiva in sé per la consolazione; qual gaudio sarà sentirsi dire allora dal giudice: Venite, figli benedetti, venite al regno; non vi sono più pene per voi, non vi è più timore, già siete e sarete salvi in eterno. Io vi benedico il sangue che sparsi per voi, e vi benedico le lagrime che voi avete sparse per li vostri peccati: andiamo su al paradiso, dove staremo sempre insieme per tutta l'eternità. Benedirà anche Maria SS. i divoti suoi, e l'inviterà a venir seco in cielo, e così cantando «Alleluia, alleluia», entreranno gli eletti in trionfo al paradiso a possedere, a lodare, ed amare Dio in eterno.

              All'incontro i dannati rivolti a Gesu-Cristo gli diranno: E noi miseri che ce ne abbiamo da fare? E voi, dirà l'eterno giudice, giacché avete rinunziata e disprezzata la mia grazia, «discedite a me, maledicti, in ignem aeternum» (Matth. ibid.). «Discedite», spartitevi da me, ch'io non voglio vedervi, né sentirvi più. «Maledicti», andate ed andate maledetti, giacché avete disprezzata la mia benedizione. E dove, Signore, hanno da andare questi miserabili? «In ignem», nell'inferno a bruciare in anima e corpo. E per quanti anni, o per quanti secoli? Che anni, che secoli! «In ignem aeternum», per tutta l'eternità, mentre Dio sarà Dio. Dopo questa sentenza dice S. Efrem che i reprobi si licenzieranno dagli angeli, da' santi, da' congiunti e dalla divina Madre: «Valete iusti, vale crux, vale paradise. Valete patres ac filii, nullum siquidem vestrum visuri sumus ultra. Vale tu quoque Dei Genitrix Maria» (S. Ephr. de Variis torm. inf.). E così in mezzo alla valle si aprirà poi un gran fossa, dove caderanno insieme demonii e dannati, i quali si sentiranno oh Dio dietro le spalle chiudere quelle porte, che non si avranno da aprire, mai, mai, mai più in eterno. O peccato maledetto, a qual fine infelice avrai un giorno da condurre tante povere anime! O anime infelici, a cui sta riservata una fine così lagrimevole!

Affetti e preghiere

              Ah mio Salvatore e Dio, quale sarà la sentenza che mi toccherà in quel giorno? Se ora, Gesù mio, mi dimandaste conto della vita mia, che altro potrei rispondervi, se non dirvi che merito mille inferni? Sì, è vero, caro mio Redentore, merito mille inferni; ma sappiate che v'amo, e v'amo più di me stesso; e delle offese che v'ho fatte ne ho tal dolore, che mi contenterei d'aver patito ogni male, prima che avervi disgustato. Voi condannate, o Gesù mio, i peccatori ostinati, ma non quelli che si pentono e vi vogliono amare. Eccomi a' piedi vostri pentito, fatemi sentire che mi perdonate. Ma già mel fate sentire per lo profeta: «Convertimini ad me, et convertar ad vos» (Zach. 1. 3). Io lascio tutto, rinunzio a tutti i gusti e beni del mondo, e mi converto e mi abbraccio a Voi, amato mio Redentore. Deh ricevetemi nel vostro santo amore; ma infiammatemi tanto ch'io non pensi più a separarmi da Voi. Gesù mio, salvatemi, e la salute mia sia l'amarvi sempre, e sempre lodare le vostre misericordie. «Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo».

              Maria speranza, rifugio e Madre mia, aiutatemi ed ottenetemi la santa perseveranza. Niuno mai si è perduto, che a Voi è ricorso. A Voi mi raccomando, abbiate pietà di me.

Letter from Fr. Andrea to an Anonymous Graffiter (translated into English by Diane Montagna)

 A graffiti scrawled on the wall of the church parish of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Rita caused this answer from Fr. Andrea, the parishioner priest:

Dear anonymous writer on the wall,

      I’m sorry you couldn’t take an example from your mother. She had courage. She conceived you, carried on the pregnancy and gave birth to you. She could have aborted you. But she didn’t. She raised you, fed you, washed you, and dressed you. And now you have a life and freedom. A freedom you’re using to tell us that it would be better if people also like you weren’t in this world.
      I’m sorry, but I disagree. And I admire your mother very much because she was brave. And she still is, because, like every mother, she is proud of you even if you behave badly, because she knows that there is still good inside of you that only needs to manage to come out.
      Abortion makes nonsense of everything. Death wins against life. Fear defeats a heart that wants to fight and live, not die. It means choosing who has the right to live and who doesn’t, as if it were a simple right. It is an ideology that conquers humanity and wants to take its hope away.
      You obviously have no courage. Given that you’re anonymous.
      And while we’re at it, I would also like to tell you that our neighborhood has already experienced a lot of problems, and we don’t need people to vandalize the walls and ruin the little beauty we have left.
      Do you want to show how brave you are? Then improve the world instead of destroying it. Give love instead of hatred. Help those who are suffering to endure their sorrows. And give life instead of taking it away! This is real bravery!
      Luckily our neighborhood, which you are destroying, is full of brave people! Who know how to love you, too — you, who do not know what you are writing.
      Signed,

Fr. Andrea

"The Book of Exodus" - Chapter XXXIX (translated into English)

Chapter 39

1 With violet, purple and scarlet yarn were woven the service cloths for use in the sanctuary, as well as the sacred vestments for Aaron, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

            2 The ephod was woven of gold thread and of violet, purple and scarlet yarn and of fine linen twined. 3 Gold was first hammered into gold leaf and then cut up into threads, which were woven with the violet, purple and scarlet yarn into an embroidered pattern on the fine linen. 4 Shoulder straps were made for it and joined to its two upper ends. 5 The embroidered belt on the ephod extended out from it, and like it, was made of gold thread, of violet, purple and scarlet yarn, and of fine linen twined, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 6 The onyx stones were prepared and mounted in gold filigree work; they were engraved like seal engravings with the names of the sons of Israel. 7 These stones were set on the shoulder straps of the ephod as memorial stones of the sons of Israel, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

            8 The breastpiece was embroidered like the ephod, with gold thread and violet, purple and scarlet yarn on cloth of fine linen twined. 9 It was square and folded double, a span high and a span wide in its folded form. 10 Four rows of precious stones were mounted on it: in the first row a carnelian, a topaz and an emerald; 11 in the second row, a garnet, a sapphire and a beryl; 12 in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; 13 in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree work. 14 These stones were twelve, to match the names of the sons of Israel, and each stone was engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes. 15 Chains of pure gold, twisted like cords, were made for the breastpiece, 16 together with two gold filigree rosettes and two gold rings. The two rings were fastened to the two upper ends of the breastpiece. 17 The two gold chains were then fastened to the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece. 18 The other two ends of the two chains were fastened in front to the two filigree rosettes, which were attached to the shoulder straps of the ephod. 19 Two other gold rings were made and put on the two lower ends of the breastpiece, on the edge facing the ephod. 20 Two more gold rings were made and fastened to the bottom of the two shoulder straps next to where they joined the ephod in front, just above its embroidered belt. 21 Violet ribbons bound the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod, so that the breastpiece stayed right above the embroidered belt of the ephod and did not swing loose from it. All this was just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

            22 The robe of the ephod was woven entirely of violet yarn, 23 with an opening in its center like the opening of a shirt, with selvage around the opening to keep it from being torn. 24 At the hem of the robe pomegranates were made of violet, purple and scarlet yarn and of fine linen twined; 25 bells of pure gold were also made and put between the pomegranates all around the hem of the robe: 26 first a bell, then a pomegranate, and thus alternating all around the hem of the robe which was to be worn in performing the ministry - all this, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

            27 For Aaron and his sons there were also woven tunics of fine linen; 28 the miter of fine linen; the ornate turbans of fine linen; drawers of linen (of fine linen twined); 29 and sashes of variegated work made of fine linen twined and of violet, purple and scarlet yarn, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

            30 The plate of the sacred diadem was made of pure gold and inscribed, as on a seal engraving: "Sacred to the LORD." 31 It was tied over the miter with a violet ribbon, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

            32 Thus the entire work of the Dwelling of the meeting tent was completed. The Israelites did the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

            33 They then brought to Moses the Dwelling, the tent with all its appurtenances, the clasps, the boards, the bars, the columns, the pedestals, 34 the covering of rams' skins dyed red, the covering of tahash skins, the curtain veil; 35 the ark of the commandments with its poles, the propitiatory, 36 the table with all its appurtenances and the showbread, 37 the pure gold lampstand with its lamps set up on it and with all its appurtenances, the oil for the light, 38 the golden altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense; the curtain for the entrance of the tent, 39 the altar of bronze with its bronze grating, its poles and all its appurtenances, the laver with its base, 40 the hangings of the court with their columns and pedestals, the curtain for the entrance of the court with its ropes and tent pegs, all the equipment for the service of the Dwelling of the meeting tent; 41 the service cloths for use in the sanctuary, the sacred vestments for Aaron the priest, and the vestments to be worn by his sons in their ministry. 42 The Israelites had carried out all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

            43 So when Moses saw that all the work was done just as the LORD had commanded, he blessed them.

"Hellfire and Holocaust" by Gerry Conway (in English)

art by Keith Giffen, Wally Wood, A. L. Sirois, and Carl Gafford - All-Star Comics #61 - DC Comics, July-August 1976.