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 N A SHORT TIME the royal clothes were brought for Tullia and she was attired with them.
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Mary took her dress, washed it and then kept it for herself again.
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Cyrenius, of course, wanted to give Mary royal clothes for it also,
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but Mary as well as Joseph declined this in all earnestness.
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When Eudokia saw Tullia in her true regal splendor, her heart became heavy so that she secretly began to sigh.
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But the Baby quietly said to her: 'Eudokia, I tell you, do not sigh because of the world, but sigh instead because of your sins and you will be better off!
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See, I am more than Cyrenius and Rome. Once you have Me, then you have more than if you owned the whole world.
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If you want to have Me completely, then you must repent your sin which caused you to become sterile.
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If you will repent your sins in your love for Me, then only will you recognize according to the measure of your love for Me just who I actually am.
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And when you do recognize Me, then you will be happier than if you were the consort of the emperor himself.
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See, the emperor must maintain strong guards so he will not be driven from the throne.
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But I am sufficient unto Myself alone. Spirits, suns, moons, earths and all the elements are obedient to Me - I need no guards and even allow Myself to be borne on the arms by you, notwithstanding that you are a sinner!
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So be calm and do not weep, for you have received what was taken from Tullia when she received the royal garments.
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And that is infinitely more than yonder kingly garments shimmering with gold, which are dead and bring death,
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while you are carrying the Life on your arms and will eternally never taste death if you love Me!'
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These words of the Baby had such a salutary effect on the feelings of Eudokia that she began to weep in the great joy of her blissful, sublime wonderment.
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When Mary noticed that Eudokia bathed her eyes in tears of joy, she went over to her and asked,
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'Gracious Eudokia, what can it be that makes me discover sweet tears in your eyes?'
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And Eudokia, after a sigh of deep bliss, replied,
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'Oh you most fortunate of mothers in the whole world, see, your Baby has spoken to me marvelously!
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Truly, not mortal men in all their worldly eminence, but only gods can be capable of such words.
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My breast is now filled with great thoughts and presentiments. As if from a hidden depth they ascend in me like bright stars out of the sea, and therefore I am crying from rapture!'
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And Mary assured her, 'Eudokia, just be patient! After the stars the sun will also come, and in that light only will you behold where you are. - But now quiet, for Cyrenius is coming over.'
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