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 FTER A WHILE the exalted company returned to the imitated Holy of Holies and was again received with the greatest praise.
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And the lame, the crippled and those otherwise afflicted cried, 'Oh you glorious mother who did help the blind, we beg you, free us also from our great anguish!'
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Mary replied: 'Why do you call to me? I can give you no aid - for I, like you, am only a weak mortal handmaiden of my Lord.
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Now the One I carry upon my arms can indeed help you, for in Him dwells the eternal fullness of the divine omnipotence!'
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But the sick did not listen to Mary's talk and cried all the more, 'Oh glorious mother, help us, help us wretches and make us free from our suffering!'
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Here the Baby sat up and stretched forth His hand over the sick - and they all were completely healed in an instant.
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The lame sprang like harts, the crippled became straight as the cedars of Lebanon, and all the other afflicted were freed from their ailments.
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And the angels then went over to all of these poor, told them to remain silent and informed them of the nearness of the kingdom of God on earth.
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This occurrence brought the captain out of his deep meditation, and he also went into the Holy of Holies after the others.
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Arrived there, he went directly over to Joseph and asked him, 'Most worthy friend, what happened here? I just do not see any more blind, nor lame, nor crippled or other afflicted!
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What? Have they all been healed by a miracle, or was their former wretched condition only a sham?'
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And Joseph responded, 'Go over and discuss that yourself with those who now are such a riddle to you. They will best be able to tell you what has now taken place with them.'
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The captain promptly did what Joseph had advised him to do, for the asking of questions was after all this captain's weak side.
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But everywhere he received one and the same answer, for each one replied, i became well in a miraculous manner!'
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Here the captain returned to Joseph and asked him,
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'Which one of you actually caused the miracle? Who among you possesses such marvelous power? Which one of you is therefore surely of God?'
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Joseph now said, 'See, there the poor ones who were healed still stand.
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Go over to them again and ask them - they will surely give you the right indication.'
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The captain promptly went over to the poor again and inquired after the miracle worker.
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But the poor said, 'Look at the great company - from its middle the healing came to us marvelously!
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The little Jewess seems to bear the power. But how? The gods will know that better than we.'
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Now the captain did not know much more than before.
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Joseph then advised the captain, 'See, you are a wealthy man of Rome - provide for these poor ones now out of love to God, and you will find out more! And be content with that for now!'
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