CHAPTER 29
VOLUME 2, HANDBOOK OF GOD THE FATHER

CHRISTIAN MARTYRDOM

HOLY BIBLE: Psalm 116, Verse 15: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

SUBCHAPTER I. HOLY MOTHER MARY: MARTYRDOM PROMISE: Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, has indicated to me, “a soul”, this Maternal Promise of Her Immaculate Heart: Any child of God who dies by Christian martyrdom will receive the special grace of the Blessed Mother’s Holy Presence in their final moments.  This special grace may manifest in any number of different spiritual ways: a vision, a certainty of Her nearby Maternal Presence, a fortitude in his soul, a holding of his hand, a tender embrace, etc., but there will be no doubt of Her visitation for Her beloved child whom She will personally escort to Her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in Heaven. AMEN

(July 13, 2021, mystic, Lorena Portillo) Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe: “If you live in the Divine Will and put into practice all that has been said before, then do not worry about your physical integrity. Heaven will protect you and take you to the New Heavens and Earth, if you are doing what is indicated. There will be Martyrs among you, but if you have been called to Martyrdom, you will be provided with the strength of the Holy Spirit. In your minds, bodies, spirits and hearts, a hot wind will submerge you in a numbness of the senses and you will not feel martyrdom as such. Thus, the Holy Spirit will provide you with everything you need. But you need to be Spiritually prepared, just as if you are called to be Martyrs, as if you are called to the New Heavens and Earth. Dear children, Heaven never leaves you, so do not fear. Just trust the Divine Providence and the protection of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Invoke me in any dangerous situation, and Saint Michael the Archangel and I will come to your aid.”

SUBCHAPTER II. SACRED PROMISE FROM OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: LESSENING OF PAIN DURING MARTYRDOM (Source: Prophet John Leary, johnleary.com) (Messages, 1-14)

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTION: In the event that you miss the window of time (20 minutes) to flee to a refuge and your family is in danger of being captured and martyred, the adults MUST SEPARATE themselves from the younger children (seven years old and younger) because God will make the younger children invisible to enemy forces.  You MUST hide the younger children separate from the adults.  Older children should also hide separately from the adults and the younger children, so that God might have Mercy on them and keep them from being martyred.

(M1) (July 31, 2008) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, My little children are precious to Me, and I do not want to see them martyred in the coming cleansing of religious and patriots in the reign of the Antichrist. I will give the little children under seven years old a special grace from their guardian angel that will make them invisible to the evil ones. You have been killing many unborn in abortion, and some children by abuse. Those involved in these killings will have to make much reparation for these sins of murder. Pray for a stoppage of abortions and all killings as in wars.”

(M2) (December 7, 2008) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, all of My refuges will be as fortresses like a castle where there will be protection for My faithful by My angels. No matter how much the evil ones will try to destroy you, they will not be successful. My springs of water will heal you of all of your sicknesses. Your food will be multiplied to endure throughout the whole tribulation. Your shelters will also be multiplied to provide for everyone. Have no fear of this time as you will be directed when to come to My refuges. Only those that stay in their homes could risk becoming martyrs for not coming to My refuges. I will even lessen their pain as they will become instant saints. Rejoice when you see the tribulation unfolding because you know that My coming is near.”

(M3) (June 13, 2009) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, as you look at this track in a tunnel, you know that it is the train that will take many to their deaths in the detention center death camps. The one world people already have lists for who is to be killed both before and after martial law is declared. They have prepared vented boxcars with shackles to hold the prisoners. Do not fear if you are called to be a martyr for your faith in Me. I will lessen any pain and you will become an instant saint in heaven. Those who leave their homes quickly at My call, could avoid martyrdom by going to My refuges of protection. In either case you are dependent on Me for everything, and you will need to have full trust in Me to protect your soul from the evil one. I am at your side always, so you can call on My help in this test of your faith. You need to accept being stripped of all of your money and your possessions. Desire to follow My Will in life and death because this life is passing away. By offering everything up to Me every day in your total consecration, you indeed will have your eternal life with Me in heaven. Heaven is your goal, so prolonging this life only postpones your eventual death. Accept everything that I put in your path as My Will for you, and you will have My peace in your soul.”

(M4) (September 30, 2010) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, once the Antichrist declares himself, he will take his reign as ruler of the world, and this will begin the great tribulation of three and one-half years. I will shorten this time, but this will begin a reign of evil that you have never seen before. He will first claim to be a man of peace, but later his evil power will enable him to become a tyrant ruler. He will demand that all of his subjects need to have chips in the body, or else they would be killed. This is when the men in black will come to your houses to carry out this edict. Refuse to take any mark of the beast or a chip in the body, or it will control your mind. Many will be martyred for their faith, but they will have any pain lessened, and they will become instant saints. The rest of My faithful will be led by their guardian angels to My refuges of protection.”

(M5) (December 30, 2010) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, you have read of St. John the Baptist in chains, and also St. Peter and St. Paul. Many of My disciples and apostles were captured in prison with chains, and later they were martyred for their faith. This religious persecution is about to be repeated in the coming tribulation. You will again see some of My people shackled on trains and delivered to the current death camps for execution. This is why I am preparing refuges with people that I have inspired, so My faithful will have places to go in order to avoid being captured by the one world people. Some will be martyred for their faith, but I will lessen the pain to allow them to endure it. These martyrs will become instant saints in heaven. For those, who come to My refuges, they will be protected from harm by My angels, and I will provide for their needs during the reign of the Antichrist. Have no fear, for I will give you My peace in all of this struggle. After the Antichrist’s time, I will come with My victory over all the evil ones, and I will establish My Era of Peace.”

(M6) (September 25, 2012) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, I am showing you three seats of power that are calling for your obedience to their authority. The first seat of power is when you see Me sitting on My throne in heaven. I am your Creator, and I call you to obey My laws out of love for Me. I do not force Myself against your free will, but I want you to know, love, and obey Me of your own choosing. The next seat of power is the successor of St. Peter in Pope Benedict XVI. He is the leader of My Church, and My faithful should honor him and obey his leadership in the faith. There are many religions, but only one that I instituted while I was on the Earth. The third seat of power is the President of America. You have currently a constitutional republic of laws that you need to honor and obey. Your obedience to your country’s laws is only obligatory if it is in accordance with My laws. Any laws against life, against marriage, or against moral law, you do not have to follow, and you should even protest them in your society. You can see the various levels of authority in these three seats of power, but it is your obedience to Me that must come first over obedience to man. Even if you are threatened with your life if you follow My law over man’s law, be faithful to Me in any possible martyrdom. I will give you the courage and lessen your pain if you are faced with this kind of death. Keep giving Me praise and worship as you witness your love for Me and your love for your neighbor.”

(M7) (January 17, 2013) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, I am the only source of peace for your hearts and souls. I give you this peace in the grace of My sacraments. Do not let anything in this world disturb this peace that I have given you. In this coming trial there will be some faithful who will be martyred for their faith in Me. I will lessen the pain that they will suffer, and they will become instant saints in heaven. The rest of My faithful will be protected at My refuges by My angels. At the end of the tribulation I will lift up My faithful into the air so they are not killed by My Comet of Chastisement. I will cast the evil ones into hell, and renew the Earth. Then I will lead My faithful down into My Era of Peace.”

(M8) (January 31, 2013) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, do not be afraid of the coming tribulation because those who are faithful will be on their way to heaven. Some of you may be martyred, but I will lessen your pain and you will become instant saints in heaven. Those who come to My refuges will need to endure a rustic living for less than 3½ years. At the end of the tribulation I will bring My faithful into My Era of Peace, and later into heaven.”

(M9) (February 21, 2013) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, just as My faithful are setting up refuges to help My faithful during the tribulation, so the evil ones are building more detention center death camps. I have been trying to impress upon the people how important it will be for your body and soul to leave your homes for My refuges when I warn you. I explained before that My warning to leave will be similar to how St. Joseph was warned in a dream by an angel to take the Holy Family to Egypt so Herod could not kill Me. Torture and killing in the death camps will be difficult to endure. Remember that you will never be tested beyond your endurance as I will give you grace, and lessen any pain of death.”

(M10) (May 5, 2014) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, in the Acts of the Apostles, St. Stephen was looking up to see Me in heaven as I lessened the pain of his being stoned to death. He forgave the people who were stoning him. St. Stephen was faithful to Me, even though the Jews were doing an injustice to him for speaking out the truth about Me. There have been many martyrs who would rather die for their faith, than deny Me. All of My followers should love Me so much. These martyrs are with Me in heaven in a higher place than other souls. In the vision I gave a brief look at what St. Stephen was seeing while he was being stoned. The glory of heaven is very much desired, and not everyone receives this view of My glory. I promise all of My faithful an eternal place with Me in heaven for all those who suffer on Earth, especially any persecution for My Name’s sake.”

(M11) (November 18, 2015) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, in the Gospel (Luke 19:11-27) you heard My parable about a man who wanted to be king, and he went away and he gave a gold coin to each of ten people. On his return there was a settling of accounts with the people who were given the gold coins. The first man made ten gold coins more from the one he was given, and he was rewarded with controlling ten cities. The second person gained five gold coins, and he was rewarded with controlling five cities. The third man presented his gold coin to the king after hiding it, and he was scolded for not using the money for any gain.”

“This parable teaches how important it is to use your God-given talents for My greater glory. When you waste your talent by not using it correctly, you will have to answer to Me and suffer the consequences. You all have been given a specific mission to carry out, and it is your responsibility to use your talents to save as many souls as you can. This is similar to not offering up your pain to save souls. The first reading from Maccabees is how a mother watched all of her sons being killed for not following the king’s decree. The king tried to force them to eat unclean meat, and they refused to violate the Mosaic laws. Because of their refusal to follow his command, they were all martyred. This could also happen in America, if your authorities tried to force you to deny your faith. Never deny Me before men, even if they threaten to kill you. It is better to lose your life for My sake, than to deny your faith in Me. All of My martyrs will become instant saints, and I will lessen their pain of death. Trust in Me to provide for your needs, even during the tribulation.”

(M12) (October 27, 2016) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, you are in a great battle between good people and evil people. This is why I am showing you a soldier dressed in armor for battle. There will be a physical fight in the Battle of Armageddon. But the current battle is a spiritual battle where you will need to wear your spiritual armor. My faithful are dressed with scapulars, rosaries, Benedictine crosses, and relics, if you have them. Your rosary of My Blessed Mother is your best weapon to fight the devil and his demons. You should have no fear, no anxieties, and no worries when you have My protection and your guardian angels. Even if some of My faithful are tortured and martyred, I will lessen their pain, and they will become instant saints in heaven. The rest of My faithful will be protected at My refuges by My angels, where I will multiply all of your food, water, and fuels.”

(M13) (January 28, 2017) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, it will not be easy living in a confined space of a refuge with many people happy to be alive and cared for at a refuge. Every refuge will have perpetual Adoration where you can have a quiet place to pray to Me. It is not easy to live with a lot of people in one dwelling. This time at the refuge will be less than 3½ years, but My angels will protect you and provide for your daily needs. Just as I protected My apostles for three years, so I will be shielding you from the evil ones for a shortened time with a shield of invisibility. It is hard to imagine how I will multiply your food, water, and fuels. You read how I calmed the storm, so I will be doing the impossible for those people who believe that I can multiply the food. This is why the unbelievers will not be allowed into My refuges. You will be thankful to have a place of refuge when the evil ones will be killing Christians. You will also have to calm down the people when they first come to your refuge, because they will be scared by the evil ones. There will be some people who will be martyred, but do not be afraid because I will lessen their pain. I love all of My children, and I will help you get by this tribulation so you can be rewarded in My Era of Peace.”

(M14) (August 29, 2023, Memorial: Beheading of St. John the Baptist) JESUS CHRIST: “My people, in the coming tribulation of the Antichrist, you will again see some martyrs who will be beheaded for refusing to follow worldly gods, and they will obey God instead of obeying man. How many people will have the strength to be a martyr for obeying God instead of man? In life you will suffer pain and hardships, but call on Me and I will give you the strength to endure all of your trials in life. Trust in Me to lead you to heaven despite all of your earthly trials and disappointments.”

SUBCHAPTER III. SAINT JOSEPH, PATRON OF A HAPPY DEATH: Saint Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, is the Patron Saint for a happy death and is worthy of being invoked by all Christian martyrs for his powerful intercession for a peaceful and happy transition into the afterlife.  I recommend that a dying soul asks to hold his hand as an assurance of God’s deepest friendship and enduring love, as Saint Joseph will personally bring the soul to his beloved Jesus upon death.

(Revealed Private Revelation) In the Holy Arms of Jesus and Mary: The Blessed Death of Saint Joseph: Then this man of God, turning toward Christ, our Lord, in profoundest reverence, wished to kneel before Him. But the sweetest Jesus, coming near, received him in his arms, where, reclining his head upon them, Joseph said: “My highest Lord and God, Son of the eternal Father, Creator and Redeemer of the World, give thy blessing to thy servant and the works of thy hand; pardon, O most merciful King, the faults which I have committed in thy service and intercourse. I extol and magnify Thee and render eternal and heartfelt thanks to Thee for having, in thy ineffable condescension, chosen me to be the spouse of thy true Mother; let thy greatness and glory be my thanksgiving for all eternity.”

The Redeemer of the world gave him his benediction, saying: “My father, rest in peace and in the grace of my eternal Father and mine; and to the Prophets and Saints, who await thee in limbo, bring the joyful news of the approach of their redemption.”‘  At these words of Jesus, and reclining in his arms, the most fortunate Saint Joseph expired and the Lord himself closed his eyes.

SUBCHAPTER IV. AN EXAMPLE OF HOLY MARTYRDOM: BEING FED TO THE LIONS: The following is an example of both redemptive suffering in Our Lord and how Our Lord will not test us beyond our endurance — that God will truly lessen the pain of our sufferings if we trust in Him by undergoing martyrdom for the sake of His Holy Name.  My hope is that by sharing this personal story that it will give people true inspirational hope in whatever the future lies ahead for them.

In late January 2017, I had a very special and unique encounter with Saint Gabriel Archangel in which he revealed to me, “a soul”, the nature of the Great Miracle and Great Sign of Garabandal and the unfolding of the Divine Plan as it relates to the Marian apparitions at Fatima (Portugal), Garabandal (Spain), and Medjugorje (Bosnia and Herzegovina).  This holy encounter enraged satan — the infernal enemy of God and all of mankind, from which I believe that satan asked God for special permission to attack me and God permitted it as a test of my faith.

So, two days after Easter, satan and his devils attacked me one night in four separate episodes — each episode being progressively worse than the prior one.  Now, let me clarify what I mean that satan and his devils attacked me.  Typically, when I experience heightened spiritual warfare, it takes place either on a purely spiritual level, either in my sleeping state, or while I am awake — the attack takes place internally in my soul, but not in my physical body.  However, during this particular night, satan was permitted to also attack me physically — he has done this to me before, but these types of attacks are very rare and have usually been related in the past to the grave sin of abortion / infanticide taking place somewhere in the world.

On this occasion, God permitted satan to attack me four separate times physically and spiritually in one night with each attack escalating in intensity.  I was being beaten, clawed at, burnt, whipped, stabbed, etc., by satan and his devils.  The worst sensation was the electrically charged whips — it felt like I was being struck by lightning bolts, which would make me tingle in increasing pain all over my body.  The hardest challenge while I was being attacked, was that I could not see my attackers — satan and his devils — so, I could not anticipate and prepare myself physically and spiritually when they would strike me or hit me again.  Furthermore, as a consequence of my blindness, satan was trying to make me more afraid of him.  This is because he controlled each moment when I would be attacked next and the method of attack.  So, this could cause an element of fear, because sometimes the anticipation of pain is worse than the actual pain itself.

Then, after three separate episodes of increasing pain, something very unique happened. I will never forget the fourth and final attack.  I experienced an unknown spiritual suffering of Our Lord Jesus Christ at the Crucifixion – a type of suffering never recorded in history and a type of suffering that I have never heard of being experienced by any saint or holy person before – satan ate me alive.

I felt the physical sensations of being eaten alive.  But, they were enhanced spiritually, because the sensations were in a never-ending loop.  I felt my skull and brain being repeatedly crushed and my tongue being partially chewed over and over again.

The pain of being eaten alive was truly horrific — beyond most any other type of physical and spiritual pain that I have ever suffered.  In my experience, the only pain that I have ever suffered worse than being eaten alive was the one time when I experienced the deprivation (loss) of God in my soul — three days and nights of the pain of purgatory.  I share with readers, that if I had the choice to go to purgatory or the extreme pain of martyrdom, I would easily choose martyrdom — no matter the method.  That is how agonizing the heightened pain of losing God in the afterlife is for all lost souls in hell and how agonizing the heightened pain of lacking the Holy Presence of God in one’s soul is for the poor souls in purgatory.  Truly, the temporary suffering of Christian martyrdom during earthly life with the promise of instant sainthood in Heaven is much preferable than any unknown time spent in purgatory, etc.

This is the most incredible part of the heightened experience that I had at the hands of satan.  Despite the horrendous pain in my physical body and in my soul at the act of being repeatedly eaten alive, truly, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, my spirit wanted to soar and sing and praise God.  I am not joking.  All I could do and all I wanted to do in my spirit was worship God with all my heart and every part of my being.  It is hard to explain, but I had tremendous peace at the concurrent time within me.  Furthermore, my dear brothers and sisters, truly if God desired satan to eat me alive continually until the Second Coming of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, I would have been content praising Him all the remaining days of my life as I was that night at the hands of satan and his devils.

As this fourth attack episode was happening to me, I was reminded of how in the Holy Bible (Book of Acts of the Apostles), Saints Peter and Paul were severely flogged and yet, all they wanted to do was sing praises to God for suffering disgrace in the Holy Name of Jesus.  How the early Apostles would suffer in chains in prison while singing such sweet songs of praise to God that during the night, they would convert fellow prisoners to the cause of Our Lord Jesus Christ by their life witness.  Here, satan was eating me alive and all I wanted to do was sing to God for thanking Him to count me worthy to experience an unknown spiritual suffering of the Crucifixion.

I know that all I have shared is odd to hear, but it is the truth.  Finally, daylight came and the terrible night was over: satan and his devils left.  I learned a year later, one of the reasons that God permitted this terrible event to happen in my life was to reveal to me the horrors of the coming Apocalypse and the Universal War of Armageddon (that Saint Gabriel Archangel had revealed to me back in January 2017 consisted of a world-wide attack of demonic aliens against mankind on earth).

The reason that I shared this personal story with you all in this Handbook is to reiterate two essential points: one, if it happens and you are chosen to suffer for Our Lord Jesus Christ, please know that you will never be tested beyond your endurance.  God is Faithful to those who love Him with their whole hearts.  And two, Our Lord Jesus Christ has promised Himself numerous times that He will lessen our pain if we suffer martyrdom for the sake of Him.  My personal story illustrates how God can and will do this for His chosen elect, those who remain truly faithful and spiritually strong.

One of my dear friends who was a great prayer warrior for me and has since gone on to Our Lord in Heaven, once said to me after reading the original story of this attack, “I always wondered what it was like being fed to the lions…”  So, now, you know, dear brothers and sisters in Christ…  Now, you know…  Jesus loves you.

SUBCHAPTER V. AN EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIAN MARTYRDOM: SAINT PHILOMENA (Source: philomena.us): Credited with countless miracles and intercessions since discovery of her tomb in the most ancient catacombs of Saint Priscilla in Rome in 1802, Saint Philomena is prayed to by people of diverse ages, cultures and social standing around the world. The young virgin who was martyred at age 13, willingly traded her earthly life for heavenly salvation and continues her work today promoting the virtues of purity and sanctity among the world’s youth and bringing the faithful closer to our Blessed Mother Mary and Our Lord Jesus Christ. It would seem she was held in quiet reserve by God for nearly seventeen centuries and summoned at a time when so much uncertainty and absence of faith abound.

Three people, unknown to each other and living far apart in the world, had what was apparently a revelation made to them about Saint Philomena’s life. Compared – when they were known – these three accounts were found to be identical.  The best known recipient of the revelation was the Foundress of the Oblates of Our Lady of Sorrows, Mother Maria Luisa di Gesù, a Dominican Tertiary.  Here is the official account given by Saint Philomena to the nun as revealed by locutions in August of 1833 and approved by the Holy Office (presently the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) of the Catholic Church on December 21, 1833.  The story is offered to give inspiration and hope to those who may undergo holy martyrdom that the Blessed Virgin Mary and Our Lord Jesus Christ will remain faithful to Their Holy Promises: to stay always near to those who are martyred under the antichrist and to lessen any pain and suffering endured for Almighty God.

“My dear Sister, I am the daughter of a Prince who governed a small state in Greece. My mother is also of royal blood. My parents were without children. They were idolaters. They continually offered sacrifices and prayers to their false gods.”

“A doctor from Rome named Publius lived in the palace in the service of my father. This doctor professed Christianity. Seeing the affliction of my parents, by the impulse of the Holy Spirit, he spoke to them of Christianity, and promised to pray for them if they consented to receive Baptism. The grace which accompanied his words enlightened their understanding and triumphed over their will. They became Christians and obtained the long desired happiness that Publius had assured them as the reward of their conversion. At the moment of my birth, they gave me the name of “Lumena,” an allusion to the light of Faith of which I had been, as it were, the fruit. The day of my Baptism they called me “Filumena,” or “Daughter of Light,” because on that day I was born to the Faith. The affection which my parents bore me was so great that they had me always with them.”

“It was on this account that they took me to Rome on a journey that my father was obliged to make on the occasion of an unjust war with which he was threatened by the haughty Diocletian. I was then thirteen years old. On our arrival in the capital of the world, we proceeded to the palace of the Emperor and were admitted for an audience. As soon as Diocletian saw me, his eyes were fixed upon me. He appeared to be pre-possessed in this manner during the entire time that my father was stating with animated feelings everything that could serve for his defense.”

“As soon as Father had ceased to speak, the Emperor desired him to be disturbed no longer, to banish all fear, to think only of living in happiness. These are the Emperor’s words, “I shall place at your disposal all the force of the Empire. I ask only one thing, that is the hand of your daughter.” My father, dazzled with an honor he was far from expecting, willingly acceded on the spot to the proposal of the Emperor.”

“When we returned to our own dwelling, Father and Mother did all they could to induce me to yield to Diocletian’s wishes and theirs. I cried, “Do you wish, that for the love of a man, I should break the promise I have made to Jesus Christ? My virginity belongs to him. I can no longer dispose of it.” “But you were young then, too young,” answered my father, “to have formed such an engagement.” He joined the most terrible threats to the command that he gave me to accept the hand of Diocletian. The grace of my God rendered me invincible, and my father, not being able to make the Emperor relent, in order to disengage himself from the promise he had given, was obliged by Diocletian to bring me to the Imperial Chamber.”

“I had to withstand for some time beforehand a new attack from my father’s anger. My mother, uniting her efforts to his, endeavored to conquer my resolution. Caresses, threats, everything was employed to reduce me to compliance. At last, I saw both of my parents fall at my knees and say to me with tears in their eyes, “My child have pity on your father, your mother, your country, our country, our subjects.” “No! No,” I answered them. “My virginity, which I have vowed to God, comes before everything, before you, before my country. My kingdom is heaven.””

“My words plunged them into despair and they brought me before the Emperor, who on his part did all in his power to win me. But his promises, his allurements, his threats, were equally useless. He then flew into a violent fit of anger and, influenced by the Devil, had me cast into one of the prisons of the palace, where he had me loaded with chains. Thinking that pain and shame would weaken the courage with which my Divine Spouse inspired me, he came to see me every day. After several days, the Emperor issued an order for my chains to be loosed, that I might take a small portion of bread and water. He renewed his attacks, some of which would have been fatal to purity had it not been for the grace of God.”

“The defeats which he always experienced were for me the preludes to new tortures. Prayer supported me. I did not cease to recommend myself to Jesus and his most pure Mother. My captivity had lasted thirty-seven days, when, in the midst of a heavenly light, I saw Mary holding the Divine Son in her arms. “My daughter,” she said to me, “three days more of prison and after forty days you shall leave this state of pain.” Such happy news made my heart beat with joy, but as the Queen of Angels had added that I should quit my prison, to sustain, in frightful torments a combat far more terrible than those preceding, I fell instantly from joy to the most cruel anguish; I thought it would kill me. “Have courage, my child,” Mary then said to me; “are you unaware of the love of predilection that I bear for you? The name, which you received in baptism, is the pledge of it for the resemblance which it has to that of my Son and to mine. You are called Lumena, as your Spouse is called Light, Star, Sun, as I myself am called Aurora, Star, the Moon in the fullness of its brightness, and Sun. Fear not, I will aid you. Now nature, whose weakness humbles you, asserts its law. In the moment of combat, grace will come to lend you its force, and your Angel, who was also mine, Gabriel, whose name expresses strength, will come to your aid. I will recommend you especially to his care, as the well beloved among my children.” These words of the Queen of virgins gave me courage again, and the vision disappeared, leaving my prison filled with a celestial perfume. I experienced a joy out of this world. Something indefinable.”

“What the Queen of Angels had prepared me for was soon experienced. Diocletian, despairing of bending me, decided on public chastisement to offend my virtue. He condemned me to be stripped and scourged like the Spouse I preferred to him. These are his horrifying words. “Since she is not ashamed to prefer to an Emperor like me, a malefactor condemned to an infamous death by his own people, she deserves that my justice shall treat her as he was treated.” The prison guards hesitated to unclothe me entirely but they did tie me to a column in the presence of the great men of the court. They lashed me with violence until I was bathed in blood. My whole body felt like one open wound, but I did not faint.”

“The tyrant had me dragged back to the dungeon, expecting me to die. I hoped to join my heavenly Spouse. Two angels, shining with light, appeared to me in the darkness. They poured a soothing balm on my wounds, bestowing on me a vigor I did not have before the torture.”

“When the Emperor was informed by the change that had come over me, he had me brought before him. He viewed me with a greedy desire and tried to persuade me that I owed my healing and regained vigor to Jupiter, another god, that he, the Emperor, had sent to me. He attempted to impress me with his belief that Jupiter desired me to be Empress of Rome. Joining to these seductive words promises of great honor, including the most flattering words, Diocletian tried to caress me. Fiendishly, he attempted to complete the work of Hell which he had begun. The Divine Spirit to whom I am indebted for constancy in preserving my purity seemed to fill me with light and knowledge, and to all the proofs which I gave of the solidity of our Faith, neither Diocletian nor his courtiers could find an answer.”

“Then, the frenzied Emperor dashed at me, commanding a guard to chain an anchor around my neck and bury me deep in the waters of the Tiber. The order was executed. I was cast into the water, but God sent me two angels who unfastened the anchor. It fell into the river mud, where it remains no doubt to the present time. The angels transported me gently in full view of the multitude upon the riverbank. I came back unharmed, not even wet, after being plunged with the heavy anchor.”

“When a cry of joy rose from the debauchers on the shore, and so many embraced Christianity by proclaiming their belief in my God, Diocletian attributed my preservation to secret magic. Then the Emperor had me dragged through the streets of Rome and shot with a shower of arrows. My blood flowed, but I did not faint. Diocletian thought that I was dying and commanded the guards to carry me back to the dungeon. Heaven honored me with a new favor there. I fell into a sweet sleep, and I found myself, on awaking, perfectly cured.”

“Diocletian learned about it. “Well, then,” he cried in a fit of rage, “let her be pierced with sharp darts a second time, and let her die in that torture.” They hastened to obey him. Again, the archers bent their bows. They gathered all their strength, but the arrows refused to second their intentions. The Emperor was present. In a rage, he called me a magician, and thinking that the action of fire could destroy the enchantment, ordered the darts to be made red in a furnace and directed against my heart. He was obeyed, but these darts, after having passed through a part of the space which they were to cross to come to me, took a quite contrary direction and returned to strike those by whom they had been hurled. Six of the archers were killed by them. Several among them renounced paganism, and the people began to render public testimony to the power of God that protected me.”

“These murmurs and acclamations infuriated the tyrant. He determined to hasten my death by ordering my head to be cut off. My soul took flight towards my heavenly spouse, who placed me, with the crown of virginity and the palm of martyrdom, in a distinguished place among the elect. The day that was so happy for me and saw me enter into glory was Friday, the third hour after mid-day, the same hour that saw my Divine Master expire.” What is noteworthy from a historical perspective is not only that this revelation was confirmed by two other individuals unknown to each other (one a priest, the other an historian), but these other confirmatory historical facts: (1) The Third Century Roman Emperor was known for executing Christians by the use of arrows, as exemplified by Saint Sebastian; (2) The Third Century Roman Emperor was also known for killing Christians by tying anchors around their necks and throwing them into the water; (3) The reference to “Lumena” — the name given to her at birth, “Light” — and then at Baptism, “Fi Lumena”, “Daughter of Light”, may explain the arrangement of the tiles found at the grave. (“Lumena,” her first given name, was on the first tile.)