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religious property following the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) had been for the benefit of Protestant rulers
alone. More than a hundred monasteries and countless pious foundations disappeared at this time. By the
middle of the eighteenth century a new movement devoted to the destruction of monastic institutions
swept over those German portions of theHoly Roman Empire , which had remained loyal to the Catholic
Faith. The supernatural character of the religious life was totally ignored; abbeys and convents were
permitted to exist only after giving proof of their material utility."
"That's enough, Brother." Arch Abbot Monte Cassino paused and looked around the table. "For nine
centuries the Order has brought education, civilization and the Good News of our Lord's Passion to the
peoples ofEurope and the world. Now we find ourselves still strong in the Faith, but weakened. Only
three centuries ago, our Order numbered over thirty seven thousand monasteries. If this book is to be
trusted, by the end of this century, we will be able to count only five thousand. Our lands inGermany are
under Protestant control. Bursfeld itself is under Lutheran control. The Hessians have looted the great
library atFulda . And now, the Lord has brought to us a clear vision of how The Adversary will triumph
over our best efforts unless we open our eyes to whatever it is He is trying to show us.
"We are in a crisis, Brother," Arch Abbot Monte Cassino continued. "Your brothers in Christ, here
assembled, believe that the Lord has brought this test to us for a reason. After much prayer and
discussion, we believe that Grantville was placed nearFulda at the time of its greatest challenge just so we
could learn what lessons our Order may have passed along to this future generation, represented by
Grantville. Thus we hope to have a light cast on the path the Lord intends for us to walk during this time
of death and destruction.
"You, Brother Johann, are from the very valley in which Grantville is now located. You worked and
prayed and studied for decades in the Library of Fulda. You brought sucha rationality to the organization
of the books and journals and other papers there that your methods have been adopted by not only our
monasteries," Arch Abbot Monte Cassino gestured to the other Abbots around the table as he
continued, "but by Benedictine monasteries throughoutEurope . You were called here to help rediscover
the knowledge that our Lord has revealed to our brothers that has been stored here since our founding.
"'Listen, My Son, to the precepts of the Master, and lend the ears of your heart.' These are the words of
our beloved Saint Benedict and this is the calling which we believe that God has chosen for you."
All the Abbots and Dean Bernard stood and clasped their hands as if beginning a prayer. "Brother
Johann, we, the Fathers assembled, humbly request that you make a pilgrimage to this place Grantville,
not to spread the Word, but to listen and learn. We fervently pray that the Lord reveal His purpose to
you, thereby to the future of the Order and how we may continue to serve the souls of humanity by His
Grace."
II: The Journey
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Johann had spent the night in his cell praying for guidance on how to prepare for this great adventure that
God had ordained for him. When the first rays of light broke through his small window, he ended his
communion with the Lord, crossed himself, and walked to his library.
Like the fruit that tempted Eve, the book lay on the table where he'd left it the previous night. The stories
it held! Up to the current time, it seemed to be accurate or at least convincing that there might be truths
contained that he had not been exposed to. But then it continued, page after page of horrible, mind
numbing events and wars. But most amazing of all, the ideas!
Thinkers, some just born, some not to be born for centuries, illuminate this future with such intriguing
ideas and the results of those ideas.Some of those ideas were on a par with Aristotle, some on a par with
Lucifer, but all contained promise and all contained traps.
Johann picked up theWestern Civilization book and wandered over and laid it next to theLattanzio
Sublacense . That was the first book written, typeset, and printed in this very monastery by Brothers and
fellow Germans Sweynheim and Pannartz. They had brought the first printing press toItaly in 1464. That
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