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10 the miracles of antichrist
But some said: " Of what use are prayers and
penance ? The sibyl has said it. Antichrist must
come."
Others said, " God can perform a miracle. If it
availed nothing to struggle, He would not have
permitted the sibyl to warn us."
Year after year the Franciscans defended
Capito-lium by penance, and works of charity, and by
preaching the word of God.
Century after century they guarded it, but as time
advanced, the people became weaker and more
powerless. The monks said between themselves:
" Soon the kingdoms of the present time can endure
no longer. A world-renewer is needed as in the
days of Augustus."
They tore their hair and flagellated themselves,
for they knew that the reviver must be Antichrist,
and that it would be a regeneracy of force and
violence.
Just as the sick are pursued by their malady, so
these monks were haunted by thoughts of
Antichrist. And they saw him plainly before their eyes.
He was just as rich as Christ had been poor, as
wicked as Christ had been good, as exalted as Christ
had been abased.
He carried powerful weapons and led the way at
the head of bloody malefactors. He destroyed the
churches, murdered the priests, and armed the people
for war, so that brother fought against brother, and
all feared each other, and peace did not exist. And
for every despot and tyrant, that journeyed over the
ocean of time, there came from the watch-tower on
Capitolium the cry : " Antichrist! Antichrist! "
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