September 23, 2016 Vol 1, No. 18

A journal for restless minds Let Me Entertain You Let Me Entertain You It is difficult to imagine youth of any We’ll have a real good time age today engaging in such faithful play We’ll have a real good time Ecumenism Run Amok for most have no clear idea of why they That which defines us are asked to attend Mass. There is a com- elieve it or not, there once Just Like Me mon belief that worship must be enter- was a time before television. The chasm that divides taining; that in order to attract youth to While difficult as it may seem worship we must use worldly methods Tradition: To The East to many to think such an un- Praying with, not prayed at to beat the world at its own game. We Bthinkable thought, life did exist and even are kidding ourselves if we believe we Deacon’s Diner thrived quite nicely without constantly can ever compete with pop concerts and Food for a restless mind being connected. video games. Worship is not a competition. A question often asked of those born in the dark ages is A. W. Tozer wrote: “Every “What did you do for entertain- great spiritual work from Paul to ment?” As I can clearly recall this hour has sprung out of spir- we were seldom bored be- itual experiences that made wor- cause we found ways to enter- Colloquī is a Deacon’s Corner shipers. Unless we are wor- weekly journal. Its mission and tain ourselves. shipers, we are simply religious purpose: to encourage serious dancing mice moving around in discussion, to promote reasoned I can clearly recall per- debate, and to provide serious a circle getting nowhere…. God forming the Mass with my content for those who hope to wants worshipers first.” find their own pathway to God. brother when we were 8 or 9. This was conducted with great solemnity Each week Colloquī will contain young man recently asked and in Latin no less. The altar was gener- articles on theology, philoso- why we didn’t offer Adoration phy, faith, religion, Catholicism, ally a box with a sheet to cover it along and much more. at our parish. Having just with a crucifix and candles, carefully A attended an OnFire Catholic Youth Day Be forewarned! Articles may shaped flattened bread for hosts, and a and often will contain fuel for he described how those who attended sheet for the chasuble. While it was play controversy, but always with Adoration were greatly moved by the it was serious worship in its own way for the express intent to seek the spiritual experience. The lesson to take Truth, the whole truth, and we knew even then what the Mass from this: Worship is a spiritual experi- nothing but the truth, so help us meant: the worship of God. God. ence with God; it is not entertainment.

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Ecumenism Run Amok A post by John Vennari (Catholic religiousness,”1 voicing the highest Family News, Celebrating an Apocalyptic public esteem for a man whose That which defines us Plague: Pope Francis to Lead “Common wor- warped religious views led him to ship service” to Commemorate 5th Centenary reject the true Church, deny his priest- n a web exclusive article of Lutheran Revolt, January 25, 2016) report- hood, and teach that the Mass was an (firstthings.com, 9.19.16, Lund and the ed: abomination worse than the most Quest for Christian Unity,) Timothy loathsome brothel.2 George, founding dean of “It is now official what many of us IBeeson Divinity School of Samford expected. Pope Francis will participate in “Forgotten in this ecumenical mael- University wrote: ceremony commemorating the 500th an- strom is the fact that Protestantism is niversary of the Reformation. The January heresy, and heresy is a sin. In the objec- “Next month, on October 31, tive order, it is a mortal sin against the eve of All Saints Day, Pope Faith that sends souls to hell for eter- Francis will visit Lund, Sweden, to nity. The revered Father Frederick participate with Lutheran church Faber explained that heresy is ‘the sin leaders in a joint ecumenical com- of sins, the very loathsomest of things memoration of the Reformation. Oc- which God looks down upon in this tober 31 is Reformation Day on malignant world. ... It is the polluting Protestant church calendars, and of God’s truth, which is the worst of this year it will mark the 499th anni- all impurities.’ versary of Martin Luther’s posting of the 25 Vatican Bolitano announces: ’The Ho- 95 Theses on the Castle Church door at Thus, Father Faber observed, ‘where ly Father Francis in Lund, Sweden, to Wittenberg. The Pope’s presence at the there is no hatred of heresy, there is no commemorate the 500th anniversary of prayer service in Lund Cathedral holiness.’3 (Domkyrka), a church where Christians the Reformation. His Holiness Francis have worshiped for more than one thou- intends to participate in a joint ceremony Likewise, Saint Alphonsus Liguori spoke sand years, will be followed by a larger of the and the World of the duty to fight heresy because it kills gathering at nearby Malmö. This histor- Lutheran Federation to commemorate the our souls and the souls of others: ‘Heresy ic occasion, which will launch a full year 500th anniversary of the Reformation, has been called a canker: ‘It spreadeth like of Reformation remembrances, will scheduled to take place in Lund, Sweden a canker.’ (2 Tim. 2:17) As a canker in- doubtless be the most talked about ecu- on Monday, October 31, 2016.’ The Pope fects the whole body, so heresy infects the menical event of 2016.” will lead the ’common worship service’ whole soul — the mind, the heart, the along with two Lutheran leaders: Luther- intellect and the will. It is also called a When I read this my heart an World Federation (LWF) President plague; for it not only infects the one con- stopped; I couldn’t breathe; my mind Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan and LWF taminated with it, but others who associ- screamed with unfathomable violence General Secretary Rev. Dr. Martin ate with him. Truly the spread of this and horror. Junge.” plague in the world has injured the Church more than idolatry.’”4 For the Supreme Pontiff of the hat so churns the stom- Holy Catholic Church to celebrate a ach is the sheer lunacy of Blessed Pope Pius IX recognized heresy seems beyond the pale, yet Catholic leaders, espe- W Protestantism as “a revolt against God, there it was in black and white. Not cially Popes, celebrating the 500th an- it being an attempt to substitute a human willing to accept such a travesty from niversary of a man who spent his life for a divine authority, a declaration of the a single source, I proceeded to search debasing Christian revelation. Yet it creature’s independence from God.” for others to confirm it. It didn’t take isn’t the first time. Pope St. John Paul long to find other reliable sources. II in 1983 praised Luther for his “deep CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 cent popes,) the heresy of Protestant- The Orthodox writer Rod Dreher he Catholic historian Hilaire ism no longer presents a problem. expressed his befuddlement at the Belloc wrote that heresy not “Have these leaders no love of Catholic anticipated Catholic-Lutheran rap- only affects the individual, but doctrine? If they did, they would publicly prochement in Lund: “How can this or T oppose the Protestant heresies that disfig- any pope do this, or approve of it? It has a negative impact on society; man must live his life according to a Creed, ure it. Have they no love of souls? If they makes no sense to me. It’s as if a man and a system of beliefs, but when it is dis- did, they would not pretend that a a wife got together to commemorate the torted away from God’s truth, life will Protestant can be saved by remaining in occasion of their divorce!” become distorted as well. Thus when his own man-made religion that teems reher is far too easy on the large masses of people fall into heresy, with errors against the express teaching of Pope. Perhaps a more accu- and live accordingly, it will change the Our Lord Jesus Christ.” rate portrait of the serious- entire structure of their society away D Saint Teresa of Avila called Lu- ness of the betrayal to our beloved from the Divine Program of Our Lord. theranism “that wretched sect.” She es- Catholic Church and to our faith by It will create an environment that is tablished her first Carmelite founda- the Supreme Pontiff would be of Pope not conducive to living a life of sancti- tion of nuns at Avila to help “cure this Francis standing next to Martin Luther fying grace but rather a society where terrible evil” by bringing “some comfort as he hammers his 95 theses onto the evil is institutionalized.5 to our Lord…. Thus, being all of us em- door of All Saints’ Church in Witten- Thanks to the Protestant heresy, ployed in interceding for the champions of burg. It is Ecumenism run amok— we now have legalized divorce, con- the Church and the preachers and theologi- aiding and abetting a heresy. traception, abortion, and the inordi- ans who defend her, we might, to our ut- Jesus said, “you are Peter, and upon this nate rise in the power of the State. This most, aid this Lord of mine Who is attacked 7 rock I will build my church, and the gates last because Protestants do not look at with such cruelty ...” of the netherworld shall not prevail against their “church” as an authority estab- As a Catholic I was taught that it.”8 One can only wonder for how lished by Christ to teach and govern Martin Luther was a Catholic priest much longer can Christ’s church pre- all men. According to Protestants, who dissented against the abuse of vail against such ecumenical rap- Christ never founded such a Church. indulgences. That was the sum total prochement. One can only ask: “Is the Thus, the highest authority on earth is of my knowledge of the man. I sus- Pope still a Catholic?” the State. pect most Catholics own much the

Protestants do not hold to a Divine same understanding. 1. New York Times, Pope Praises Luther in an Appeal for Unity on Protestant Anniversary, Nov. 6, 1983. Faith received from Heaven through a 2. Of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Luther said that ut that tidbit of dissent is no sin of immorality, nay not even “manslaughter, teaching Church established by Our theft, murder and adultery is so harmful as this nothing in comparison to Lu- Lord. For the Protestant, there is no abomination of the Popish Mass.” He said further ther’s vitriolic hatred for the that he would have “rather kept a bawdy house or visible Church, there is only the indi- B been a robber than to have blasphemed and tra- Church and her teachings. Luther vidual and his Bible, subject to indi- duced Christ for fifteen years by saying the Mass- denied the binding force of the moral es.” Luther, by Hartman Grisar, S.J. (English transla- vidual interpretation. Father Michael tion, Herder), Vol. 2, p. 166; Vol 4. p. 525. law: “We must remove the Decalogue 3. Father Frederick Faber, D.D., The Precious Blood: Müller said as much: “The main spirit of The Price of Our Salvation, 1860. out of sight and heart” and elsewhere, Protestantism, then, has always been to 4. St. Alphonsus Liguori, The History of Heresies, “If Moses should attempt to intimidate English translation taken from the No. 1-2, 2000 declare every man independent of the di- edition of Christ to the World (Rome) in its first you with his stupid Ten Commandments, vine authority of the Roman Catholic installment of serializing the book. tell him right out: ‘Chase yourselves to 5. Hilaire Belloc, The Great Heresies, 1936. Church and to substitute for his divine 6. Father Michael Müller,C.SS.R., The Catholic Dogma the Jews.” Luther was an ordained authority a human authority.”6 New York: Benzinger Brothers, 1888. priest who broke his vow of celibacy 7. Saint Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection, Eng- lish Translation by the of Stanbrook, But apparently for many of to- to God and married a nun. [First published in 1911. Republished by Tan Books, 1997. day’s Catholic leaders (including re- 8. Mt 16:18.

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Just Like Me Another time Jesus spoke of a rich the poor. And it is truly right and just man who tore down his barns and that we do so. It is indeed our duty The chasm that divides built larger ones in order to store all and responsibility to do as Jesus com- that he had; he then congratulated manded us: to love our neighbor as he parable of the rich man himself for having so many good our self. and Lazarus is an intri- things stored up for many years to guing one for while what come and was ready to sit back, rest, ut in a larger sense this para- we would surmise of it is eat, drink and be merry. ble is not about the rich and Timportant and true, we seldom gaze the poor nor is it about help- upon the jewel hidden behind its more B ing those in need. No doubt it obvious facade. would appear to be just that and more often than not the message On the face of it, the message we will hear is one that follows sings a common song, of rich and what Jesus tells us will be said to poor and the chasm that divides those on his left at the final judg- one from the other. What is to be ment: made of this? What moral conno- tations may we discern which “Depart from me, you accursed, into through countless episodes have the eternal fire prepared for the devil yet to learn? What have we never and his angels. For I was hungry and heard before? Let us venture to- you gave me no food, I was thirsty ward the new by first beginning and you gave me no drink, a stranger with the old. and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and We have heard the stories in prison, and you did not care for and been admonished many me. Amen, I say to you, what you times and in many ways: those did not do for one of these least ones, who have must give to those who you did not do for me.”3 have not, in order to see God.

Yet there is a richer vein, a larger Jesus spoke of this many nugget to be gleaned from this para- times. He said to the rich young man “But God said to him, ‘You fool, this ble, one which hold a greater truth for who asked what he lacked in order to night your life will be demanded of you; us to discover. gain eternal life: and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for In their earthly lives, the rich man “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell the one who stores up treasure for himself is well dressed and lives a life of ease what you have and give to the poor, and but is not rich in what matters to God.”2 and comfort, eating and drinking lav- you will have treasure in heaven. Then ishly, enjoying the good life that his come follow me. When the young man e can recount many such possessions provide him; the poor heard this statement, he went away sad, parables. We have heard man is in rags, covered with sores for he had many possessions. Then Jesus them many times before which the dogs lick, and emaciated said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, W as we have heard of the inherent dan- from hunger. When they die, the rich it will be hard for one who is rich to enter gers that wealth and the desire for it man goes to hell and the poor man to the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, can impose upon our immortal souls. heaven. But we must ask ourselves: it is easier for a camel to pass through the Likewise we have been subjected to Why? What did either man do to get to eye of a needle than for one who is rich to stern admonishments to give a portion 1 enter the kingdom of God.” of what we have to meet the needs of CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 of hell, and bring a bit of water to him- not enough to combat destitution, urgent where they end up? Certainly there self. The rich man clearly thinks it no and necessary as this is. The point at issue must be more to the story than one of trouble for the poor man to do some- is the establishment of a human society in wealth and poverty? If that were the thing for the rich man. which everyone, regardless of race, reli- case then wouldn’t we all be clamoring gion, or nationality, can live a truly hu- When Abraham refuses his re- to be among the poorest of the poor? man life free from bondage imposed by quest, the rich man asks for another, to men and the forces of nature not sufficient- hat is missing from the send the poor man to his brothers, to ly mastered, a society in which freedom is parable is … sin. What warn them. And again, he speaks to not an empty word, and where Lazarus the W terrible sin or sins did the Abraham, not to the poor man. He poor man can sit at the same table as the rich man commit to earn him eternal thinks of him only in how he can make rich man.”4 damnation? What good did the poor use of him. man do, outside of poverty—is pov- Ron Rolheiser writes: “Wealth that He was not asking for help for the erty a good—to earn him his eternal is hoarded always corrupts those who pos- people he had neglected during his reward with God? The parable doesn't sess it. Any gift that is not shared turns life, but only for himself. He couldn’t tell us, on these matters it is silent. sour. If we are not generous with our gifts see nor understand that in hoarding we will be bitterly envied and will eventu- Of course we could surmise that his wealth while on earth he came to ally turn bitter and envious ourselves. We perhaps it was the rich man’s failure to be possessed by it to the point where it know from experience that when we give of feed the poor man that earned him the became his god. ourselves to others we experience a certain trip to hell but the parable doesn’t say joy in our lives, just as when we selfishly Now we can begin to see what the whether the poor man ever asked for hoard or protect what is ours we grow sin of the rich man must be. The poor food nor does it say whether the rich anxious and paranoid. Once our wealth man is a human being, a person just man refused to give him any. So where reaches a certain point we need to begin to like the rich man. Both are creatures of is the sin? Again, the parable is silent. give some of it away—not because others God, unique individuals but with the need it but because our own health and So, what are we to make of this? same humanity, the same personhood. happiness will begin to deteriorate if we What lesson is Jesus teaching that we 5 The rich man’s sin is that he can’t hoard all of those possessions ourselves.” can’t see? Let’s dig a little deeper. see it; he doesn’t see the poor man as a We are challenged to give to the After the rich man died and was person in his own right. Insofar as he poor—not because they need our char- buried, “from the netherworld, where he thinks of the poor man at all, it is only ity, though they do—but because our was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw to calculate how the poor man can be giving to them is the only way we can Abraham far off and Lazarus by his side. used for his own benefit. stay healthy. Amen. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have It would not have mattered in the pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of least if the rich man had in fact fed the his finger in water and cool my tongue, for Homily for poor man when they were both living. 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time — Cycle C I am suffering torment in these flames.” His sin was his failure to ever think Amos 6:1A, 4-7 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Notice how the rich man speaks to “He is a man just like me.” Luke 16:19-31 Father Abraham, not to the poor man, ope Paul VI pointed this out in Lazarus. Abraham is a revered ances- 1. Mt 19:21-24. Populorum Progressio when he 2. Lk 12:16:21. tor, the poor man not worthy of a sin- 3. Lk 25:41-43, 45. wrote: gle thought. Even in death and tor- 4. Pope Paul VI, Encyclical Populorum Progressio, P 1967:47. ment, the rich man wants Abraham to 5. Ron Rolheiser, OMI, In Exile: Our need to share our “It is not simply a question of elimi- make the poor man leave the comfort riches with the poor, The Sunday Website of St. nating hunger and reducing poverty. It is Louis University. of his side, find his way into the flames 5

Tradition: To The East greater than, that of any other Catholic Protestants claim the Bible is the theologian. His influence is manifest in only rule of faith, meaning that it Praying with, not prayed at the Council’s teaching on Revelation, on contains all of the material one needs the Church, on the laity, on ecumenism, for theology and that this material is he great Broadway musi- on missiology and on many other top- sufficiently clear that one does not cal Fiddler on the Roof, ics.” need apostolic tradition or the with music by Bock and Church’s magisterium (teaching au- Hamick, begins with Later he mentions that “Tradition thority) to help one understand it. TTevye, the father of five daughters, is memory, and memory enriches experi- According to the Protestant view, singing of Tradition, a lament for the ence. If we remembered nothing it would the whole of Christian truth is con- vanishing Jewish religious and cul- be impossible to advance; the same tained with the pages of the Bible. tural traditions that he has always would be true if we were bound to a Anything not found within the Bible known. slavish imitation of the past. True tradi- is simply non-authoritative, unnec- tion is not servility but fidelity.” essary or wrong—and may in fact In the Introduction to The hinder one’s relationship with Meaning of Tradition, Yves Con- God. gar wrote that “for many, tradi- tion is simply a collection of time- Catholics however hold a honored customs, accepted, not on different view; one in which the critical grounds, but merely be- Protestant view is rejected, con- cause things have always been so, tending that it is neither en- because ‘it has always been done’.”1 dorsed or validated in Scripture. The true ’rule of faith’—as ex- He contended that attempts pressed in the Bible itself—is to innovate were often opposed Scripture plus apostolic tradi- in the name of tradition, gener- tion, as manifested in the living ally by conservative forces as a teaching authority of the Catho- safeguard against novelty; that lic Church, to which were en- tradition was favored because it trusted the oral teaching of Jesus prevented change. According to and the apostles, along with the Avery Cardinal Dulles, S. J. who authority to interpret Scripture penned the foreword: correctly. “Regarded in some circles as a Sacred Tradition differs from dangerous innovator, he was treat- the normal understanding of tradi- ed with suspicion and had to endure radition comes from the Lat- tion. As Congar wrote: “Usually, suspension from teaching and occasional in traditio, the noun of the when it is a question of handing over a banishment from France during the verb tradere, which means to material object, the donor loses posses- 1950s. T transmit or to deliver. Tradere, tradi- sion of it and can no longer enjoy it. But tio meant to hand over an object with In 1959 Pope John XXIII restored this is no longer true when it is a ques- the intention, on the one hand, of Congar’s good name by appointing him tion of spiritual riches—when a teacher parting with it, and, on the other, of a theological consultant to the preparato- transmits a doctrine, he commits it into acquiring it. Tradere implied giving ry commission for the Second Vatican the keeping of another, to be enjoyed by over and surrendering something to Council. At the Council itself, Congar’s him, without losing any of it himself.” someone, like passing a torch in a influence was equal to, and perhaps relay race. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 which is Latin for ‘to God’ rather than Deacon’s Diner will expound more on Sacred the current way which is referred to Food for a restless mind Tradition in future issues but as Versus Populum, that is ‘facing the people’. While ancient liturgies did wish to address a current contro- or those restless minds I speak of the priest turning and ‘facing versy that has been the topic of some that hunger and thirst for the people’ during certain parts of the debate over the past few months. In more. Each week this mass, celebrating the entire mass ver- the June 12 edition of L’Osservatore space will offer a menu of sus populum is a novelty of the 1970’s, Romano, Cardinal Sarah, the prefect of Finteresting and provocative titles, a novelty that stands in direct contra- the Congregation for Divine Worship written by Catholic authors, in distinction to the Church’s ancient wrote: addition to those referenced in the traditions. articles, for you to feed your restless “The liturgy is essentially the action mind. of Christ. If this vital principle is not re- There is much confusion as to precisely what ad orientem means in ceived in faith, it is likely to make the lit- BOOKS urgy a human work, a self-celebration of today’s liturgical environment. As one the community….To speak of a writer opined, it is “as if ad orientem Subtracting Christianity ‘celebrating community’ is not without and versus populum were matter and anti Joseph Sobran ambiguity and requires real caution. The -matter, so antithetical that disaster FGF Books participatio actuosa [active participation] would result from their combination.... In June 20, 2016, 428 pages. should not therefore be understood as the reality, of course, the celebrant...faces the Practical Theology need to do something. On this point the people much, if not most of the time— Peter Kreeft specifically (1) at the greeting, (2) during teaching of the Council has often been Ignatius Press distorted. It is instead to let Christ take us the readings, (3) during the homily, (4) to November 28, 2014, 400 pages. and associate us with his sacrifice. introduce the intercessions, (5) at ’Pray, brothers and sisters,’ (6) at the exchange Disorientation:How to Go to It is entirely consistent with the con- of peace, (7) at ’Behold, the Lamb of College Without Losing Your Mind ciliar constitution, it is indeed opportune God,’ (8) at Communion, (9) to introduce Edited by John Zmirak that, during the rite of penance, the sing- the prayer after Communion, and (10) at Ascension Press December 21, 2010, 188 pages. ing of the Gloria, the orations, and the the final blessing and dismissal.”2 Eucharistic prayer, everyone, priest and PERIODICALS faithful, should turn together towards the s one priest reflects “after East, to express their will to participate in five years of offering Holy First Things the work of worship and of redemption Mass ad orientem, I can say Institute on Religion and Public Life A Editor: R. R. Reno accomplished by Christ,” he continued. that I never want to have to return to the Ten Issues per year. “This manner of doing things could op- versus populum position.” He lists ten www.firstthings.com portunely be put into place in cathedrals, advantages to ad orientem on his where liturgical life must be exemplary.” blog, Vultus Christi,3 which are both Touchstone compelling and instructive. I will list A Journal of Mere Christianity What the Cardinal was speaking them next week along with further Editor: James M. Kushiner of is Ad Orientem, Latin for “to the commentary on Ad Orientem. Bi-Monthly. east” which, simply put, has tradition- www.touchstonemag.com ally been the direction Catholic 1. Yves Congar, O.P., The Meaning of Tradition, Translated from the French by A. N. Woodrow, Catholic Answers Magazine churches were built. It also refers to Ignatius Press, 2004. Share the Faith, Defend the Faith the traditional way the priest faced 2. Charles Shonk, Ad Orientem And Absolutism, First Things, September 20, 2016. Editor: Tim Ryland during the Mass. The priest facing the 3. Fr. Mark Kirby, Silverstream Priory, , Bi-Monthly. altar is also referred to as Ad Deum, , Ireland, Vultus Christi. www.catholic.com

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deaconscorner.org

Deacon Chuck Lanham is an Each issue of Colloquī can be viewed or downloaded from author, columnist, speaker, and a servant of God. http://deaconscorner.org. He is the author of The Voices of God: Hearing God in the Silence, Deacon Chuck can be contacted thru email at Echoes of Love: Effervescent Memories and is currently writing his third book Without God: Finding [email protected] God in a Godless World.

He is the bulletin editor for Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church. Colloquī is a weekly publication of Deacon’s Corner Publishing. He has written over 230 articles on Copyright © 2016 by Deacon’s Corner Publishing. All rights reserved. religion, faith, morality, theology, Produced in the U.S.A. www.deaconscorner.org

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