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Good St. Dominic's Cat Chapter
Fifteen Michael the Archangel Rings the Ascending Bell With that the memory ended and Joseph, the cat, Dominic, Francis and all their friends were back beneath the rainbows in Heaven. A little angel said, “Tell us more, Joseph. Please, tell us more, little cat.” Before Joseph could answer, a loud chiming was heard. The little angels started to fly around in a panic. “What is that noise?” said Dominic. “Angels, calm down and tell us what that chiming means.” The angel sputtered out an answer. “It is the assembly bell. Everyone now must gather before the throne of God. It has only been rung twice. Once by Lucifer announcing his revolt. Once by Gabriel announcing Jesus’ birth. Please, I must go quickly. You must go, too.” With that, Francis released him to follow his angel friends. As the saints stood in the grove, everything around them began to melt away. That was not unusual in Heaven. One scene often melted into another scene. Instead of being in Joseph’s garden, now Dominic, Francis, Joseph, the cat and everyone with them were standing in the Great Assembly Hall of the Father. This great heavenly hall had no walls or perimeters. It was endless and it was filled with saints and angels. In the confusion, Francis pulled Dominic over to the side. “Quick, Dominic, we must hide the cat. You don’t think the cat has anything to do with this assembly?” Dominic said, “No this has to be about something very important. Here, I’ll put him under my habit.” “Mot magain,” said the cat as the saint pushed him under his robe. The cat was not happy about being stuffed into the top of Dominic’s habit and was resisting as the chiming stopped. He was able to stick his head out of the collar just in time to see Michael the Archangel approach the throne of God. Michael climbed up the tall stairs of the throne that led to the triangle of God at the top. Michael was beautiful in his strength, one of God’s most wonderful creations. He was the pillar of Heaven and the Father’s mighty defender. Everyone wondered what he would say to the Father. It seemed strange that Michael would ring the bell and question God publicly, but Heaven was always full of surprises. Seated alone in front of the triangle was God the Father. It was not unusual for the Holy Spirit to be invisible. The Holy Spirit loved making surprise entrances. The unusual thing was that Jesus was not there beside the Father. The Father’s voice filled the vast hall, “Michael, why has the bell been rung?” Of course, the Father already knew the answer. He knew the answer to everything. He asked questions so that others would learn the answers. Michael, who was now burning like a tall, fiery red column, answered God the Father, “The bell was rung once by Lucifer to question your decision to make humans free creatures like the angels. It was rung again by Gabriel to inform Heaven of your plan to make the Son a human man. Today I ring the bell to ask you about your latest plans. Why is there a cat in Heaven?” Francis looked at Dominic, “I was afraid of this,” he said. The cat, whose head was still sticking up from the habit, didn’t seem to be worried. But then the Father’s voice boomed out the question, “Where in Heaven is this cat?” The cat was frightened and the only thing he could say was “Mewgulp.” To be continued . . . |
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