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Friday, September 30, 2016

Who sent Me

Total Surrender Loving trust and total surrender made Our Lady say yes to the message of the angel. And cheerfulness made her run in haste to serve h

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Total Surrender

Loving trust and total surrender made Our Lady say yes to the message of the angel. And cheerfulness made her run in haste to serve her cousin Elizabeth. That is so much our life: saying yes to Jesus and running in haste to serve him in the poorest of the poor. Let us keep very close to Our Lady and she will make that same spirit grow in each one of us.

—St. Theresa of Calcutta

-from Thirsting for God: Daily Meditations

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"God loves those who thank Him even in suffering."
— St. Arnold Janssen

✞MEDITATION OF THE DAY✞
"The soul that does not attach itself solely to the will of God will find neither satisfaction nor sanctification in any other means however excellent by which it may attempt to gain them. If that which God Himself chooses for you does not content you, from whom do you expect to obtain what you desire? . . . No soul can be really nourished, fortified, purified, enriched, and sanctified except in fulfilling the duties of the present moment."
— Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, p. 14
AN EXCERPT FROM
Abandonment to Divine Providence

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Saint Jerome

(345 – 420)

Saint Jerome's Story

Most of the saints are remembered for some outstanding virtue or devotion which they practiced, but Jerome is frequently remembered for his bad temper! It is true that he had a very bad temper and could use a vitriolic pen, but his love for God and his son Jesus Christ was extraordinarily intense; anyone who taught error was an enemy of God and truth, and Saint Jerome went after him or her with his mighty and sometimes sarcastic pen.

He was above all a Scripture scholar, translating most of the Old Testament from the Hebrew. He also wrote commentaries which are a great source of scriptural inspiration for us today. He was an avid student, a thorough scholar, a prodigious letter-writer and a consultant to monk, bishop, and pope. Saint Augustine said of him, "What Jerome is ignorant of, no mortal has ever known."

Saint Jerome is particularly important for having made a translation of the Bible which came to be called the Vulgate. It is not the most critical edition of the Bible, but its acceptance by the Church was fortunate. As a modern scholar says, "No man before Jerome or among his contemporaries and very few men for many centuries afterwards were so well qualified to do the work." The Council of Trent called for a new and corrected edition of the Vulgate, and declared it the authentic text to be used in the Church.

In order to be able to do such work, Jerome prepared himself well. He was a master of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Chaldaic. He began his studies at his birthplace, Stridon in Dalmatia. After his preliminary education, he went to Rome, the center of learning at that time, and thence to Trier, Germany, where the scholar was very much in evidence. He spent several years in each place, always trying to find the very best teachers. He once served as private secretary of Pope Damasus.

After these preparatory studies, he traveled extensively in Palestine, marking each spot of Christ's life with an outpouring of devotion. Mystic that he was, he spent five years in the desert of Chalcis so that he might give himself up to prayer, penance, and study. Finally, he settled in Bethlehem, where he lived in the cave believed to have been the birthplace of Christ. Jerome died in Bethlehem, and the remains of his body now lie buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

Reflection

Jerome was a strong, outspoken man. He had the virtues and the unpleasant fruits of being a fearless critic and all the usual moral problems of a man. He was, as someone has said, no admirer of moderation whether in virtue or against evil. He was swift to anger, but also swift to feel remorse, even more severe on his own shortcomings than on those of others. A pope is said to have remarked, on seeing a picture of Jerome striking his breast with a stone, "You do well to carry that stone, for without it the Church would never have canonized you" (Butler's Lives of the Saints).
Saint Jerome is the patron Saint of:

Librarians
Translators

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Sacred Space
Daily Prayer - 2016-09-30
Presence

Lord, God, my Creator,
Be close to me now.
My soul yearns for your presence.

Freedom

I try to let go of concerns and worries
that may be dragging me down at this present moment.
I place any concerns I have in Gods hands
- at least for these few minutes of prayer.

Consciousness

Where do I sense hope, encouragement, and growth areas in my life? By looking back over the last few months, I may be able to see which activities and occasions have produced rich fruit. If I do notice such areas, I will determine to give those areas both time and space in the future.

The Word of God

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 459
Reading 1

Jb 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5

The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:

Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning
and shown the dawn its place
For taking hold of the ends of the earth,
till the wicked are shaken from its surface?
The earth is changed as is clay by the seal,
and dyed as though it were a garment;
But from the wicked the light is withheld,
and the arm of pride is shattered.

Have you entered into the sources of the sea,
or walked about in the depths of the abyss?
Have the gates of death been shown to you,
or have you seen the gates of darkness?
Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all:
Which is the way to the dwelling place of light,
and where is the abode of darkness,
That you may take them to their boundaries
and set them on their homeward paths?
You know, because you were born before them,
and the number of your years is great!

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab
R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.

R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.

R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.

R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.

R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Alleluia
Ps 95:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 10:13-16

Jesus said to them,
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.'
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."


(from Sacred Space) Some thoughts on today's scripture

These are part of the 'hard sayings' of Jesus, poising retribution to those who do no listen to those sent by Jesus. He singles out especially those who were privileged to observe his deeds. We have been especially privileged in having the benefit of the examples of martyrs and saints and the solid social structure of the Church to support our faith.
Ask the Lord to deepen your appreciation of the faith and the supports that the community of the Church affords us.

Conversation

Jesus you speak to me through the words of the gospels.
May I respond to your call today.
Teach me to recognise your hand at work in my daily living.

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.

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Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Luke 10:13-16

Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

Woe to you! (Luke 10:13)

A group of British actors recently produced a television skit based on Shakespeare's famous line from Hamlet: "To be, or not to be: that is the question." In the skit, the actors argued over how to say the line. One read it as "To be or not to be." Another said, "To be or not to be." Another stressed the word "that," and yet another stressed "question." The skit was funny, but it makes an interesting point: the meaning of words can change depending on how we hear them.

When Jesus says, "Woe to you" to the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, how do you hear him (Luke 10:13)? It's easy to imagine angry condemnation. But look at the context. Rather than expressing anger, Jesus is more likely speaking out of unrequited love. He has performed numerous miracles, preached about his kingdom, and demonstrated God's mercy and love—all to little avail. So now he is admonishing them, not wishing them woe, but warning them of woe to come if they don't accept his message.

Sometimes we prejudge people in the same way that we prejudge their words or actions. We have heard that someone doesn't go to church, that the person holds certain views—or maybe that he or she has an offensive bumper sticker on his or her car. But we can't really know what people are like unless we've talked to them. And if somehow we do learn that they are far from the Lord, that should make us more compassionate toward them, not more condemning. We should never make our faith an "us versus them" affair.

We know that in our own strength, we can't love anyone as Jesus loves them. But that's okay because we have received the Holy Spirit—the same Spirit who lives in the heart of God, the same Spirit who enabled the apostles to preach, teach, and heal. So ask the Spirit to give you a more compassionate heart. If you try to see people through his eyes, you'll begin to look for ways to reach out to them. You don't need an elaborate plan. Just try your best to show them the same love, compassion, and patience that God has shown you.

"Lord, touch my heart with your compassion for those who don't know you. Holy Spirit, teach me how to be a messenger of your love."

Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5
Psalm 139:1-3, 7-10, 13-14

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We heard Job say in the Holy Scripture today "Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?". Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done unto me according to thy will". These two let their lives happen with God, and for God. This is a way of humility, as we heard the Lord say today " from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm of pride is shattered." The eye opening line is the previous verse "The earth is changed as is clay by the seal, and dyed as though it were a garment" We are to be formed by Him as we were in the womb, but be formed day by day, conformed and formed into His divine image, His seal, and to be stained by His blood, that what distinguishes us as His chosen flock. I am marked by this seal, of the blood of the lamb.
We prayed today "Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. and "
Truly you have formed my inmost being you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made" Fearfully meaning awesome, and wonderful meaning in His image of greatness. Therefore, every life is a precious soul. That is why this November, you must vote Pro Life. One candidate right now, she once said "religions must change" (to allow for abortions and homosexual marriages). This is a reflection, she voices the spirit of darkness, and why do I say that? Because, she is saying what we live nowadays, wanting the world to serve us, conform to us, instead of us serving the world, serving the Lord (conforming)...thus, every soul is precious, and protecting every soul is most important, especially in the womb.

The Lord said today in the Holy Gospel ""Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes." Woe is right. Woe, where there will be weeping and wailing for an eternity. Woe, because sorrows awaits. Because there is a payment for sin and it is death, and we are speaking of an eternal death. I look to countries in the world leading in abortions, and I can say "woe to you", woe! Not condemnation, but a lamentation, even a palpitation of prayer from the heart, "woe to you", stop what you are doing, because death is looming, that what you are treating as a convenience. So ultimately, the Lord is calling upon our repentance. Repent. I see the most liberal states, and I see how they are suffering. Suffering souls. Sad, and already in a state of "woe". For these people, the Lord dies. These are the people He reaches out to and addresses today. And to make it loud and clear, He stretches out His arms to them, in a total act of love and surrender...
and His Sacred Heart is stabbed

crucified pierced

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Thursday, September 29, 2016

See greater things

Earnest Prayer Jesus has chosen us to be souls of prayer. The value of our actions corresponds exactly to the value of our prayer. Our actions are fr

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Earnest Prayer

Jesus has chosen us to be souls of prayer. The value of our actions corresponds exactly to the value of our prayer. Our actions are fruitful only if they are the true expressions of earnest prayer.

-from Thirsting for God: Daily Meditations

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"Keep to the ancient way and custom of the Church, established and confirmed by so many Saints under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And live a new life. Pray, and get others to pray, that God not abandon His Church, but reform it as He pleases, and as He sees best for us, and more to His honour and glory."
— St. Angela Merici

✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY ✞

"Once, while I was wondering why Our Lord so dearly loves the virtue of humility, the thought suddenly struck me, without previous reflection, that it is because God is the supreme Truth and humility is the truth, for is is the most true that we have nothing good of ourselves but only misery and nothingness: whoever ignores this, lives a life of falsehood. they that realize this fact most deeply are the most pleasing to God, the supreme Truth, for they walk in the truth."
— St. Teresa of Avila, p. 175-6
AN EXCERPT FROM
Interior Castle

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Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael

Saint of the Day for September 29

Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael's Story

Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.

Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.

Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.

Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness, and the restoration of the family fortune.

The memorials of Gabriel and Raphael were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their feasts to Michael's.

Reflection:

Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication, and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.
Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
are the Patron Saints of:

Death
Germany
Grocers
Police Officers
Radiologists
Saint Raphael is the Patron Saint of:
The Blind

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Sacred Space
Daily Prayer - 2016-09-29

Presence

"I stand at the door and knock," says the Lord.
What a wonderful privilege
that the Lord of all creation desires to come to me.
I welcome His presence.

Freedom

Lord, you created me to live in freedom.
Mostly I take this gift for granted.
Inspire me to live in the freedom you intended,
with a heart untroubled and with complete trust in You.

Consciousness

To be conscious about something is to be aware of it. Dear Lord help me to remember that You gave me life. Thank you for the gift of life. Teach me to slow down, to be still and enjoy the pleasures created for me. To be aware of the beauty that surrounds me. The marvel of mountains, the calmness of lakes, the fragility of a flower petal. I need to remember that all these things come from you.

The Word of God

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
audio readings

Reading 1 Dn 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:

Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
His throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.

The court was convened, and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw

One like a son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Or Rev 12:7-12ab
War broke out in heaven;
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The dragon and its angels fought back,
but they did not prevail
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth,
and its angels were thrown down with it.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5
R. (1) In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.

R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.

R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth;
And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD:
"Great is the glory of the LORD."

R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

Alleluia Ps 103:21
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 1:47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."


Some thoughts on today's scripture

Jesus witnessed some aspect of Nathanael that seemed to surprise him; there are hidden and secret aspects of my life too that are known and valued by God.
Jesus lifts Nathanael's eyes from the everyday and prompts him to think of heaven; I might consider my hoped-for destination and see how my daily concerns are enlightened and brought into another perspective.

Conversation

What is stirring in me as I pray?
Am I consoled, troubled, left cold?
I imagine Jesus himself standing or sitting at my side and share my feelings with him.

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.

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Catholic Meditations
Meditation: John 1:47-51

Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels (Feast)

You will see . . . the angels of God. (John 1:51)

Most names don't reveal very much about the person who carries them. But that's not true of angels, whom we honor today. Michael, whose name means "Who is like God?" is known for his great power in fighting against Satan and his demons. Gabriel, whose name means "strength," certainly gave strength to Mary when he told her she would be the Mother of God (Luke 1:28). Raphael, whose name means "healer," cured Tobit's blindness (Tobit 11).

We can't help but admire the archangels. Like all the angels, they have remarkable abilities. As pure spirits, their knowledge and power are beyond our comprehension. But they're not like the superheroes found in films and comic books. They live to serve God and worship him. Their wonderful gifts are only a pale reflection of his infinite perfection and beauty. What's more, as amazing as they are, each is a "fellow servant" along with us, and their inspiration can lead us to worship God more fully (Revelation 19:10).

Perhaps the best way to honor the archangels today is to join them in worshipping Jesus. We can take our cue from Nathanael. Jesus told him he would see "heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (John 1:51). We have that same opportunity at every Mass. We may not see the angels, but they are there, adoring Jesus on the altar. Along with them, we can be caught up in the love and holiness of the Son of God and be moved to lay down our lives before him.

Did you know that at Mass we can do something the angels can't? We can receive Jesus as our nourishment! All the qualities of God that the angels have a share in—his wisdom, his love, his beauty—are contained in the Eucharist. So the next time you are at Mass, know that you are in the company of angels, and join them in giving Jesus all the praise and worship your heart can muster!

"Thank you, Lord, that you have made me lower than the angels, yet you come to me as the Bread of Life. May I be open to all the grace you want to give me in your Body and Blood."

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 138:1-5

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audio-2cents
my2cents:

We heard today "His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat", again with the fire of the Lord...no? Yes, if there is a fire in Heaven, there is a purifying light that burns forever, and in Heaven, one second and on million years is no different.
"They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them."

We prayed today "In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord."
Because of your kindness and your truth; for you have made great above all things your name and your promise. When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me." When I read the reflection from Word Among Us, it gave away what I had already thought of, singing with other angels, in the presence of angels, happens in Holy Mass. I'm going to divulge a secret. I'm in the choir with my guitar, and there is a Mass part that the Father, the Priest leads into with "...and so with the Holy Angels and Saints we declare your Glory as with one voice acclaim (sing)". In this and in the Glory, I actually tune my ears to the Heavens, and I mean that I am listening for the voices of the angels to sing with. They are not earthly voices, and their presence is made known. I want you to pay attention with your spirit.

The Lord comes into our lives today and says: ""Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him." What then, is a "child of Israel"? and not just any child, but a "true child"? The people of Israel are God's people. But this one, this oddball was a "True" child of Israel, a true child of God. I want you to think about your truthfulness. How true are you? How much do you deceive yourself and lie to yourself? I say this because, I been watching my weight, and I track calorie intake with my phone, and many times I catch myself trying to cheat myself on calorie counts, making it seem like I took less than what I probably really took in. I have to force myself to be honest. And at times I don't track, I forget, or tell myself "nah, I'm good". But we lie to ourselves about our sins. We think "nah, I'm good" and play off the severity of the sins. Again, what is a "true" child of God? They say that the fig tree is a messianic figure of peace. Jesus found a fruit under this tree, Nathanael. Another time, Jesus found nothing under a fig tree, no fruit, and the tree was cursed to death. Is this then, do or die? They say that Jesus will ride triumphant with a flag of peace at the end of the world. He comes to save the lost. Are you a true child of God? Are you being sincere in your faith? Or are you treating it like your diet? Are you neglecting yourself the health, and indulging in the temporary sensual pleasures? And I'm speaking of the spirit. What do I take pleasure in? Is it in suffering for Christ, ( a life of grace), or temporary mortal pleasures of the flesh (sin)? Perhaps today, there are more questions than answers, leaving one perplexed on the questioning of our duplicity, two faces, one saying you are a Christian, and the other face acting like the anti-christ. Which one do you give more spirit to?
An excerpt of The Imitation of Christ:
"But if they are firmly grounded in humility and filled with charity; if they seek purely the worship of God-looking upon themselves as nothing and sincerely despising themselves; and if they desire to be despised by others, then they may really hope that they have advanced spiritually and that in the end they will have the reward of God for all their labor."

Shall I be despised by the world, or cursed by my own doing...

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