Ch 16.2: A Secret Meeting

The other person replied: With great pleasure. You may rest assured that this envelope will be handed over to the holy father the moment he arrives.The first man said: Thank you very much. And now I am going to do my duty. So saying the man avoiding thelook of others quickly went out of the Church.Now the Church was full of Christians and priests and no others were expected. When all were seated it was ascertained that there was no Muslim in the assembly. Several priests went round and looked carefully at everyone and made sure that there was no Muslim. It was thenordered that all the doors of the Church should be closed and the proceedings of the meeting should begin. Enthusiasm of the Christians was such that if they had not been strictly directed to remain calm and silent, they would have raised a storm. For greater precaution some people were stationed outside so thatno one could hear the proceedings ofthe meeting. When all arrangements were complete the head priest and Michael with ten or twelve priests stood at an elevated place. Just then a man from the front row got up and quietly handed over to the head priest the envelope which a person had given him to be put up to the head priest. Before opening the envelope and reading the letter the head priest spoke in a sober tone: Mysons and daughters! Today you havebeen given the trouble to come here for a very important business which father Michael will put up to you and you should listen to his speech calmly and patiently.So father Michael stood up to make his speech and at the same time the head priest opened the envelope. But when he had read only a few lines he screamed and began to shake all over in anger. All those assembled began to look anxiously at the head priest and father Michael had to stop his speech. After a brief respite the head priest spoke: Look here! A man has just given me a letter from Isabella in which she has invited all of us to become Muslims. Who has given this envelope tome?A Christian: Holy father, it was I. A person handed it over to me to put it up before you…The poor man had not yet completed his sentence when there was a storm in the meeting and the man was hit with fists and kicks from all sides. The poor man made every effort to explain that he had no concern with the letter and was innocent, but no one heeded him and at last by so much beating he fell down senseless and was dragged out and shut up in the closet of the Church. The confusion took a long time to subside and with great difficulty.Then the head priest came forward and spoke: This man appears to be a Muslim who has made his appearance like us and, putting on our holy dress, has come here to spy. Anyway his case will be taken up tomorrow. Now we have to see that the girls about whom this meeting has been held have preached to us a bloody and barbaric [God forbid] religion like Islam. Tell us how we can succeed in bringing them back and what could be done in this connection.Thereupon Michael came forward and said: Brethren! the purpose for which this secret meeting was held has been made purposeless after thisletter of Isabella. What can we do now except to bear it with patience and pray to God that either she comes back to the fold of the Lord or sent to Hell.The head priest came forward again and said: Anyway just bring this manhere. Possibly by being pressed he may reveal some other things, although we know the Muslims are very hot-headed and they do not easily give out their secrets. Yet he is now in our hands and we may possibly force him to speak out.So the poor man was brought out from the closet of the Church to the stage. The man was not in himself being badly wounded. The head priest on looking at him cried out: O, this is the priest of the northern church and my own nephew. God forbid, he is yet breathing.So when the poor wounded man wasidentified all the priests were very sorry. Next day when the man came to himself he told them that a man brought a letter, gave it to him and quickly went out of the Church. After hearing this, all the priests decided that it was a “mischief” of the Muslims and so they lost hope of Isabella and her friends and the secret night meeting was unsuccessful as nothing could be decided in the confusion.The letter which Isabella had written to her father read as follows :

Ch 16.1: A Secret Meeting

Before giving proceedings of this andother meetings let us have a look at the Church of Saint Peter and the monastery and see what happened to the monk of the monastery and its nun, and how the head priest (Isabella’s father) and Michael (Mirano’s father) received the news and what situation was created among the Christians of Cordova.It so happened that when these four girls left the Church of Saint Peter, thepoor monk was lying bound up and since he was gagged by a wad of rags he could not speak. The nun took out the rags from his mouth andreleased his hands and feet. But even after release he continued to be out ofhis senses and the nun ran about for help.Pilgrims, living in chambers, on hearing the noise, wrung their hands and, as usual, began to cry before theskeletons of saints. When the mourning ended and the monk and the nun composed themselves they took two donkeys of pilgrims and rode to the monastery. On reaching the monastery all the monks and nuns of the monastery came out to receive them, but when they found marks of humility, repentance and defeat on their faces they were thunder-struck. One of those present,however, taking courage, came forward and spoke to the monk.The man: Respected sir, the holy father (head priest) has sent this letter and directed that it should be replied at once.Monk (beating his breast): Alas ! howcan I show my face to the holy father. Alas! the accursed satan has deceived me: the satan who did not spare even the Lord without putting him to trial. Wretched Isabella and O accursed girls abomination on you and O daughter of satan! You yourself became an apostate and putus also to shame. O God! Thou seest what treatment has been meted out to Thine devoted servants.All the monks of the monastery were struck dumb on hearing this and looked at one another speechless The monk then with trembling hands opened the letter of the holy father and read. It said: “In order to persuade Isabella her three friends have gone to the monastery as I had informed you. I think the reconversion of Isabella is difficult. Ifher condition is yet unchanged, then hand her over to the Inquisition for this purpose. I will send to you some men in the evening to whom you should hand over the girl. Now you should send back the other three girls lest the devil may mislead them also and they fall not into the trap of Isabella.”On reading this the monk began to weep and cry loudly. After some time he spoke: What reply can I give to thisletter? I will myself go to the holy father and tell him how satan has putpious people to trial. So saying he stood up and walked out and took with him the saintly nun of France. Meeting the holy father at his house, he narrated the whole episode which the head priest quickly heard and then asked.Head priest: When I had directed you to keep a careful watch on Isabella, why did you fall in the trap of the girls and believing in their false revelation left the monastery? If such a situation had arisen, why did you not inform me?Monk: What reply can I give? Surely I have been at fault and fell into satan’s trap.Head priest: But tell me now what other monks were in conspiracy with the girls.Monk: No one else was in the conspiracy and as a precaution I did not tell anyone. Only this nun whose piety is well known was invloved in this episode.Head priest (to his servant): Just go and bring Michael and Peter and tell them they should stop all other work and come to me at once.The servant left and shortly after Michael and Peter arrived with three other priests, holding their hands on their chests. The head priest spoke, addressing Michael.Head priest: Your daughter Mirano has gone away with my daughter Isabella.Michael: What, holy father! What are you talking?Head priest: Not only Isabella and Mirano, Hanana and Mertha also gave a slip to the people of the monastery.Michael: Holy father! just say what happened.The head priest asked the monk to narrate to him the whole episode. The monk with tearful eyes narrated what had happened on which Michael and Peter also wept.Head priest: Why weep! Curse these filthy souls. The only regret is that Isabella escaped the grip of Inquisition.Michael: Holy father, this is not an ordinary matter. Christians will be humiliated all over Cordova and we will not be able to face the people.Head priest: Anyway, try to find out where these girls are now. We will setto work about it very soon.Three days later after one-third of thenight had passed all the other priestsof Cordova and zealous Christians began to gather in the great Church of Cordova. They were secretly directed to assemble in the great Church. Apparently there was no sign of a large gathering as there was no indication of any preparations for the meeting. People came and quietly and soberly sat in the large hall of the Church in front ofthe holy altar. This showed that for this special meeting people were secretly invited.A large cross was fixed on the altar over which Christ hung and below it Virgin Mary sat on her knees demonstrating her obedience. All the walls of the great Church were painted with the figures of saints anddisciples, looking like pictures from Roman and Egyptian mythology. Under these walls all those who came took their seats. Nuns, virgins, who where entertainers of pious priests, were also seen in the crowd. The head priest who was chief of this Church and father of Isabella was very cordially receiving all those whocame.With all this there was such silence and solemnity that no one outside of the Church could know what was happening inside. But the Muslims were informed even of this secret meeting and this secrecy of priests could not remain a secret. The head priest and Michael, standing at the gate, were directing zealous Christians with gestures to keep silence. But people were coming in streams. Several thousands of Christians had already collected in the Church, but the head priest was waiting for others to come. Under thestatue of the crucified Christ, a man said quietly to another near him: Brother, Lord’s name be glorified! Here is an envelope which I have to give to the head priest before the meeting begins, but Michael has ordered me to go and bring such andsuch a person soon. Now I have to carry out this order and so if you takethe trouble to give this letter to the head priest as soon as he comes it will be very kind of you.

Ch 15.3: Princess of France

So two hours passed in this demonstration of jubilations when Arkia addressed the monk. Arkia: What should we do?Monk: To seek our Lord we should goto the place indicated to Mirano. (To Isabella:) Look, O girl, truly it is due toyou that the Holy Ghost has descended on us today. Surely just on meeting the Lord you will become a saint and kings will seek blessing at your feet.Mirano: Is it necessary for us to go to that old Church indicated by the Holy Ghost ?Monk: Simple girl, have you still any hesitation when the Holy Ghost has ordered that we should reach there before morning.Mirano: Well, then, lock up Isabella in the underground chamber and prepare to start.Monk: Why ! Should we leave the veryperson behind for whom the Holy Ghost has descended here and given us the honour of seeing the Lord? Look, Isabella has received a special grace of God, just as Holy Peter, despite being the bitterest enemy of the Lord, was the recipient of a special grace. So get up, take Isabella with you and go to the Church.Hanana: If Isabella slips away on theway? Monk (laughing) : Strange! Hasthe Lord called us to his presence for nothing? As if he is not aware of even this that the person whom he has called will slip away.Arkia: I think we should not delay now for the Holy Ghost has directed that we should reach there soon. (Looking at the sky:) See I am already seeing the Holy Ghost. O Lord ! glory to thy Name ! (All join in a loud cry): OLord! glory to thy Name!Monk: Well, I am asking the donkeys of the monastery to be brought and you prepare in the meantime. The donkeys are very fast runners and will take you to the Church in half an hour.The monk then called some servants and ordered them to bring the donkeys. The order was promptly carried out, but he kept his departure a secret. The monk was very happy that Isabella, immediately on reaching there, on seeing the Lord would lift up the Cross of Christ and the holy father (Isabella’s father) would be struck with wonder on seeing this miracle. Now, they were all ready to start and Isabella, Hanana, Mertha, Mirano, Arkia and the monk mounted on fast running donkeys and, at the instruction of Mirano, Isabella was kept in the middle as a precaution. In a quarter of an hour’s time they reached the Church of Saint Peter. In this Church the bones of the martyrs, renowned in Christianity, were preserved and Christian women from distant placescame on pilgrimage to receive blessings.There was yet a long time for the dawn to appear and the awesome atmosphere of the Church filled the hearts of all with awe. Immediately on entering the Church Arkia and the monk prostrated before a large skeleton and began to cry aloud as they hoped that before the morning they will see the Lord and the Holy Ghost will embrace them.While there was weeping in the dead of the night on the one side, Isabella and her three friends were devising their own plans. Suddenly all the four fell upon the monk who was prostrating and weeping before a skeleton and two of them caught his hands and the other two his feet and taking out a rope and rags concealedin their pockets tightly bound the monk’s feet and thrust rags in his mouth. On this sudden and unexpected attack the poor fellow could not even cry for help. Arkia wasprostrating before another skeleton, hoping to see the Lord. After securingsafely the monk they went to Arkia and whispered in here ear: Come, holy sister! we will show you the Lord.Arkia, full of zeal, at once rose and when she approached the helpless monk, she cried in anguish: What is this?Isabella: This is your Lord to see whom you came here.Then the girls warned Arkia of her future and preached Islam to her andsaid that if she wanted to see the soulof truth and the perfect man she should recite, La ilaha ill Allah Muhammad Rasulullah [There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Apostle]; otherwise she would never be able to see her imaginary Lord till the Dooms Day. So saying the four girls mounted on the fast running donkeysand quickly left the Church.After their departure Arkia stood transfixed as if she had lost her wit and senses. At last in the dim light of candles, the monk beckoned to her of his plight and Arkia first took out the rags from his mouth and released his hands and feet.Hearing his outcries other pilgrims also came up, but Isabella and her friends were nowhere to be seen.Isabella with her three friends (Mertha, Hanana and Mirano) coming out of the Church of Saint Peter mounted their fast running donkeys and driving them with all speed soon reached Umar Lahmi’s house and informed him and other Muslim divines of all that had happened. Ziad b. Umar was also intimated of these interesting details.All the Muslims were astonished on the wisdom and tact of Mirano and congratulated the four guests on their release from Christian oppression.The four girls came to the meeting of Ziad b. Umar which assembled after early night prayer at which other eminent divines, philosophers, medical practitioners, interpreters of the Holy Quran, traditionists, and historians were present. As nearly allMuslims were aware of the affairs of Isabella and every second or third day Umar Lahmi was informed of theday-to-day happenings, all with great joy were anxious to hear their stories.

Ch 15.2: Princess of France

Mirano: I was intently looking at the person when he turned towards me. Isaw a mark on his face on which waswritten “The Holy Ghost” with light letters. (Here Isabella was suddenly forced to laugh but she suppressed itby coughing.)Arkia: O Lord ! Glorified be Thy Name!Mirano: Then he took out a phial andpoured a few drops on the head of Isabella.Monk: Surely, they were drops of faith. Isabella, your luck has brightened.Mirano: Thereafter the Holy Ghost told me two things…Monk: Say what these two things were.Mirano: He said that there is a sacredChurch in the southern part of Cordova which is now-a-days deserted and in which bones of holy saints are preserved for pilgrims andseekers of blessings. I am going there. Look, the Lord is waiting for you there with extended arms to confer blessings.Arkia: Crucified Lord! Thy Name be glorified. By holy Mary! how lucky is the revelation. And I had seen the Lord the moment I came here. Do yousee how Mirano’s revelation has confirmed what I said.Monk : Now say what was the other thing which the Holy Ghost said.Mirano : The other thing…Monk: Yes.Mirano: The other thing is not to be told here, as I have been so enjoined.Monk: Did the Holy Ghost ask you notto reveal it ?Mirano: Yes, He told me not to reveal it before others.Monk: At least tell me if it was about some person or some work?Mirano: I can say this much that it was about you, holy father. How could I know that your position is so exalted before the Lord?Since the monks and Roman CatholicChristians are very superstitious and easily led to believe, the monk believed it at once and jumped in joy and on hearing from Mirano “How could I know that you have so exalteda position before the Lord?” Arkia fell at the feet of the monk and began to rub her forehead on them while the monk in the ecstasy of joy stood motionless and could only say to her: Daughter, have patience! You will also be with me inParadise.

Ch 15.1: Princess of France

Soon after Isabella was taken to the large room in which her friends were sitting and the monk informed them that Princess Arkia would come shortly after finishing her preliminary prayer and then he left. Now Mirano, Mertha and Hanana found the opportunity to talk secretly to Isabella. They had full talk about their present situation and various plans were discussed about releasing Isabella. It was put to Isabella that, in order to be relieved of her permanent troubles, she should temporarily become a Christian. But Isabella spurned at thesuggestion and said that whatever trouble came to her in connection with Islam they would Insha Allah (God willing) be an atonement for hersins and strengthen the faith, and if God wanted her to be released from the clutches of these oppressors, He will provide means for it, otherwise God’s Will be done. After full discussion a plan was thought out on which all agreed and, after making up their minds, the girls engaged in prayer. Isabella’s prayer was simply this verse of the Quran: “My Fosterer, take me in with truth.” Mirano began to recite salutations tothe Prophet and other girls recited prayer appropriate to the occasion. Then the door opened and the Princess of France came in. She was welcomed by all.Arkia: I am very sorry that Isabella has left the fold of the Lord and has allied herself with apostasy. I wonder why Satan has possessed her. Just last night I have seen in my dream that eminent Muslim divines were burning in Hell and this unluckygirl also wants to join them. If she takes up the Cross of the Lord again on her shoulders and lives with me just for a few days I will let her see theLord.Mirano: Surely it is most shameful that the daughter of the spiritual father has thus become an apostate. This is why we have brought her to you today that you may influence her with your spiritual powers, and bringher back at the feet of the Lord. She could not be silenced by argument, but now it is necessary to convert her by spiritual influence.Arkia: Very well. Just today an effort will be made by prayer and austerities to turn Isabella towards Virgin Mary and I am sure that she will come round by the morning. I quite see that the Lord is waiting for Isabella with open arms and Isabellais also ready to go into his arms. Youmay not worry. Just see what happens by the morning. (Here Isabella wanted to say something but Mertha beckoned her to keep quiet.)When Arkia had spoken of her miracles, the door opened again and the same chief monk entered and, addressing Mirano, asked her if she needed some more nuns. Mirano thanked him and said that she did not need any more but requested himthat if he could come once or twice in the night and give them his advice it will be very good of him. The monk promised to look them up after every two hours and would carry out all their requests, and then left and the door was closed.Now there was just half an hour for the midnight and the girls sat down for prayer along with Arkia who sat before the statue of Virgin Mary. The girls took their places ten paces apart from one another. Mirano took up her seat near Isabella so that if she wanted to convey something important she could do that easily and others might not know it.After an hour was spent in prayer Mirano whispered to Isabella: Look here. You should not interrupt me whatever I say, but just listen quietly and accept what I say. Arkia in her zeal of sainthood did very curiouss things, sometimes she extended her hands as if trying to take someone in her arms, sometimes she wept and sometimes cried painfully and uttered again and again: Yes, yes. Your Lord may bless you. The Holy Ghost may soon help us. At about one in the night Mirano raised an outcry and feigned faint. Isabella sat stiffly at her seat, but Arkia, Mertha and Hanana rushed to Mirano and wanted to revive her by sprinkling water but Arkia stopped them saying that Mirano had certainly seen the Lord and their prayer of that day would surely end in successDo not worry, she said, it is our good fortune that the Lord has come to our monastery. (Going near Isabella) Well, Isabella, do you still hesitate in lifting the Cross of our Lord ? Isabelladid not reply and continued to listen in silence. Isabella’s silence further convinced Arkia that the Lord had surely descended there and cast his blessing eyes on Isabella. Mirano still continued in her swoon when thechief monk entered the room and was perturbed to see Mirano faint and cried : Oh! what has happened? Arkia promptly narrated the story of her superstition and said with firm faith that the Lord had descended on Isabella which the monk immediately confirmed as he alreadybelieved in the saintliness of Arkia. Atlast with great effort Mirano was revived and regained her senses.Chief monk: Well, Mirano, how are you? Give us some good tidings.Mirano (pointing to Arkia): It is all themanifestation of her saintliness and blessing. With her attention she made me see the Lord.Arkia: Lord be glorified! Blessed be the name of crucified Christ!Monk: Well, well! What did you see?Mirano: I was absorbed in prayer when I saw a very handsome and graceful person rushing towards me and he looked in truth at Isabella andsmiled.Monk: Congratulation, congratulation.

Ch 14.3: A Complete Change

Isabella: If truth could be given up to avoid troubles, then early Christian martyrs would not have tasted martyrdom. If troubles come only on untruth, then most of the Christians who were the pride of the church would be counted to be on the wrong. In fact, your talk has tortured me more than what I suffer on the bed of thorns and grip of chains. Did you come here to give me torture overtorture?Mirano (to the monk): Isabella can never be defeated by discussion. Her only remedy is that tonight we include her in our prayer and devotion before the idol of Virgin Mary. You will see that this very nightshe will be completely transformed and her heart will be turned towards crucified Christ.Monk : May Lord Jesus accomplish this, but apparently Isabella’s turning to the truth seems to be very difficult.Mirano: It is the rule that one who is more hard-hearted will come to the faith more with reality. Just see how unbending the enemy of the Lord Saint Paul was and what tortures the believers suffered at his hands, but this very Saint Paul became the pillarof Christianity and was the greatest recipient of Lord’s grace.Monk: You are right. May Lord Christ may do the same for Isabella and shealso joins our fold !Mirano: Well, now we should go from hers and prepare for the prayer in the same large room. (To the monkSee, after three hours of the night you should bring Isabella to our room and also depute a nun to be with us to keep a watch over Isabella.Monk: Very well. Isabella will be brought to you at the appointed time.Mirano: Can you or any other monk also take the trouble of remaining with us for the night ?Monk: Most surely. But you know that all the night we are engaged in prayer and remembrance of God.Mirano: Well, just as you like, and there is no need either. But at the timeof the morning talk as arranged, you will be with us.Monk: In the morning not only myself but other monks also will listen to your talk.Mertha: If Lord Jesus wills, the object will be gained during the night and there will be no need of any talk.Mertha said this in a tone that, exceptthe monk, all others understood its implication.Thereafter Mertha, Hanana and Mirano along with the monk came out of the underground chamber andreached the large room of the monastery. The monk locked the underground chamber. After dinner and toilet Mirano, Mertha and Hanana took another round of the monastery and talked to monks and nuns who began preparations for thenight vigil. These girls returned to their room. The purpose of the round of the monastery and talk to monks and nuns was to find out a nun who was the greatest devotee and they found out a nun of this type and also the time of the night when she used toengage herself in prayer. Now three hours of the night were about to passand these girls were talking quietly. At last the door of the large room opened and the same chief monk entered when the girls stood up to pay him respect as he was chief of the monks. The monk informed the girls that Isabella was being taken out of the underground chamber andbrought to them as arranged and soon a nun would also be sent to them.Mirano: Please send here the nun who is most devoted to prayer in the night and is also saintly. Is there any such nun in the monastery?Monk: All the nuns that are here are devotees and practise all kinds of austerities for the sake of Lord Jesus, but there is one among them whose name is Arkia who is the most pious devotee, recipient of Divine revelations and performer of miracles. About her family it is enough to say that she is a Princess of France and has given up her richesand royalty for the sake of Virgin Mary.Mirano: So our object is gained. We needed such a nun who could influence Isabella with her spirituality. Does she also perform miracles?Monk: Her miracles are known far and wide. Have you never heard about it ? You may just take this that she drinks the cup of poison and is not at all affected. Once a very dangerous and poisonous snake entered the monastery and fell at the feet of Arkia. This I saw myself.Mirano: God’s name be glorified! The work is done. Now, you please go and send Isabella to us.

Ch 14.2: A Complete Change

Mirano: Our idea is to talk to her calmly and explain to her the truth of Christian creed, but on condition thatexcept one or two monks none othersshould be with us. Now that the sun is about to set, after three hours of thenight you may bring her here so that we may induce her to pray and practise austerities. Possibly there will be no need thereafter to persuade her and by the blessing of Virgin Mary (pointing to the statue) her heart will be opened for the crucified God.Chief monk: Whatever you order we are ready to carry out. I am directing all the monks not to interfere in your prayers and keep away from you.Mirano : Thank you very much, but first let us meet Isabella in the underground chamber and after some usual talk exclusively on personal matters bring her here. (Pointing to the statue of Virgin Mary)Look, the Mother of our Lord is quite ready to take Isabella in her arms and it is hoped that Isabella will not refuse to go to her arms.Thereafter the monk and the three girls went towards the underground chamber, the lock was opened and all were lost in darkness.Hanana: Oho ! How dark !Monk: I am lighting the lamp. You just go a little ahead, but be careful not to stumble for many skeletons are scattered all over here.The monk lighted the lamp. When Isabella saw her three friends she was overjoyed. While Mirano, Mertha and Hanana had not yet seen her, Isabella loudly called the Muslim salutation of peace.Monk: O unlucky accursed girl! Just yesterday you got so much beating for it, yet you do not take lesson and reform yourself.All the girls suddenly laughed on hearing the call of Muslim salutationof peace, but when they came nearer their eyes became wet on seeing Isabella bound in chains.Mirano: How do you do, Isabella? How is life here? Did you realise whatis the punishment of rejecting the truth?Isabella (smiling): You are right, sister, for the sake of truth people have even gone to the gallows.Mirano: We have not come here to discuss with you but to adopt your creed.On this all the girls laughed loudly and the two monks also could not suppress their laughter.Mirano: Isabella, after all how long you will continue to remain in the grip of satan? Just see how the Christians all over Cordova are perturbed on your apostasy!Isabella: There is no other way of protection from satan except by accepting Islam. It is only this strong fort from the cover of which man can successfully confront all satanic powers. It is a vain thought that only by becoming a Christian one can save oneself from the grip of satan. You have read the Bible and should know that even holy Disciples could not escape satan’s grip and even Jesus Christ called some of his Disciples satan. When these Disciples who, according to you, were trained under the direct supervision of Jesus Christ, could notescape from satan’s strong hold, how can Christians of today save themselves from satan? But the Quran says that satan cannot even touch the devoted servants of Allah.Mirano: You have again started the same discussion in which you have been defeated by the priests (laughing) and by God’s grace we have emerged successful. So you should stop this religious discussionand just look to your tortures. O Isabella! It is God’s punishment to you that now, being the daughter of the head priest of Cordova, you sleep on the bed of thorns and your hands and feet are chained. For God’s sake, take pity on yourself.

Ch 14.1: A Complete Change

One day Mirano, Mertha and Hananawent to the head priest and told him that as Isabella was their classmate and was also amenable to their advice, so if they were permitted to talk to her they might be able to bringher back to the Christian fold. This last chance of persuasion might be given them and they had ninety-nine per cent hope that they would succeed. Holy father, they said : Isabella is a piece of our heart and we will not spare any effort topersuade her. So let us go to the monastery and talk to her.Head priest: Let that accursed girl go to hell. She has become very hard-hearted and Lord Jesus Christ has cut her off. I am afraid she may not lead astray even you.Mirano; Well, there is no harm in making a last effort of persuasion. If she comes round, well and good, otherwise you may give her whateverpunishment you like.Head priest: Very well, I give you permission to go to the monastery oncondition that you should talk in the presence of two monks so that the accursed may not misguide you, and you may not be influenced by her apostasy. Now go and tomorrow evening you may go to the monastery. I am writing to the monk for it today.After getting permission Mirano, Mertha and Hanana returned pleased and began to make preparations to leave their homes forever, as the plan they had conceived was such that they would also have to leave their homes along with Isabella. Anyway they prepared for their permanent departure with greatcare and precaution and before the time of their leaving for the monastery they informed Ziad b. Umar and Umar Lahmi asking for their help in that enterprise.After all preparations had been madethe three friends came out of their houses and met at an appointed place and at the time given by the head priest they started for the monastery. The head priest had written to the manager of the monastery that these friends of Isabella were going to make a last effort to reconvert Isabella at a specified time and they should be allowed to enter the monastery and given necessary help. Maybe by persuasion of her friends Isabella might see the light. So when these girls reached the monastery the monks and nuns welcomed them cordially and thought that to give guidance to Isabella Jesus Christ had sent his Virgin Mother in the form of these girls and that the help of all saints was with them. Entering the monastery the three girls sat down before the statue of Virgin Mary and a group of monks surrounded them.A nun (to Mirano): Blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ may be with you and God may give you success in your mission. You know that some devil has misguided this unlucky girl,Isabella. How good and learned was the girl! May God destroy the devil, what pious people he has seduced!Another nun: Virgin Mary’s shadow be over you. By the Deliverer, you will certainly succeed in your mission. Your beautiful faces assure your success. If Lord Jesus Christ’s grace again supports Isabella it will be a great feat of yours. The news has spread all over Cordova and all Christians have been humbled.Third nun: By God, just last night I saw girls of your features in my dream who were sitting in the lap of Virgin Mary and on the other side Lord Jesus Christ was indicating by gestures that the honour of the church will be established through these girls. When the monks heard of this dream they cried: It is these girls.Chief monk: Isabella is locked up in the underground chamber and her hands and feet are chained. The accursed girl is so hard-hearted that the severer the punishment, the more she applauds Islam and in this condition she does not hesitate even to preach to us. Now when do you propose to go to her?

How to Prevent Fire and Water, Mold Damages

Fire and water have always been man's best friends while simultaneously beingman's worst enemies. Coming to terms with this enigma of good versus bad is what we humans must learn to do.Home owners, condo owners, renters and landlords all face the risks of fire losses, as well as water and mold damages. This article purposes to briefly outline important measures to take to avoid becoming a victim to the three most forceful elements of home (or business)destruction.Fire PreventionThe experts reveal a highly disturbing fact when examining leading causes of residential or business fires. Incredibly, general liability triggersinvolve carelessness, forgetfulness, smoking, recklessness and absentmindedness when smoking, cooking or using lit candles.Follow these guidelines and help prevent horrific fire losses and damages that statistically include tragic loss of life.• Lit candles should always be positioned within inflammable receptacle and never left unattended• Put matches, cigarette lighters and any alternate lighting mechanism away from children's reach• Have a fire extinguisher within handy reach• Install working smoke detectors in key spots on each floor of your home and never disconnect them• Never leave stove top's cooking unattended• Never attach a transportable heater to an extension cord• Make sure your transportable heater is not near any fabric or flammable object• Inspect your home or business for fire risks• Design a fire escape plan and conduct family andworker fire drills oftenWater DamageIt's every homeowner or resident's nightmare - a burst water pipe! Notorious for causing thousands upon thousands of dollars in house damage, a burst water pipe's full potential for destruction can be avoided by following these essential rules:• Identify the location of the main water turnoff tap so that, if needed, you can shut off the water supply• Instruct family members or home occupants howto shut off water supply at the first sight of a water leak• Keep a record of water leaks and follow up with necessary repairsMold DamageClosely related to water damage is, of course, mold damage. Once it develops, it is very difficult to remove. The following steps will help you prevent the heartache and headache of massive home harm.• Inspect bathrooms and places where water seepage can occur - particularly in bathrooms where resulting mold spore development can occur• If you detect any mold development, prevent spreading by immediately removing affected material• Attempt to clean affected area with mold prevention formulas or homemade mixture of bleach and water• Thoroughly dry mold-affected area and surrounding areas, including concealed spots. Make use of a dehumidifier to remove mold-causing moisture from air and objects.Prevention works only as humanly possible. For this reason, it is the smart property owner or resident that purchases tailored insurance coverage for invaluable peace of mind and solid protection in the event losses and damages occur.When it comes to insurance coverage and losses and damages claims, PRIME Insurance is your best friend. PRIME is an experienced independent agency that has won prestigious industry awards and been appointed to conduct direct business with the leading national companies. Shopping its wide network for you, PRIME can help you get the tailored policy that protects your assets - at competitively lowest quotes.For all forms of countywide coverage, including NJ general liability, homeowners, auto, commercial, workers comp, umbrella, bonds, life and more, visit us athttp://www.primeins.com/, email us atPRIME@primeins.comor call us at 732-886-5751.Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/expert/M_Wyzanski/2158115

Making Mealtime Magic for Older Adults in Health Care Communities

I do my best to stay positive in my communications however, I have to say that I was sadly disappointed in the meal service during a recent visit to a nursing facility. Was it because it was a Saturday evening meal and they had less staff? Is that an excuse for serving soggy, ground up pizza and overcooked mushy green beans to a person who is unable to articulately communicate her dislike of the food? Certainly not.Are your customers satisfied with their dining experience? National surveys in nursing facilities have indicated that almost a third of residents are unhappy with the food, and almost a quarter are unhappy with the dining experience. Food/meal satisfaction is considered a quality of life marker, so attention to satisfaction is critical. After all, food is amajor part of daily life. It's much more than nutrition and hydration; it's an important part of psychological, social, cultural, religious, and family traditions. Aromas, flavors, and textures of food can brighten someone'sday by eliciting happy memories, and providing a feeling of comfort.Every individual has the right to choose:· what to eat,· who to eat with,· when to eat, and· where to eat.Residents also have the right to refuse therapeutic or mechanically altered diets, ask for a meal replacement if they dislike the food, and most importantly, they have the right to be treated with dignity and respect at meal time.Making Meal Time SpecialMeals are an important part of the culture of any health care facility and are usually highly anticipated by residents. By one estimate, roughly 60% of the average resident's day revolves around preparing for, attending, and returning from meals. Dining should focus on individual choice and provide person-directed care.Today's health care consumers are accustomed to choice, and they often have very specific food preferences and dietary habits. Meeting individual needs can be a challenge, but it is essential to maintain health and well-being.Increasing Choices Available at MealsThe way you deliver food can help promote more food choices for your residents. Creative dining programs have been shown to demonstrate improvements in food intake and/or quality of life. There are many ways to offer food choices:· Buffet style dining, family style dining, and/or open dining (allows for flexible dining times)· Soup de jour, dessert carts, and/or beverage carts (circulated during mealtime)· Self-serve beverage stations, salad or sandwich bars, and/or dessert stations· Access to foods and beverages throughout the day and night from kitchenettes or pantriesCustomer ServiceProviding excellent customer service involves knowing who your customers are and what they want. As the baby boomer population ages, residents entering skilled nursing facilities for rehabilitation and short term stays will most likely have sophisticated palates and be accustomed to excellent customer service. They won't hesitate tocomplain about poor quality meals. So why not invite comments and seek inputfor your menus and meal service?Customer service and hospitality training can help improve customer service. Concerns or complaints shouldbe taken seriously and addressed in a timely manner. Staff assigned to the dining room should: be trained to find the best solution for each individual complaint, encourage residents to eat and cue or assist residents with dining as needed, and retrieve items that are requested. If table service is provided, they should be trained on proper procedures for waiting on residents.Short staffed? Consider cross-training staff from other departments to assist with meal service: serving food, opening containers, cutting food, for residents who eat independently. This allows trained nursing assistants more time to help those who need more assistance to eat the meal.Providing Quality FoodHigh quality food temperature is essential to keeping customers happy. Assure that meals taste good, are served at the right temperature, have a pleasant aroma, are nourishing, and satisfy special dietary needs, cultural and/or religious preferences, and food preferences.There are many aspects involved in preparing and serving quality food. A dining services manager who is passionate about food and service is also enthusiastic about leading staff to make quality improvements: encouraging cooks and food service workers to keep their skills up to date, providing regular education on food preparation and presentation, and encouraging staff to create new ideas for foods and recipes that residents will love. If possible, consider bringing a chef in to your facility to train staff, or even hiring a chef to enhance the quality of the food.Dining services managers can help assure high quality food by:· Following well planned menus and recipes, using the freshest ingredients. (Always share your menu with residentsin advance.)· Preparing food safely. Maintain proper storage, cooking, and holding temperatures; assure staff are well-trained in safe food handling practices.· Cooking and seasoning food properly so it isn't overcooked or undercooked. (Always taste and approve foods prior to service).· Assuring food is plated attractively, using garnishes to enhance the appearance of the food as appropriate.Use liberalized diets where appropriate to help make food more flavorful and appealing. Individualize diets to meet residents' personal needs and desires. If therapeutic or mechanically altered diets are needed, foods served should be just as flavorful and attractive as the food served for the regular diet.Becky Dorner, RDN, LD, FAND is widely-known as one of the nation's leading experts on nutrition and long-term health care. Her company, Becky Dorner& Associates, Inc. (BDA) is a trusted source of valuable resources dedicated to improving quality of life for older adults. For valuable resources for healthcare professionals, sign up for a free membership athttp://www.BeckyDorner.comArticle Source:http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Becky_Dorner/1276511

Making Mealtime Magic for Older Adults in Health Care Communities

I do my best to stay positive in my communications however, I have to say that I was sadly disappointed in the meal service during a recent visit to a nursing facility. Was it because it was a Saturday evening meal and they had less staff? Is that an excuse for serving soggy, ground up pizza and overcooked mushy green beans to a person who is unable to articulately communicate her dislike of the food? Certainly not.Are your customers satisfied with their dining experience? National surveys in nursing facilities have indicated that almost a third of residents are unhappy with the food, and almost a quarter are unhappy with the dining experience. Food/meal satisfaction is considered a quality of life marker, so attention to satisfaction is critical. After all, food is amajor part of daily life. It's much more than nutrition and hydration; it's an important part of psychological, social, cultural, religious, and family traditions. Aromas, flavors, and textures of food can brighten someone'sday by eliciting happy memories, and providing a feeling of comfort.Every individual has the right to choose:· what to eat,· who to eat with,· when to eat, and· where to eat.Residents also have the right to refuse therapeutic or mechanically altered diets, ask for a meal replacement if they dislike the food, and most importantly, they have the right to be treated with dignity and respect at meal time.Making Meal Time SpecialMeals are an important part of the culture of any health care facility and are usually highly anticipated by residents. By one estimate, roughly 60% of the average resident's day revolves around preparing for, attending, and returning from meals. Dining should focus on individual choice and provide person-directed care.Today's health care consumers are accustomed to choice, and they often have very specific food preferences and dietary habits. Meeting individual needs can be a challenge, but it is essential to maintain health and well-being.Increasing Choices Available at MealsThe way you deliver food can help promote more food choices for your residents. Creative dining programs have been shown to demonstrate improvements in food intake and/or quality of life. There are many ways to offer food choices:· Buffet style dining, family style dining, and/or open dining (allows for flexible dining times)· Soup de jour, dessert carts, and/or beverage carts (circulated during mealtime)· Self-serve beverage stations, salad or sandwich bars, and/or dessert stations· Access to foods and beverages throughout the day and night from kitchenettes or pantriesCustomer ServiceProviding excellent customer service involves knowing who your customers are and what they want. As the baby boomer population ages, residents entering skilled nursing facilities for rehabilitation and short term stays will most likely have sophisticated palates and be accustomed to excellent customer service. They won't hesitate tocomplain about poor quality meals. So why not invite comments and seek inputfor your menus and meal service?Customer service and hospitality training can help improve customer service. Concerns or complaints shouldbe taken seriously and addressed in a timely manner. Staff assigned to the dining room should: be trained to find the best solution for each individual complaint, encourage residents to eat and cue or assist residents with dining as needed, and retrieve items that are requested. If table service is provided, they should be trained on proper procedures for waiting on residents.Short staffed? Consider cross-training staff from other departments to assist with meal service: serving food, opening containers, cutting food, for residents who eat independently. This allows trained nursing assistants more time to help those who need more assistance to eat the meal.Providing Quality FoodHigh quality food temperature is essential to keeping customers happy. Assure that meals taste good, are served at the right temperature, have a pleasant aroma, are nourishing, and satisfy special dietary needs, cultural and/or religious preferences, and food preferences.There are many aspects involved in preparing and serving quality food. A dining services manager who is passionate about food and service is also enthusiastic about leading staff to make quality improvements: encouraging cooks and food service workers to keep their skills up to date, providing regular education on food preparation and presentation, and encouraging staff to create new ideas for foods and recipes that residents will love. If possible, consider bringing a chef in to your facility to train staff, or even hiring a chef to enhance the quality of the food.Dining services managers can help assure high quality food by:· Following well planned menus and recipes, using the freshest ingredients. (Always share your menu with residentsin advance.)· Preparing food safely. Maintain proper storage, cooking, and holding temperatures; assure staff are well-trained in safe food handling practices.· Cooking and seasoning food properly so it isn't overcooked or undercooked. (Always taste and approve foods prior to service).· Assuring food is plated attractively, using garnishes to enhance the appearance of the food as appropriate.Use liberalized diets where appropriate to help make food more flavorful and appealing. Individualize diets to meet residents' personal needs and desires. If therapeutic or mechanically altered diets are needed, foods served should be just as flavorful and attractive as the food served for the regular diet.Becky Dorner, RDN, LD, FAND is widely-known as one of the nation's leading experts on nutrition and long-term health care. Her company, Becky Dorner& Associates, Inc. (BDA) is a trusted source of valuable resources dedicated to improving quality of life for older adults. For valuable resources for healthcare professionals, sign up for a free membership athttp://www.BeckyDorner.comArticle Source:http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Becky_Dorner/1276511

Eating Habits That Healthy Minded People Adopt

There are no real secrets to healthy eating. Ordinarily, some people are more conscious about what foods they eat. They may have simply developed an effortless regimen to the way they prepare and consume their meals, but whatever it is, here are a few general habits they tend to adopt.Cooking for themselvesHealthy eaters tend to make an effort to prepare their own meals. They take advantage of the many DIY recipes that are now available online.It is economical and more self-gratifying putting together ingredients to come up with a well prepared meal at the end of the day.Don't get them wrong, they also love simple meals.In fact many would argue that they would find it laborious cooking meals from scratch every day. But try to make a special day of it. Say once or twice a week, as an opportunity to show off their skills to friends over dinner.It means that they are more likely to control how much salt and sugar they eat and are in charge of the quality of ingredients they use.Over time, they are likely to develop an acquired superior taste for food.We are prone to eating healthier the more we savor the actual taste of the food and we begin to taste a remarkable difference between foods that are too greasy, and foods that have too much salt and sugar in them.Making meal plans and having a balanced diet approach to foodMaking meal plans is vital to a longer term approach to healthy eating. But many of us tend tobe creatures of habit when it comes to food shopping and meal preparations. We tend to buy the same foods over and over again and miss out on the variety that is on offer. This may cause us tohave a less balanced diet. We need a balanced meal. An eat well plate, highlighting various foodsin the right proportions.An eat well plate entails:Plenty of fruits and vegetablesBread, Rice, Potatoes, pasta and other starchy foodsMilk and Dairy foodsA small proportion of food and drink high in fat and/or sugarMeat, fish, eggs, legumes and other non-dairy sources of proteinThe more healthy conscious eaters shop for a variety; they locally source foods, bearing in mind which foods are in seasonEating at the dinner table with the whole familyEating at the dinner table with the whole family is a big feature of healthy conscious eaters. Whenever they can, they make time for gathering together and enjoying food together making fast foods and eating in front of the television less desirable.Allowing themselves some relaxing daysNot all miserable, they focus on enjoyment. They know that it is important not to deprive themselves. So whilst they are more healthy eatingconscious, they also know that the trick is to have some relaxing days on which they can let go and not worry about calories and too much of the 'bad'stuff.http://www.healthy-magazine.co.uk/Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mim_Kaggwa/2237775

LinkedIn Vs. Job Boards

I had an interesting experience today which demonstrates why personalizingyour job search process is more effective than a mass marketing approach.I was meeting with a friend who is looking for his next job and giving him some one-on-one coaching using the Selling Yourself Into a Job system when, during a break, a woman at the next table asked if I was a recruiter. I explained what we were doing and she said the reason she asked was because she was a recruiter from a large, national retailer. We began to discuss the job search and recruitment process and we both agreed on one fundamental principle: an individual, personalized approacheswork best for both finding a job and finding an employee.My new recruiter friend said that she avoids searching the job boards for suitable candidates because there's too much "noise" and false information on them. She prefers to use LinkedIn to locate candidates for the position she is trying to fill. This is because she can customize her search using specific criteria that she comes up with, vs. the search criteria the boards allow you to use. She mentioned that the information posted by suitable candidates on LinkedIn tends to be more accurate and a better reflection of their true personality, experience and job skills. She's also able to get a better picture of their qualifications by the Groups they belong to and other people theyare "Linked" to.I asked the recruiter about recommendations she has for people in the job search process on how to improve their LinkedIn profile. She was more than happy to help and suggested the following:*.Make sure your profile is complete. Include a brief summary of your skills and expertise, an accurate and up to date description of your work experience and information about your education.*.Include additional information about your interests and things you do outside of work. This gives recruiters a complete and well-rounded picture of you and how you might fit into their organization.*.Spell check and grammar check your posting. Nothing will turn off a potential employer faster than bad writing, especially by someone who claims to be a "good communicator."*.Include lots of key words relevant to your job skills, experience and area of expertise. Recruiters use these to locate potential candidates.*.Get endorsements, but make sure they are accurate, descriptive and sincere. Recruiters can spot a phony or coerced endorsement right awayand will discount it immediately.*.Join groups related to your employment objective, job interests and skill set. These help you improve yourself in each of these areas by learning from other like-minded people with more or different experience. Also, be active in the groups by sharing your knowledge and by commenting on other people's posts. Good candidates will have as much to offer as their peers.Talking to my new friend was a pleasant and informative experience and taught me three valuable lessons:1.Focusing on your LinkedIn profile and optimizing it is much more effective than spending time on the job boards during your jobsearch process.2.There are a few good ways to tune up your LinkedIn profile to make it more attractive to recruiters and potential employers who use LinkedIn to locate job candidates.3.Recruiters and employers have just as many challenges as job candidates do in the job search process. The only difference is their perspective.Bill Swansen is a expert author on the subject of job search techniques. He as helped dozens of people find their ideal job using a systematic approach to the job search process. Bill has over 30 years of sales and marketing experience and has applied the techniques he's used in his career to create a system to help people find employment.Bill's workshops discuss the system he developed and provides job seekers with a wealth of resources to help them find a job and thrive once they've been hired. You can contact him atbill@6minutejob.com.Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Bill_Swansen/476473