TO CAST OUT FROM YOUR ROLLS THIS NAME UNKNOWN.
AS SHADOWS WASHED BY SUNLIGHT LEAVE NO MARK,
NO TRACE REMAINS OF JOAN, THE WOMAN POPE.
(SHE exits.)
YOU ARE PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.
(New projection appears which reads: "Pope Leo IV dedicates St. Peter's Church in the Lateran, seat of Catholic power." The POPE processes in during the HOLY GHOST's next aria.)
FOR A THOUSAND YEARS THE RULER OF THE WORLD UNINTERRUPTED.
WHERE ONCE PROUD CAESARS REIGNED,
NOW THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH IS BORN IN HARD AND PAINFUL LABOR.
(The HOLY GHOST lights the Paschal Candle with His Hands. Scrim rises. End of overture.)
-- Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles
(The following number begins with ENSEMBLE members representing the early Christians -- earthy, homespun, and few in number. As THEY relate the history of the Church, the appropriate new levels of hierarchy appear -- monks, priests, soldiers, nuns, etc. THEY may even "build" the performance space during the number, creating a high "platform" upon which the Curia and the Pope will appear at the end of the number.)
OUT OF THE ASHES OF THE CRUMBLING, TUMBLING ROMAN EMPIRE,
SPREAD WITH THE FERVOR OF THE EARLIEST DISCIPLES,
TAUGHT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE DESERT SAND,
BROUGHT TO THE PEOPLE OF A FOREIGN LAND.
ONCE A CULT,
THE RESULT:
THIS CHURCH WILL STAND.
FORGED WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SCREAMING, BEAMING CHRISTIAN
MARTYRS,
SPOKEN IN SECRET IN THE CITY'S DINGY SEWERS.
GROWING IN NUMBER FROM AN OUTLAWED BAND,
SO WERE THE FIRES OF THE FEVER FANNED.
GROWING ROOTS.
WHO DISPUTES THIS CHURCH WILL STAND?
WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR RELIGIOUS PROPAGATION?
RISING TO POWER IN THE SUNSET OF THE ROMAN STATE.
OUT OF THE CHAOS, WE ESTABLISHED LAW AND ORDER.
LEARNING TO LAST, YOU MUST FAST ASSIMILATE
AND WAIT ...
ONCE ATTACKED,
CAN THIS CHURCH STAND?
MAKING THE EUCHARIST THE FOCUS OF THE PASSION PLAY.
CALLING OBEDIENCE AN ACT OF VENERATION.
ONCE WE CONTROL MIND AND SOUL, WE RULE THE DAY.
AVE, AVE.
HERE TO STAY.
GUIDING THE DESTINIES OF SOULS AND LANDS AND FORTUNES,
BOWING TO PRESSURE AS THE TIMES DEMAND.
NOW OUR MILLENNIUM IS CLOSE AT HAND.
DEARLY BOUGHT.
WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT
OUR LEGACY WOULD COME TO BE SO GRAND?
AND NAME IT.
EACH HERESY,
GROUP 2
ASSUMPTION. ADORATION.
GROUP 2
ASCENSION. ANNUNCIATION.
GROUP 2
CRUCIFIXION. CONSECRATION.
GROUP 2
RESURRECTION. VENERATION.
GROUP 2
BENEDICTION. TRANSFIGURATION.
GROUP 2
AND STILL --
GROUP 2
AVE.
GROUP 2
AVE. PLOUGH MONDAY. COMMUNION.
GROUP 2
FAT TUESDAY. CONFESSION. ASH WEDNESDAY. CONFIRMATION.
GROUP 2
MAUNDY THURSDAY. ABSOLUTION. GOOD FRIDAY. ORDINATION.
GROUP 2
HOLY SATURDAY. HOLY WEDLOCK. PALM SUNDAY. THE VIRGIN.
AMEN.
(The POPE falls over and dies. During the next scene change, we see SOMEONE cover the POPE's face.)
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