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458 CITY OF GOD
all men will follow Christ our Lord and avail themselves
of the intercession of his Mother to gain eternal life.
Alas, that men themselves should be more foolish and
ungrateful than even the demon himself dared to think!
525. In further explanation of these mysteries, the
Evangelist states, that when the dragon saw himself
cast upon the earth, he attempted to persecute the
mysterious Woman, who had brought forth the manchild.
But to Her were given two wings as of a great
eagle, in order that She might fly into the solitude or
desert, where She was nourished for a time, and for two
times, and for the half of a time, hidden away from
the sight of the serpent. And therefore the serpent cast
forth after the Woman a great river to overwhelm Her
if possible. By these words the wrath of Lucifer against
God, his Mother and the Church are more definitely
declared ; for, as far as this dragon is concerned, he never
permits his envy to slumber, his pride to weaken, or his
malice to sleep in tempting anew this Queen as long as he
has power and permission. But they were taken from
him in regard to the Queen; and hence it is said, that
two wings were given to Her for flying into the desert,
where She is nourished during the stated times. These
wings were the divine power of ascending to the vision
of the Deity given to Mary and of descending to dis
tribute the treasures of grace to men, as we shall describe
in the next chapter.
526. From that time on the serpent had no more power
to tempt Mary in person, wherefore it is said that her
solitude or desert is removed from the sight of the demon.
The times and the time and half of a time are three
years and a half, which contain the thousand two hun
dred and sixty, less a few days, as mentioned before. In
this state, and in others yet to be spoken of, the most
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