Her Majesty Empress
Elizabeth
wife of Emperor Franz-Joseph
|
"Sister Barbara belonged to a noble Polish family who had forced her to enter religious orders in order to prevent her from marrying a young officer of Lancers with whom she had fallen in love, but who unfortunately had neither rank, title, nor fortune. On entering the grim old convent of Cracow, she ceased all communications with her family and it was not more than twenty years had elapsed that one of her brothers, inquiring from the religious authorities what had become of his beautiful sister, was given to understand that she was not any longer on the list of the living. "Empress Elizabeth promptly sent his petition to the Archbishop of Cracow and with it a personal letter, begging him at once to institute a search of the convent. After a long search, fifteen feet under the ground, in the dungeons, they heard low groans and moans, which sounded more bestial than human. In a narrow stone passage, seven paces long by six paces wide, they discovered a naked woman, with long, dishevelled hair, crouching in the corner of her filthy prison. "This was Sister Barbara
Ubryk—insane, and without power of speech—the consequences
of her over nineteen years of incarceration in this chamber of
physical and mental torture for the crime she committed. The 'crime'
in question consisted of her having, during her first year of
her novitiate, kept up a correspondence with her former admirer
and having, it appeared, consented by letter to elope with him. |
|
|
"Sister Barbara Ubryk was clothed and fed, and taken to the city lunatic asylum. Gentle treatment and good care had restored her health but neither her reason, nor her power of speech. She was now always quiet, and apparently incapable of feeling any kind of emotion. Birds and flowers arrested her eye and sometimes brought a faint smile to her still beautiful lips, but otherwise she was absolutely oblivious to her surroundings.
"When the Empress heard of Sister Barbara's state,
she frequently, until the latter's death, some ten years later, sent
flowers to the poor forlorn creature, also some pretty and valuable
singing birds, since birds and flowers alone had retained the power
of awakening a ray of feeling in her dimmed soul.
|
|
"In 1888 Prince Rudolph was asked by Emperor
Franz-Joseph, his father, to put in an appearance at the Polish ball
which is one of the most brilliant social events of the Viennese Fashing,
or Carnival . . .
"The Polish ball is, as I remarked before, a very beautiful function,
for all the great Polish nobles who have taken up their residence in
the capital [Vienna] make a point of being present, wearing their national
costumes, which are a marvellous combination of gold-embroidered velvets,
costly furs, and costlier jewels.
"Under a group of palm trees and gigantic ferns sat a young girl of such a remarkable personal charm that the Crown-Prince immediately inquired who she was. He was informed that she was Marie Vetsera, a daughter of Baron Vetsera . . .
"There are in this world some terrible fatalities, and many instances in which the words of the Scripture, which say that 'the sins of the fathers will be visited upon the children,' come true in a really ghastly fashion.
|
|
"The stormy conversation which took place between the Emporor and his only and much-beloved son was witnessed by none, and yet there exist today several people who know how awful was the discovery made by both of them on that never-to-be-forgotten night, when Rudolph confessed to his father his love for Marie Vetsera, and his intention of giving up his entire future, his lofty rank, and his unequalled position in order to marry her!
"When at dawn the Crown-prince staggered out from his father's presence, his face was gray and drawn and haggard, like that of a corpse, and in his eyes, which glittered with the burning light of fever, there was a look of harsh resolve which betrayed not only the fact that he was a desperate man, but also that he had left behind him all hope of the realization of his most ardent desires. *
"As for the Emperor, when his valet entered his room at the usual hour, he found his imperial master bowing low over his desk, with his head pillowed upon his folded arms . . . During the course of the morning the Emperor sent for his son, but was informed that his imperial highness the Crown-prince had started early for Mayerling . . .
"On the 30th of January, 1889, Europe was startled
and terrified through its length and breadth by the news, flashed from
Vienna, that Crown-prince Rudolph had died suddenly from the rupture
of an aneurysm of the heart, at his hunting lodge of Mayerling.
"The Emperor sent the celebrated message to the people of Vienna
a few days later, when thanking them for the sympathy which they had
shown to him in his troubles: 'Tell my people that it is thanks to the
courage and devotion of that noble woman, the Empress, that I have not
given way to absolute despair.'"
| Crown Prince Rudolph did not die of aneurysm on the 30th of January, 1889—together with his beloved Marie Vetsera they both committed suicide. |
|
|
"Franz-Joseph was a sagacious emperor. At the reception of delegates,
his Majesty makes a point of wearing a Hungarian uniform to receive Magyars,
and a uniform of a Polish regiment when welcoming Poles. On these occasions
he speaks to more than a hundred people in rapid succession, and every
one of his remarks shows a thorough acquaintance with all the affairs,
great and small . . .
"Nor is the comic element always wanting in these conversations. Once, when addressing a Polish delegate, Franz-Joseph asked how things were going in Galicia. 'Oh, sire, we are suffering from a dreadful plague of field-mice,' answered the delegate, ruefully. 'Ah, das ist recht fatal!' (Ah, that is very unfortunate), answered the Emperor, with a smile."
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Thus, beloved, such an ancient vow of thousands of years ago must needs be fulfilled yet by the Messengers. And so it came to pass. The gift was offered, the cup was extended and it was dashed in pieces not once but again and again by this one who could not enter in to the heart of the Divine Mother and receive thereby the initiations for salvation. " . . . And you have understood the profound lessons of the history of your Messengers and your part therewith over hundreds of thousands of years of the going forth of the Mother in the attempt to rescue the fallen ones. As you have been told, their opportunity is up. Now the Mother and you may devote yourselves entirely to the Lightbearers. And you must do so swiftly, for they are caught in psychic snarls beyond belief."If you consider how so easily you are drawn apart by the machinations of your own mind to stray from my heart though you love me still, let me tell you, beloved, those who have a little more karma, a little less light are swept away by false-hierarchy impostors of myself who cleverly, cleverly disguise themselves as teachers of righteousness. The personality cult and the hypnosis practiced by the leader is all-enveloping. It must have your forthright decree work." |
|
|
|
|
| Translation
for 140 languages by ALS |
The Summit Lighthouse text, audio and/or image files are posted with permission.
These materials may not be printed, translated, reproduced, electronically
stored or transmitted
in any format or medium whatsoever without written permission from The
Summit Lighthouse.
The Summit Lighthouse, Summit University, Keepers of the Flame, Pearls
of Wisdom,
Science of the Spoken Word, The Inner Retreat and Teachings of the Ascended
Masters
are trademarks registered ® in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
and other countries.
Copyright © 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
tslpl.org® tslpoland.org®
All rights reserved.
Home