Lux Domini: Thriller: A Catherine Bell Story

by Alex Thomas

  "Perhaps the tribunal’s verdict won’t be as damning then."

  "I mean it, Catherine. You have gained a very influential friend amongst the cardinals in the Vatican."

  "A friend? I wouldn’t go that far."

  Ben gave her a crooked smile. "I disagree. You should gradually get used to the idea."

  "If I find out you talked nonsense about me…"

  Ben waved her off with an even broader grin. Then he yawned, covering his mouth with his hand. "I am dog-tired and desperately need some sleep. No worries. Take it easy. And don’t forget your Bible."

  "You’re throwing me out?"

  "What else can I do to get rid of you? Being subtle isn’t my strong suit." He laughed and she agreed. But behind all that laughter was indeed an endless feeling of exhaustion. She got up and put the book in her bag. "Well then, sleep well and sweet dreams. See you!"

  When she left the hospital, it was already afternoon. She took a taxi, had it drop her off in the middle of Rome and went to a café to reflect on Ben’s words. She then examined Darius’ Bible more closely until her gaze fell on the headlines of the daily paper that another guest had left on a neighbouring table:

  THIRD VATICAN COUNCIL: Pope Leo Walks his Talk

  That had been Leo’s secret plan all along. Introducing a third Vatican council! And that was what Monti had wanted to prevent!

  Catherine grabbed the paper, sat back down and read the entire article.

  But the paper offered an additional Vatican press release on page two:

  Last night at 9:27 p.m. Cardinal Secretariat of State Sergio Cardinal Monti died of a major brain haemorrhage. He fell into a deep coma and died seven hours later. The cardinal’s body will be given to the Vatican this morning where he will lay in a closed coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica so that worshippers and mourners can pay their respects.

  Cardinal Monti’s successor has not yet been named.

  As Cardinal Ciban, the prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, explained, the Church has lost a tremendous benefactor, who had supported numerous organisations, with Cardinal Monti’s passing.

  Catherine allowed both articles to settle in her brain for a moment before closing the paper and placing it back on the table. The world around her seemed to stand still. She heard neither the crowds of people nor the sounds of the city’s relentless street noises.

  Odd. The news of Monti’s death should somehow have calmed her. Good had triumphed in this battle. Instead, it possessed her with an indescribable agitation. Something Darius had once said to her shot through her mind: "Normally, we chase evil. But this time, evil is chasing us."

  Catherine carefully folded the paper and pocketed it. For what felt like an eternity, her gaze travelled in the direction of the Vatican. The gleaming dome of St. Peter’s Basilica loomed ominously over the rest of the buildings.

  Author’s Notes

  The story in this novel is purely fictional. The names, characters, organisations and events are either a figment of the authors’ imaginations or the results of research that were then used and expanded upon for the purposes of fiction. The Abbey Rottach, the order of Lux Domini or the Catholic Institute for the Psychically Gifted do not exist in reality. Along with the term Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith that has been in use since 1965 in favour of a stronger association, the earlier characterisations Holy Office or Inquisition were also used. In the same fashion, the term Palace of the Holy Office was also called the Palace of the Inquisition.

  In Lux Domini Sister Catherine Bell quotes from a book from Cardinal Ciban during her disciplinary hearing as a means of defending herself. As prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, Ciban is her claimed archenemy. The idea for this scene is indeed borrowed from an actual historical event. Uta Ranke-Heinemann referred to a passage in Cardinal Ratzinger’s book Introduction to Christianity during a written exchange.

  The idea for the fictitious secret library of Pope Pius XII beneath the Vatican is based on a historical event in the summer of 1943 when Mussolini was overthrown and the following September German troops occupied Rome, much to the Pope’s outrage. When in October an SS commando took position on the Vatican’s borders – allegedly for the Pope’s protection – the Vatican feared they would be occupied by the National Socialists. Many art objects and documents were brought to safety. In Lux Domini we are referring to the fictitious secret library of Pius XII whose valuable pieces were hidden from the Nazis beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.

  Acknowledgements

  Throughout our research journey for the Catherine Bell series, we experienced a lot and exchanged ideas with many smart and inspiring people along the way. In fact, Rome and London have become our home away from home. We have mastered the art of crossing the streets of Rome with its breakneck traffic that has become as familiar to us as the silence of the antique ruins and the breathtaking atmosphere of the St. Peter and St. Paul cathedrals. A heartfelt thanks goes to all of you who supported us on our journey, whether it was through your great suggestions, your feedback on the story or your relentless encouragement.

  Our thanks also goes out to all the booksellers, librarians, book bloggers and last, but not least, the many faithful readers who have loved and further recommended our Catherine Bell series since Lux Domini was released. We are so happy that you have chosen Catherine Bell and Mark Ciban amidst the gigantic sea of books out there. You alone have made it possible for us to continue to tell their stories.

  About the translator

  With degrees in Political Science, German and American Literature from Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA and the University of Constance, Germany, Christine Louise Hohlbaum has spent her entire life telling stories. Having published multiple books herself, the bilingual US-born writer enjoys working as a public relations professional, blogger and translator from her home office in Freiburg, Germany where she lives with her two children.

  “Translating is like dancing in the shadows between two worlds. What emerges is magic,” she says.

  Homepage: http://www.hohlbaum-pr.com/en

  About the author

  Alex Thomas is the alias of a married couple. She worked for more than two decades in the book and media sector as editor, writing coach and novelist. He researched and taught computer science and artificial intelligence at German universities, then later as a professor in London, UK.

  Both love to explore the intersection of science, religion and human history. Secret labs, conspiratorial centres of power and the mystic appeal of old cathedrals attract them. Their series featuring the rebellious nun, Sister Catherine Bell, excites fans of Vatican and mystery thrillers alike.

  Homepage: http://www.alex-thomas.london

  Glossary

  Angelus: A prayer that the Pope conducts every Sunday at midday from his flat window in commemoration of the incarnation of Christ.

  Apocrypha: Texts that do not appear in the canon of the Bible for religious and political reasons.

  Apostolic Constitution: Governs certain issues, mostly canon law, as a papal edict or announcement, but without the infallibility claim such as in dogma, for instance, which for Catholic Christians is mandatory doctrine.

  Apse: Semi-circular or polygonal niche for the altar in Christian churches.

  Breviary: Liturgical book that contains the texts for the Liturgy of the Hours in the Roman Catholic Church.

  Camerlengo (Cardinal Chamberlain): Determines the Pope’s death and takes over the Church’s administration without judicial power as long as the papal office is not occupied.

  Cardinal electors: Characterises those cardinals from the College of the Cardinals who participate in the papal election and have not yet reached their eightieth birthdays.

  Cincture: A belt that nuns wear around their habits and priests around their cassocks. Cardinals’ belts are made of a broad, noble piece of scarlet red cloth.

  Conclave: Describes the gathering of cardinal electors for the papal election b
ut also the enclosed room in which the papal election takes place.

  Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith: Has the role of protecting the Church from divergent moral and faith doctrines. It was founded in the sixteenth century by Pope Paul II and once named the »Holy Roman and Universal Inquisition«.

  Congregation(s): Term for the authorities of the central authority in Rome that are organised according to their areas of responsibility.

  Consistory: The gathering of cardinals under the Pope’s chairmanship.

  Council: Ecclesiastical gathering to clarify church affairs.

  Crypt: Accessible burial grounds beneath the choir (apse) or altar.

  Curia: Roman Catholic central authority in Rome.

  Diocese (See): Ecclesiastical administrative district; a bishop’s jurisdiction.

  Fish: According to oral, then later written documented lore, a secret Christian identifying symbol of Early Christianity.

  Golgotha: The place where Jesus Christ was executed before the gates of Jerusalem.

  Grand Inquisitor: A medieval term for inquisitors whose authority extends beyond that of a normal inquisitor. The head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith is quite often referred to as the Grand Inquisitor by the media.

  Heresy: False teachings that diverge from the official dogma of a large church.

  Inquisition (from the Latin: Inquisito = investigation): Persecution of people who hold different religious or ideological beliefs with the help of investigative and court proceedings that didn’t shy away from torture either.

  Lot: The nephew of Abraham who was allowed to survive the demise of Sodom, the city of sin, due to his righteousness; his wife turned into a pillar of salt after defying the angels’ ban by turning around one last time toward the city.

  Necropolis (City of Death): Larger burial grounds of antiquity and prehistoric times located outside of residential areas.

  Nephilim: A mixed creature consisting of human females and God’s sons (fallen angels) who are larger and stronger than man and extremely evil.

  Prefect (Cardinal Prefect): Head of a particular office in the Roman central authority, for instance that of the State Secretariat or the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith.

  Prelate: Ecclesiastical dignitaries (abbot, bishop or cardinal).

  Promulgated Law: A law that goes into effect with its first announcement (promulgate: to announce publicly).

  Qumran Scrolls: Characterises the scrolls found in the fifties and sixties at the Dead Seas, including the oldest known hand-written scripts of the Bible.

  Sede Vacante: Encompasses the time period that the papal office is not occupied.

  Temple of Solomon: The first Israeli temple built under King Solomon’s reign in the tenth century in which the ark of the covenant with the ten commandments that Moses received from God were kept.

  Zucchetto: A skullcap that is part of the ecclesiastical clothing for clergy members (black), bishops (violet), cardinals (scarlet red) and the Pope (white).

  Notes

  i. Know in order to believe, that is my word; believe in order to know, that is God’s word. Augustinus

  ii. Your faith in the power of God. New Testament 1, Colossians 2,12

  iii. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. John 11,25.