WHEN I WAS CAST INTO OUTER DARKNESS
I had a call to make an unusual request of the Lord, one that was curious for someone like me who likes to pray only nice things happen to me. I asked the Lord to consider my soul in my worst mortal sin and to allow me to experience being "cast into outer darkness" - for one mere minute. Essentially, I asked to feel the reality of Hell for 60 seconds and meet the same dire fate that befell the man in Matthew's Gospel who dared show up not wearing "a wedding garment" at the marriage feast for the King's son. The King is outraged on seeing a guest not dressed in the proper attire for his son's nuptial banquet. As punishment, the King has the guest bound hand and foot and cast into the place that sounds like a prison in black fog. Oh, but let me tell you it is worse than can ever be described, but I will endeavor all the same to approach a description. So, my prayer was answered. Oddly, I was in a state of grace when I made the petition, and that's