This story is quite possibly one of the most powerful stories ive ever read, and im not even a Christian, let alone Catholic.

The strength of spirit that shines through in Teresa is one that you portray with a real tangible sense, that doesnt negate her humanity but rather accentuates it.

And ill say one more thing… for the last year or two, ive been feeling like Toloth before the door.

I’m trying to figure out what this means for me.

Am I ready to accept JC as the messiah of my people? Make up for the mistakes they made back in 30AD, in my own small way?

Im not sure the answer, but the silence abides around me, waiting.

Not to be nitpicky, but doesn't the rite of baptism need to include a separate splash of water for every person of the Holy Trinity? (three total, not one total?)

Love how the hymn helps her to get beyond human & understandable struggle into virtue!

I have had the most immense pleasure reading this story of yours. Your theology of non-human rational creatures is so innovative, yet deeply grounded in tradition. I also very much appreciate your willingness to walk the delicate balance between radical fidelity to even the smallest doctrines of the Faith and the refreshing newness breathed into the life of the Church through Vatican II (while still being critical of some of its excesses).

I don't come to FFnet often anymore, because the state of my life prevents such past times. But, on occasion, I come back to your story and hope to find it updated, re-reading certain parts that have helped me in my own understanding of God's love of creation.

On another note, I find myself rather ambivalent to "All Are Welcome" (having made to sing and play it so many times at Mass, and yet finding the whole composition to be a bit...underwhelming to say the least). But when I just read the lyrics, I find the words to be quite beautiful, and its inclusion in this chapter was very much appropriate.

You, my friend, are far more intelligent than I am, that's for sure. Some of your jokes (witty as they are) are beyond me! Some of your philosophical concepts are also hard to wrap my head around.

Regardless, I truly, truly hope that you know that your dedicated work has deeply touched a soul. Mine, specifically, and I hope you see THIS particular project of yours to completion. I like all your work, but this particular one addresses a spiritual need that has helped me so much in my work as a Catholic educator. I mean, the number of questions I get from my students (and my family) about aliens... Your work has actually helped me address some of it. You frame it in such a way that I can think about these issues in a new, more understanding and grounded way. And then I'm able to use those reflections in helping my students understand that the (possible) existence of aliens does not need to equate to a crisis in the Christian faith.

I'm so sorry to take up so much of your time, writing this very long review, but I hope to encourage you in the good work you are doing. I wonder if you recognize your talent as a vocation or this particular work as an apostolate? Maybe not, because fanfiction writing does not seem to have the dignity that other hobbies have. Regardless, I can see the Holy Spirit breathing through your pen (or word processor, I guess).

Last thing... And there is no need to answer this question if you don't want to. Would I be able to look forward to some kind of Marian development in this story? I have a great devotion to the Mother of God, you see. Reading such a phenomenal work, I can't help but wonder if the Immaculate Virgin might be able to shed some light on the issues you are fleshing out in your story.

Have a blessed day. Know that there is a soul out there in the world praying for you, after having encountered you through your fanfiction writing. God bless you.

HAHAHA YES

I did not expect the Haugen Inquisition. (Then again, I suppose no one does.)

Fantastic. Not often I get to see hot takes on Marty Haugen and a random Hork-Bajir thought experiment in the same breath, this is what I love about your writing. :D

Well then, congratulations to Toloth-Two-Nine-Four, for being the first Yeerk to have been baptized. I’m sure the dogma is going to more confusing than the gospel but I think he can do it.

Nice to see this continuation of Toloth’s crisis having ended.

So happy you're still working on this! I love it.

A generally solid chapter. I can appreciate Teresa’s hesitations, although not necessarily for the reasons you provided. Rather, I would have expected her to hesitate before putting Toloth back in her head. But the chapter ended before that, so perhaps that’s coming in the next one. I would have thought, given her tentative acceptance towards Toloth being in her head on the first night, that Teresa’s struggle with baptizing HIM would have been more appropriate had it been Malcar or one of the others.

I would have liked to have seen a rendition of the questions of faith Teresa asked Gef, but I guess Toloth’s baptism is no less valid. Now that he’s a Catholic Christian, he is under obligation to both help her and preach the Gospel. Which means, I would think, making Malcar’s status as a Yeerk who abuses not simply her host’s mind, but her body, known knowledge. And chance that Teresa will be reassigned at that point?

As always, looking forward to the next chapter. And rather appropriate that this one came out in the beginning of Lent!

aeviternity is an interesting concept, but I think that the actual answer to the dinosaur problem(though obviously inapplicable to the animorphs universe, with their millions-of-years old intelligent races) is that the old-earthers are simply wrong, the universe is young, fossilization as a process is faster than however long evolutionists say it is, and the fossil record is simply all the life which was not in Noah's ark when God gave the earth a divine powerwashing(the dinosaurs were driven to extinction by little food and many predators/competition, humans not least amongst them)

Is Toloth going to have Teresa baptize him? Because that's the first logical thought that came to mind. And he must know that if he did leave her head, she wouldn't kill him, and would likely put him back in.

The theology about time is interesting. I must say that the concept of eternity has been a terrifying one to me ever since I was a kid, even though if you get to Heaven, there's not really a past or future.

Also, I was a little surprised I didn't receive a notification about this chapter. I would have read it and reviewed much earlier. Well, it was certainly a nice surprise to see an update!

I am grateful God told me to come. This was so joy inducing even if I couldn't imagine the exact nature of the image of the clouds. I was happy you knew what nimbostratus was (I forgot) even when I couldn't picture them! And the debates, and... Thank you God!
One thing though: I so believe God created time! End tiny rant. Love you, love this, we love God.

Always a treat when this updates. I cannot believe how good this is especially given the wild premise. He is going to ask her to baptize him, I think.

Oh golly, another cliffhanger! He's so CLOSE, dangit!

I was especially amused by the schismatic crack, and I sympathize with his struggle against pride. Very much looking forward to the next chapter.

The Garden existing aeviternally is an interesting idea.

Coming back to this after a while, I have increased ...theologically? I don't know the word... but I disagree that freedom is a greater good than existence in... a lot of cases. I have Scripture, but I forgot the more obscure ones and only remember: Slaves, obey your masters and count them as worthy of honor...probably because of the reminder in Chapter 3. P.S. I looked it up on the website , and it says Servants instead of Slaves (in all three places I was searching for). Clever Malcar, clever.