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 gradually over  the  whole  world,  and,  in  spite  of  all  her  enemies,  has endured to  this  day. It follows,  therefore,  that  the  Roman  Catholic Church is  the  true  Church,  the  kingdom  of  God,  having  its  origin  in heaven,  and  promised  by  God  through  His  prophet  Daniel.

God governs  the  world.  This  prophecy  revealed  Almighty  God  to Nabuchodonozor  as  the  “Lord  of  kings”,  or,  in  other  words,  as  the Lord and  ruler  of  the  world,  from  whom  all  power  comes  (“The  God of  heaven  hath  given  thee  a kingdom,  and  strength  and  power  and glory”,  said  Daniel);  by  whom  nations  are  overthrown,  and  raised up again.

The power  of  prayer  said  in  common. It  was  only  after  Daniel and his  three  friends  had  prayed  together  fervently  and  confidently that the  interpretation  of  the  dream  was  revealed,  and  that,  thereby, not only  Daniel  and  his  friends,  but  all  the  other  wise  men  and soothsayers were  saved  from  death. Our Lord  has  encouraged  us  to pray  in  common  by  giving  us  the  promise: “If  two  of  you  shall consent upon  earth  concerning  anything  whatsoever  they  shall  ask,  it shall  be  done  to  them  by  my  Father  who  is  in  heaven”  (Mat.  18,  19).

Humility. Daniel  was  humble. He gave  the  glory  to  God, declaring to  the  king  that  it  was  from  Him  that  the  interpretation  came. And because  he  was  humble,  God  exalted  him.

Anger, a capital  sin.  What  induced  Nabuchodonozor  to  issue  the cruel edict  that  all  the  wise  men  and  diviners  in  the  kingdom  were to be  killed? He was  angry  at  their  not  being  able  to  do  what  he wished,  and,  in  his  violent  anger,  he  gave  the  cruel  order.

Despotism and  cruelty  of  pagan  kings.  The  command  to  kill  all  the diviners and  wise  men  was  unjust  and  cruel. It shows  how  despotically pagan kings  governed,  and  how  little  regard  they  had  for  the  lives  of their  subjects. Christianity put  an  end  to  that  kind  of  cruelty,  for  it teaches  that  all  men  are  equally  made  to  the  image  of  God,  and  that if kings  do  not  govern  according  to  the  law  of  God,  they  will  have to render  an  account  to  Him.

The Power  and  Mercy  of  God.  The  mighty  miracle  which  God wrought in  order  to  save  His  faithful  servants,  was  a great  act  of mercy  towards  the  heathen. He thereby  revealed  His  power  to  the king, and  to  all  the  great  men  of  the  country,  and  showed  that  the very elements  obey  Him. Everybody could  see  that  Bel,  whom  the young men  despised,  was  powerless  to  hurt  them,  and  that  the  God whom they  worshipped  was  alone  Almighty. The king  confessed  this when he  issued  the  decree  that  the  God  of  the  three  youths  was  the “Most High  God,  and  more  mighty  than  any  other  god.”  He  was seized by  so  great  a fear  of  God,  that  he  forbade  any  blasphemy  against Him, under  pain  of  death.