In her book, The Science of the Cross, Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) wrote the following which describes well, and far more eloquently than I myself have described, what Le Royaume represents in my own life: "The example of the saints demonstrates to them how things should actually be: where there is genuine, lively faith, there the doctrine of faith and the 'tremendous deeds' of God are the content of life. All else steps aside for it and is determined by it. This is holy realism: the original inner receptivity of the soul reborn in the Holy Spirit. Whatever the soul encounters is received in an appropriate manner and with corresponding depth, and finds in the soul a living, mobile, docile energy that allows itself to be easily and joyfully led and molded by that which it has received, unhampered by any mistaken inhibitions and rigidity. Such realism, when it leads a holy soul to accept the truths of faith, becomes the science of the saints. If the mystery of the cross becomes its inner form, it turns into a science of the cross. Holy realism has a certain affinity with the realism of the child who receives and responds to impressions with unimpaired vigor and vitality, and with uninhibited simplicity... ...But the Crucified One demands from the artist more than a mere portrayal of the image. He demands that the artist, just as every other person, follow him: that he both make himself and allow himself to be made into an image of the one who carries the cross and is crucified. Expressing the image externally can be a hindrance to doing so internally, but by no means must this be so; actually, it can serve the process of interior transformation because only with the production of the external expression will the inner image be fully formed and interiorly adopted. In this manner, when no obstacle is placed in its path, it becomes an interior representation that urges the artist to effectively reproduce it in action, that is, by way of imitation, externally. And yes, the external image, one's own artistic creation, can always serve to spur one on to transform oneself interiorly according to its meaning." Le Royaume is the result of the Holy Spirit's work of "Holy Realism" in my own life through the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the saintly, sisterly care of St. Joan of Arc and St. Th r se of Lisieux. It is the "external image" and my "own artistic creation" which "the Crucified One demands" from me to follow Him. It serves as "the process of interior transformation" urging me "to effectively reproduce it in action, that is, by way of imitation, externally." However this book is much more. It is a comprehensive program for inspiring devotion to the Renaissance of Catholic France and restoring the influence of Catholic and Royal France in America. Being, therefore, the artistic creation of this Holy Realism, Le Royaume reflects my worldview and guides my every intention. I believe it to be thoroughly orthodox in its Catholicism. If there are errors here in matters of faith and morals, they are purely material and do not reflect an obstinate desire to stray from the truth. This rule has brought me to new life through the Holy Catholic Church and in particular through True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the friendship and sisterly care of St. Joan of Arc and St. Th r se of Lisieux. "To Jesus through Mary in the friendship and sisterly care of St. Joan and St. Th r se " "V rit , Beaut , Bont "