A Different Perspective of The Holy Grail.

According to The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, the mormons believe the priesthood and the church were removed from the earth after the death of the last apostle.  Donald is a Mormon but he stopped attending when he found they also believe that John is still living on the earth.

"According to this philosophy this would explain why we had the period called the Dark Ages."  Schmendrick told the four boys.   "If the church and the priesthood had been removed, this would allow for Satan and the demons to have power over the earth."  Schmendrick continued.  "This is a time where there were witches and warlocks, vampires and werewolves.  Through evil spells warlocks were able to conjur up fire breathing dragons.  Witches could turn princes into toads or children into gingerbread cookies."  Schmendrick paused.

The boys looked at each other and remembered how the little old lady was going to make gingerbread.  Danny ate part of the house and said it had taste like ginger snaps. 

"If there was no church and no priesthood on the earth and black magic was running rampant, it would only give reason that faires, elves and wizards like Merlin and me would need to use white magic to counter the attacks of evil."  Schmendrick explained.  "Remember boys, 'Good always conquers evil.'.  God designed it that way."

"We want to find The Holy Grail."  Donnie said.

"Many have looked for it and have failed."  Schmendrick warned.

"You will find it if you seek it with all your heart."  Schmendrick said.

With that, there was a poof of smoke and all that was left was a little caterpillar who climbed up the tree.

"Where did he go?"  Bobby asked.

"He just disappeared into thin air."  Danny said.

"Did Schmendrick turn himself into a caterpillar."  Doug questioned.

"Remember Boys, things are not always what they seem."  Donnie said.

In a Paralell World

While Schmendrick is in the Enchanted Forest with the four boys, Michael Payne has conjured up Donald.  In a parallel world called Lisle, Illinois, Michael has been kind and gracious enough to open his home.  This would end the homeless situation for all of us.  He even offered to fly us back to Chicago.  This presents quite a dilemna for our many personalities.  For almost two years, we have sought out help for our mental illness.  We have found stabilty with three therapists and the Mental Health facility called The Wellness Center.  Highly medicated, would making the move be a smart decision or would it increas our anxiety and stress levels.

There is nothing better for our souls than being near the ocean.  I, John Thomas, feel closest to God when I am near the ocean.  Donnie and the four boys live in a fantasy world but for the first time that I can remember Donnie is happy.  Donnie is the core personality of all of us.

Donald is a 54 male who struggles with his sexuality.  Homosexuality makes Donald suicidal.  Would it be foolish for him to move into a situation where he would be expected or demanded to be someone's lover?  Or would that make him a whore?  Is there a difference?

There have been a dozen individuals who have spent over a year and a half trying to help me find  housing.  I have been approved for my Veterans Assisted Subsidised Housing (VASH) voucher.  The apartment complex I hope to live in is connected to the Mental Health Facility.  Would it be wrong of me to have wasted all their time and energy and to leave on a jet plane to Chicago?

For almost two years I have been clean and sober.  Would moving in with someone who is not cause me to fall back nto my old bad habits?

Truly this decision is one I must ponder and contemplate for a period of time.  This requires prayer and fasting.  Please pray with me.  I thank God for Michael Payne and his generous offer. 

The Holy Grail

Schmendrick and the three boys were still in shock that the adventure Donnie wanted to go on was to find The Holy Grail.  Bobby was catholic so he knew what The Holy Grail was but Danny and Doug did not.  Schmendrick looked at Danny and Doug and said, "This is the Catholic version..."

    The name of a legendary sacred vessel, variously identified with the chalice of the Eucharist or the dish of the Pascal lamb, and the theme of a famous medieval cycle of romance. In the romances the conception of the Grail varies considerably; its nature is often but vaguely indicated, and, in the case of Chrestien's Perceval poem, it is left wholly unexplained.The meaning of the word has also been variously explained. The generally accepted meaning is that is given by the Cistercian chronicler Helinandus (d. about 1230), who, under the date of about 717, mentions of a vision, shown to a hermit concerning the dish used by Our Lord at the Last Supper, and about which the hermit then wrote a Latin book called "Gradale." "Now in French," so Helinandus informs us, "Gradalis or Gradale means a dish (scutella), wide and somewhat deep, in which costly viands are wont to be served to the rich in degrees (gradatim), one morsel after another in different rows. In popular speech it is also called "greal" because it is pleasant (grata) and acceptable to him eating therein" etc. The medieval Latin word "gradale" because in Old French "graal," or "greal," or "greel," whence the English "grail." Others derive the word from "garalis" or from "cratalis" (crater, a mixing bowl). It certainly means a dish, the derivation from "grata" in the latter part of the passage cited above or from "agréer" (to please) in the French romances is secondary. The explanation of "San greal" as "sang real" (kingly blood) was not current until the later Middle Ages. Other etymologies that have been advanced may be passed over as obsolete.When we come to examine the literary tradition concerning the Grail we notice at the outset that the Grail legend is closely connected with that of Perceval as well as that of King Arthur. Yet all these legends were originally independent of each other. The Perceval story may have a mythical origin, or it may be regarded as the tale of a simpleton (French, nicelot) who, however, in the end achieves great things. In all the versions that we have of it, it is a part of the Arthurian legend, and, in almost all, it is furthermore connected with the Grail. So the reconstruction of the original Grail legend can be accomplished only by an analytical comparison of all extant versions, and is a task that has given rise to some of the most difficult problems in the whole range of literary history.The great body of the Grail romances came into existence between the years 1180 and 1240. After the thirteenth century nothing new was added to the Grail legend. Most of these romances are in French, but there are versions in German, English, Norwegian, Italian, and Portuguese. These are of very unequal value as sources, some are mere translations or recasts of French romances. Now all of these romances may be conveniently divided into two classes: those which are concerned chiefly with the quest of the Grail, and with the adventures and personality of the hero of this quest; and those that are mainly concerned with the history of the sacred vessel itself. These two classes have been styled respectively the Quest and the Early History versions.Of the first class is the "Conte del Graal" of Chrestien de Troyes and his continuators, a vast poetic compilation of some 60,000 verses, composed between 1180 and 1240, and the Middle High German epic poem "Parzival" of Wolfram von Eschenbach, written between 1205 and 1215, and based, according to Wolfram's statement, on the French poem of a certain Kyot (Guiot) of Provence, which, however, is not extant and the very existence of which is doubtful. To these may be added the Welsh folk-tales or "Mabinogion" known to us only from manuscripts of the thirteenth century, though the material is certainly older, and the English poem "Sir Percyvelle," of the fifteenth century. Of the Early History versions the oldest is the metrical trilogy of Robert de Boron, composed between 1170 and 1212, of which only the first part, the "Joseph d'Arimathie," and a portion of the second, the "Merlin," are extant. We have, however, a complete prose version, preserved in the so-called Didot manuscript. The most detailed history of the Grail is in the "Grand St. Graal," a bulky French prose romance of the first half of the thirteenth century, where we are told that Christ Himself presented to a pious hermit the book concerning this history. Besides these versions we have three French prose romances, also from the thirteenth century, which, though concerned chiefly with the quest, give also an account of the history of the sacred vessel. Of these the most notable is the "Queste del St. Graal," well known to English readers because it was embodied almost entire in Malory's "Morte d' Arthur." The others are the so-called "Didot Perceval" or "La petite queste" and the lengthy and prolix "Perceval le Gallois," also known as "Perlesvaus."The poem of Chrestien, regarded by many as the oldest known Grail romance, tells of Perceval's visit to the Grail castle, where he sees a Graal borne in by a damsel. Its accompaniments are a bleeding lance and a silver plate. It is a precious vessel set with jewels, and so resplendent as to eclipse the lights of the hall. All the assembled knights show it reverence. Mindful of an injunction not to inquire too much, Perceval does not ask concerning the significance of what he sees, and thereby incurs guilt and reproach. Undoubtly Chrestien meant to relate the hero's second visit to the castle, when he would have put the question and received the desired information. But the poet did not live to finish his story, whether the explanation of the Graal, offered by the continuators, is that which Chrestien what the Graal signifies; in his version it has no pronounced religious character. On the other hand, in the Early History versions it is invested with the greatest sanctity. It is explained as the dish from which Christ ate the Paschal lamb with his disciples, which passed into possession of Joseph of Arimathea, and was used by him to gather the Precious Blood of Our Saviour, when His body was taken from the Cross. It becomes identified with the Chalice of the Eucharist. The lance is explained as the one with which Longinus pierced Our Lord's side, and the silver plate becomes the paten covering the chalice. The quest in these versions assumes a most sacred character, the atmosphere of chivalric adventure in Chrestien's poem yields to a militant asceticism, which insists not only on the purity of the quester, but, in some versions (Queste, Perlesvaus), on his virginity. In the "Queste" and "Grand St. Graal," moreover, the hero is not Perceval but the maiden-knight, Galaad. But the other knights of the Round Table are made to participate in the quest.The early history of the Grail is intimately connected with the story of Joseph of Arimathea. When he is cast into prison by the Jews, Christ appears to him and gives him the vessel, through which he is miraculously sustained for forty-two years, until liberated by Vespasian. The Grail is then brought to the West, to Britain, either by Joseph and Josephes, his son (Grand St. Graal), or by Alain one of his kin (Robert de Boron). Galaad (or Perceval) achieves the quest; after the death of its keeper the Grail vanishes. According to the version of the "Perlesvaus" Perceval is removed, no one knows whither, by a ship with white sails on which is displayed a red cross. In the Guiot-Wolfram version we meet with a conception of the Grail wholly different from that of the French romances. Wolfram conceives of it as a precious stone, lapsit exillis (i.e. lapis or lapsi ex caelis?) of special purity, possessing miraculous powers conferred upon it and sustained by a consecrated Host which, on every Good Friday, a dove brings down from heaven and lays down upon it. The angels who remained neutral during the rebellion of Lucifer were its first guardians; then it was brought to earth and entrusted to Titurel, the first Grail king. It is guarded in the splendid castle of Munsalvaesche (mons salvationis or silvaticus?) by itself and nourished by its miraculous food-giving power.The relationship of the Grail versions to each other, especially that of Chrestien to those of Robert de Boron and the "Queste," is a matter of dispute. Nor is their relative chronology certain. But in all these versions the legend appears in an advanced state of development, the preceeding phases of which are not attested by literary monuments, and therefore, can only be conjectured. The origin of the legend is involved in obscurity, and scholars are divided in their views on this point. An Oriental, a Celtic, and a purely Christian origin have been claimed. But the Oriental parallels, like the sun-table of the Ethiopians, the Persian cup of Jamshid, the Hindu paradise, Cridavana, are not very convincing, and Wolfram's statement, that Kyot's source was an Arabic manuscript of Toledo, is open to grave doubt. It is different with the Celtic story. There are undoubtly Celtic elements in the legend as we have it; the Perceval story is probably, and the Arthurian legend certainly, of Celtic origin, and both of these legends intimately connected with the quest story. Talismans, such as magic lances and food-giving vessels figure prominently in Celtic myths and folk-tales. According to this theory the "Mabinogion," with its simple story of vengeance by means of talismans and devoid of religious significance, would yield the version nearest to the original form of the legend. Back of the quest-story would be some pre-Christian tale of a hero seeking to avenge the injury done to a kinsman. The religious element would then be of secondary origin, and would have come into the legend when the old vengeance-tale was fused with the legend of Joseph of Arimathea, which is essentially a legend of the conversion of Britain.Those who maintain the theory of a purely Christian origin regard the religious element in the story as fundamental and trace the leading motifs to Christian ideas and conceptions. It is derived from the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, which is known to have had a great vogue in the twelfth century, paricularly in Britain. There we read how Joseph, whom the Jews had imprisoned, is miraculously fed by Christ Himself . Additional traits were supplied by the "Vindicta Salvatoris," the legendary account of the destruction of Jerusalem. Furthermore, Joseph was confused with the Jewish historian, Josephus, whose liberation by Titus is narrated by Suetonius. The food-producing properties of the vessel can be explained, without resorting to Celtic parallels, by the association of the Grail with the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which gives spiritual nourishment to the faithful. The purely Christian legend which thus had arisen was brought into contact with the traditional evangelization of Britain, and then developed on British soil, in Wales, and thus the Celtic stamp, which it undeniably bears, is accounted for. In connection with the legendary conversion of Britain it is noteworthy that the literary accounts of this event are connected with the famous Abbey of Glastonbury, which is also intimately associated with the legend of Arthur, Glastonbury being identified in William of Malmesbury's account with the mythic Avalon. So scholars are inclined to connect this British sanctuary with the origin of the Grail romances. Possibly Walter Map, who died as Archdeacon of Oxford in 1210, and to whom is ascribed the authorship of a Grail-Lancelot cycle, got his information from that abbey. The first Grail romances was then probably written in Latin and became the basis for the work of Robert de Boron, who was an English knight under King Henry II, and a contemporary of Chrestien and of Map.The fully developed Grail legend was later on still further connected with other legends, as in Wolfram's poem with that of Lohengrim, the swan-knight, and also with that of Prester John, the fabled Christian monarch of the East. Here also the story of Klinschor, the magician, was added. After the Renaissance the Grail legend, together with most medieval legends, fell into oblivion, from which it was rescued when the Romantic movement set in at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The most famous modern versions are Tennyson's "Holy Grail" in the "Idylls of the King" (1869), and Wagner's music-drama, the festival-play, "Parsifal," produced for the first time at Bayreuth in 1882.A word as to the attitude of the Church towards the legend. It would seem that a legend so distinctively Christian would find favour with the Church. Yet this was not the case. Excepting Helinandus, clerical writers do not mention the Grail, and the Church ignored the legend completely. After all, the legend contained the elements of which the Church could not approve. Its sources are in apocryphal, not in canonical, scripture, and the claims of sanctity made for the Grail were refuted by their very extravagance. Moreover, the legend claimed for the Church in Britain an origin well nigh as illustrious as that of the Church of Rome, and independent of Rome. It was thus calculated to encourage and to foster any separatist tendencies that might exist in Britain. As we have seen, the whole tradition concerning the Grail is of late origin and on many points at variance with historical truth.The "Queste" was edited by Furnivall, "La Queste del Saint Graal" (Roxburghe Club, London, 1864), also the Grand St. Graal under the title "Seynt Graal or the Sank Ryal", etc. (Roxburghe Club, London, 1861-63). The Perlesvaus is in Potvin's edition of Chrestien, I (Mons, 1866); the Didot Perceval in Hucher, "Le Saint Graal" (Le Mans, 1874-78). Robert de Boron's poem was edited by Michel, "Le roman du St. Graal" (Bordeaux, 1841), Malory's "Morte D'Arthur" by Sommer (London, 1889-91), and the Perlesvaus rendered into English by Evans, "The High History of the Holy Grail" (London, 1898). (See WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH.)

When the boys woke up from their nap after a long afternoon of swimming, the tree was a different shade of purple.  The boys just stared and were astonished.  Then the tree turned red.

 They looked at each other and thought they were tripping but these boys were far too young to be experimenting with drugs.  While they were trying to figure out which one of their crayons from the 128 pack would best describe this color of red.  The tree turned back to the first color of purple.

"Schmendrick?  Where are you?"  Donnie yelled.  Only Schmendrick could be up to these antics.  Bobby, Danny and Doug had never met Schmendrick.

"I am right here."  Schmendrick yelled back.

Schmendrick was standing behind the boys.  Danny was so startled that he fell into the lake.  We all laughed.  Well, all of us except Danny.  Danny was not amused.  He was the one who did not want to get wet in the first place.  Eventually, Danny laughed too.

"Schmendrick, this is Bobby and Danny and Doug".  Donnie introduced the boys  The wizard already knew this but he knew that Donnie was just trying to be polite.

"Well, we finally found you."  Bobby said.

"One never finds a wizard, a wizard always find them."  Schmendrick seemed annoyed.

"I told you."  Donnie said to Bobby.

"Well, what is this great adventure that you boys are on that requires my services?"

"We want to find The Holy Grail." Donnie announced.

Everyone stood there stunned.  Only Donnie knew of this adventure.  He had even kept it a secret for Schmendrick.

Danny looked at Schmendrick, "We are all going to die."

 The four boys continued on their journey in search of Schmendrick.  They were very happy that Alexander had warned them to go in a different direction.  While they walked through the woods, the boys came upon a beautiful lake with one of the most unique and beautiful trees they had ever seen.  They knew that Schmendrick was near.  He loved to change the color of the leaves on the trees.  Schmendrick knew that Donnie's favorite color was purple.

"How will we cross the lake to get to the tree?"  Bobby asked.

"I do not know how to swim."  Danny lied.  He just did not want to get his clothes wet.

"I just sink to the bottom."  Doug said.

Before they gave up hope, four large turtles swam to the bank of the lake and then turned around.

"Do you think they want us to ride them?"  Bobby asked.

"Sure."  Donnie said.  "That's what they want us to do."

"You go first."  Danny looked at Donnie.

Without hesitation, Donnie climbed on the back of the turtle.  He knew that Schmendrick knew that Donnie loved turtles even more than the color purple.  Bobby got on the second turtle.  Doug hesitated to get on the turtle because he was over weight but the turtle seemed to be fine.  Danny was the last to get on.  As soon as Danny got on his turtle, the four turtles swam gracefully towards the beautiful tree.  When they reached the other side and got off, they thanked the turtles for the ride.  The turtles smiled.  Yes, they actually smiled.  Before you knew it, they took a dive into the deep dark blue lake.

After reaching the other side nice and dry, the boys decided they wanted to swim in the lake.  It was a hot summer day.  The boys stripped down to their boxers and jumped in the cool lake.  Donnie and Bobby tried to dive to the bottom of the lake in search of the turtles.  They were no where to be found and the lake was too deep.  After swimming for an hour or two, the boys sat under the shade of the tree and fell asleep.

True Confessions from a Troll

One thing is for certain in life.  Everything is not as it seems.

What had appeared to be the house of Little Red Riding Hood's Grandmother was not.  The house belonged to the old haggard witch who met her demise with Hansel and Gretel.  However, Hansel and Gretel had not made their journey to her house yet.  Before the boys knew anything, they had discussed their adventure of the pursuit of Schmendrick.  Schmendrick was known through all the woods.  The old lady was filled with fear.  She had originally planned on making the boys her meal.  Not making dinner for the boys..  However, she knew that Schmendrick would know of her schemes and a horrible fate would await her.  One thing is for sure.  One never wants to upset Schmendrick.

Dinner was wonderful.  The boys decided to take watch at night to be sure the witch upheld her promise to cause no harm.  The boys had one of the best nights sleep that they can remember.  When dawn arose, the little old lady had made a complete breakfast for the boys including ham, bacon, eggs, pancakes, hashbrowns, toast and jelly along with juice and milk.

"We will be certain to tell Schmendrick of your kindness and hospitality!"  Donnie said.

"Thank you so much."  The little old lady had hoped for a favorable report.

"Thank YOU SO much!"  the four boys gratefully responded.  With that, they were on their way.

While only walking about a mile or two, the boys came up to a bridge over a river.  As they were about to cross the bridge, a nasty, old troll jumped out from under the bridge. 

"This is my bridge."  the troll snarled.  "No one crosses unless I allow them."

"May we please cross over?"  Bobby asked.

"Yes."  the troll answered.  "It will only cost you one gold coin each."

"But we have no money."  Danny lied.

"then you shall not cross..." the troll mumbled.

Donnie decided to say a little prayer to God for help and guidance.

A thought came to Donnie's mind.

"Why is it that you are so mean and nasty?"  with compassion Donnie asked.

Tears began to well up in the troll's eyes if in fact, trolls can even cry.

The troll began to tell his story.  This is the true confession from that troll.

"When I was about your age, a nasty, old man did horrible things to me.  He told me I was naughty and if I ever mentioned our encounters to anyone, he would tell them that it was my fault.  I was filled with guilt.  I was filled with shame.  My innocence had been taken.  I would never be the same ever again.  To be honest, part of me died."

"Years later, I was working at the local grocery store and had become friends with a boy named Jeff Smith.  He was two years younger than me and was on the wrestling team at his high school.  We went to rival high schools.  He asked me if I would wrestle with him to help him practice.  We became best of friends.  Jeff also twisted me around like a pretzel.  Jeff worked at the grocery store too."

"There was a young man.  Out of college.  His name was Mark Green.  He would come into the grocery store and just stare at me.  Naturally, I would ask him if I could help him find anything.  He would laugh and say that he wished I could.  Mark had a sinister nature about him,  He would ask me what type of fantasies I had.  I would just blush and go back to work."

"One day, Mark asked me if I would like to come over to his apartment which was right behind the grocery store.  Villa Verde.  I will never forget the name of his complex.  Curiosity killed the cat.  It would also end up being my undoing.  However, one day I yielded to his temptations.  He asked me if I had thought of a fantasy.  I said I had.  My fantasy was wrestling with another man naked.  Without hesitation, Mark said that he would be happy to make my fantasy come true.  Mark thought it would be fun to turn the lights out.  He did.  We both got naked and began to wrestle.  It took us a few moments to find each other in the dark but the first thing I felt was Mark's hand locked onto my groin.  He squeezed.  I said that was not in the rules.  Mark said that there were no rules.   We continued to wrestle.  He grabbed my groin again.  Without thinking, I grabbed his groin and was shocked at what a large hardon Mark was sporting.  He moaned but seemed to enjoy it.  After pinning Mark a few times, we stopped wrestling.  My fantasy completed, I was ready to go home."

"Mark did not like the idea of my leaving at all.  He said that I has to make his fantasy come true.  His fantasy was for me to have sex with him in his bed.  I told Mark that I had never agreed to that.  Then Mark became Satan to me and said, "If you do not do what I say, I will tell your friend Jeff about your visit here."  I was horrified.  The sin of lust had taken over me and I was being blackmailed.  Afraid he would tell Jeff, I got in bed with him."

"The next day I saw Mark talking to Jeff at the grocery store.  I stopped dead in my tracks.  Fear overwhelmed me.  Mark looked at me and continued to talk to Jeff.  When Mark left Jeff, I asked him what he wanted.  Jeff said that Mark had invited him over.  He had declined because he does not hang out with strangers.  Mark continued to threaten to tell Jeff unless I came over again.  After the shame and guilt was more that I could bare, I told Mark that I would go to the police and tell them as I was under age.  Unfortunately, I was wrestling Jeff one time and I got excited and Jeff freaked out.  Jeff talked to his Dad and his Dad told me that he thought it best that Jeff and I not hang out anymore.
Sin always comes at a price.  The price of my sin was my best friend."

"My horror story continues with decades of my going to book stores, gay bars, wrestling clubs, bath houses.  I had become addicted to being desired.  Never thinking that I was attractive, I would search out trolls who would tell me how beautiful I was.  They were lieing but they would say anything to be able to play with my penis.  Years later, the guilt, the shame, and the drugs and alcohol has turned me into a nasty, old troll."

"The reason that I am so mean and nasty?  I will tell you.  I did not want you to cross this bridge because I knew that there were evil men in the towns ahead and I did not want what happened to me to happen to you.  There is no hope for me but to stay under this bridge and wait to die."

"That is not true."  Donnie said.  "Jesus loves you and forgives you for everything that has happened to you."

"All you have to do is ask Jesus to forgive you."  Bobby said.

The four boys prayed with the nasty, old troll and a miracle happened.  Right in front of our very own eyes.  The troll was transformed into a handsome, kind man.  His name is Alexander.  Alexander plans on spending the rest of his days working with youth who have been sexually, physically or emotionally abused.  God can take the worst things and turn them into blessing to bring Him glory, honor and praise.

The four boys and Alexander parted ways.  Each boy gave Alexander a hug.  The boys did not cross the bridge.  They took a different path.  No reason not to take this man's advice.  Alexander went to look for a town where he could learn more about Jesus, a church to attend, and a place that was safe for him and the children to serve.  Would their paths cross again?  Probably.

I wonder how often I see people as witches and trolls?  Probably too often.

We are a Family

Donnie, Bobby, Danny and Doug were on their adventure in the woods in search of Schmendrick.  They had been invited to spend the night at who they believed to be the Grandmother of Little Red Riding Hood.  The Grandmother was busy making dinner for the four boys.  The four little boys were happy to see baked goods, cookies and candy all throughout the cabin.  The old lady told them to eat as much as they like but do not spoil their appetite before dinner.

In another wood called Hollywood, Dolly was appearing as a female impersonator at one of the night clubs.

There is a man I know by the name of William who suffers from depression and constant thoughts of suicide.  He is an alcoholic.  The reason he is an alcoholic is because he is in constant torment of his sexual identity.  Although he thinks he finds himself attracted to males, he is conflicted by his religious beliefs that homosexuality is wrong.  He finds himself so lonely at times that the only relief he thinks would be to take his own life.


Usually I visit another one of my friends, Mark to seek advice how I might help my friend, William.  Mark is a monk at a hermitage in California and has devoted his life to prayer and service.  Sexuality is not an issue for Mark at all.  Straight or gay, monks take an oath of celibacy.  They are the male version of "brides of Christ".  Mark tells me the best thing I can for William is listen.  Mark tells me the best thing I can do for William is to pray.  Mark promises to pray for my friend me.

There are many personalities that live in Donnie.  Most are voices on the inside of his mind.  Others are voices on the outside of his mind.  The important thing for everyone to remember is...We are Family!  I love them.