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LOCATION: THE APOSTOLIC PALACE
CITY: VATICAN CITY, ROME
DATE: JULY 19, 2026 | TIME: 8:30 AM
The frescoed ceiling of the Apostolic Palace glowed in the evening lamplight, the air heavy with incense from vespers.
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Domenico Altieri, sat at the head of a long oak table. To his right, Cardinal Gualtieri of Milan tapped restless fingers against his crimson cassock. To his left, Cardinal Espinoza of Madrid polished spectacles with deliberate calm.
Swiss Guards stood motionless at the doors. The silence stretched until Altieri finally spoke.
"Brothers, the Holy Father has asked for our counsel. Vitalyx spreads like wildfire. The faithful are clamoring, the world moves without us. We must decide. We must issue a proclamation. Catholics look to us for guidance."
Espinoza lowered his glasses onto his nose.
"We must condemn its use until we have had a chance to study it. The fruits of science absent faith in God leave the soul wanting."
Cardinal Gaultieri scoffed, his voice thick with disdain.
"Condemn what we ourselves have embraced?" he asked. "Four days ago, I drank the vial, along with all of you. My eyesight, cloudy for years, is clear as glass. Are we to denounce God's gift with one hand while receiving it with the other?"
Espinoza glared at his counterpart.
"Do you call it a miracle, brother?" he asked. "Perhaps you are too hasty. Remember that false prophets appear to perform miracles too. We must guard the flock, not indulge ourselves."
"Guard the flock by lying to them?" Espinoza yelled. "Those eyeglasses you make a show of cleaning are just clear glass. I saw you replace them yesterday. Should we call sin what we already know is salvation for those beset by illness? They will smell our hypocrisy before the ink even dries on the parchment."
Altieri raised his hand, silencing them both. His eyes, dark and deep-set, glimmered with the weight of centuries.
"It is not hypocrisy," he said. "It is stewardship. Whether this serum is divine or diabolical, it draws the faithful away from Christ and toward the works of men. That alone is reason for caution."
A heavy pause filled the chamber. The ticking of an antique clock seemed to mark eternity.
Espinoza whispered, "Better they suffer in body than be lost in soul."
Gualtieri shook his head but said nothing further.
Altieri steepled his fingers, gaze fixed on the crucifix above the door.
"Then it is decided," he said. "The faithful must hear from us. We will issue a proclamation tomorrow, reminding them that refuge lies in the Lord, not in the works of man. Those who already partook… will answer in confession."
The cardinals bowed their heads in submission. Espinoza smiled in victory.
And with that, the machinery of the Church turned, preparing to bind a billion souls to its will once more.
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Proclamation of the Holy See to the Faithful
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." (Psalm 118:8)
Beloved children of Christ,
In these days of confusion, when voices rise proclaiming wonders and cures, we must turn our eyes not to the inventions of man but to the eternal providence of God.
Scripture warns us: "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24:24).
A substance has been revealed among the nations, promising perfect health. Many call it a miracle. Yet the Church, entrusted with guarding souls, must remind her faithful: not all that heals the body is holy for the soul.
Our Lord Jesus Christ did not promise us freedom from sickness in this life, but life everlasting in the Kingdom to come.
Therefore, we solemnly urge all Catholics throughout the world to refrain from placing their faith in this so-called cure until Holy Mother Church has discerned its true nature. To drink of it without the blessing of the Church is to trust man above God, and to risk judgment upon oneself.
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes" (Psalm 118:8).
Stand firm, beloved children. Suffering in body is not defeat, but sharing in Christ's Passion. Hold fast to the Cross, for in it alone lies salvation.
Issued from the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
On the 19th day of July, in the Year of Our Lord 2026
In the name of His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff,
Cardinal Domenico Altieri
Secretary of State, Holy See
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They sent it out immediately, and within hours Catholic churches around the world posted in, sent it out to their email lists, and included it in their sermons that very morning.
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LOCATION: MALLORY, VANESSA AND DARIAN'S APARTMENT
CITY: SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
DATE: JULY 19, 2026 | TIME: 6:30 AM
Mallory was scrolling through the latest news on her phone as she sipped her green tea. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sunlight broke through the morning fog, washing over the city in golden light.
"Well, shit," she said.
"What is it, babe?" Vanessa asked, sipping her latte.
"The Vatican," Mallory said. "They issued a proclamation urging Catholics to exercise caution in taking Vitalyx."
Darian laughed.
"We sent them 6,000 doses of Vitalyx an hour after the announcement on the 15th. They didn't return a single dose."
"Well," Vanessa said, scoffing, "this won't exactly be the first time in history the Church has been guilty of hypocrisy."
"Let's see how this plays out first," Mallory said. "I don't want to issue a rushed response. If it feels like we're missing a billion Catholics, we can sit down with them and work something out. But I have a feeling a lot of them have either already taken it, or they are going to pretend they didn't."
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LOCATION: ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL
CITY: MANHATTAN, NEW YORK
DATE: JULY 19, 2026 | TIME: 10:15 AM
At 10:15 AM on Sunday morning, Monsignor Peter Vescari stepped up to the marble pulpit of St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue in Manhattan.
The church was at capacity for once, a miracle in itself. 2,400 souls. Why was it so full today?
The Monsignor sighed as he looked out at the crowd.
Most likely more than half have already taken Vitalyx and want to know if they are safe in the eyes of the Lord. And the rest really want to take it, and are waiting to see just how committed they need to be to this blasted proclamation from Rome.
Why did they have to take such an archaic stance? Again… An Archdiocese in a liberal city like New York had enough challenges. Now he was supposed to preach about restraint?
He sighed once more. The pews were filling up quickly, and the hushed voices running through the crowd were starting to die down as the appointed time drew near.
He looked down at his notes. Closed his eyes and asked God for strength. He opened them and began speaking. He read straight from his written speech without straying. This was too important. He had to get it just right.
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My brothers and sisters in Christ…
'It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.'
These words are not mine, but the words of Scripture, and they are the words our Holy Father in Rome has asked us to remember in this moment.
A substance has appeared in the world that promises to heal every sickness, to lift every infirmity. And many ask: is this a gift of God, or a temptation to draw us away from Him?
The Church, in her wisdom, has urged caution. She warns us not to trust too quickly in man's alchemy, lest we lose sight of the true Healer, who is Christ Himself. This is the proclamation we have been given, and it is my duty to share it with you.
But as your pastor, I must also speak honestly.
I see you here today. I see the brightness in eyes once clouded, the strength in steps once faltering. I hear the joy in your voices when you speak of pain relieved, of chains broken.
I know many of you have already partaken of this Vitalyx. And I do not condemn you.
How could I? Did not our Lord Himself heal the blind, raise the lame, cure the lepers? Who among us would not grasp at healing when it is offered?
And yet… we must ask: where is our faith placed? In a vial? In the hand of a physician? Or in the Lord who made heaven and earth?
If Vitalyx heals, perhaps it is because God has allowed it. If it restores, perhaps it is because God has chosen to show mercy in this hour.
But let us not confuse the vessel with the source, nor allow our devotion to drift toward the works of men.
So I tell you this: take what you must to ease your suffering, but do not let it draw your heart away from Christ.
Your true refuge is not in a serum, nor in science, nor in princes, but in the Lord alone.
Keep your eyes on Him. Keep your faith in Him.
And do not let this device of man, miraculous though it may seem, cause you to stray from the narrow path that leads to life everlasting.
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He finished the sermon and let his gaze roll over his congregation. He saw mostly relief. A few frustrated faces and a few guilty ones. But mostly relief.
That was good. For the Monsignor himself had taken the lifesaving elixir just three days prior. And, miraculously, his scan on Friday afternoon showed all traces of the cancer which had racked his kidneys and liver gone.
It was ironic, really. For months, Monsignor Peter Vescari had been preparing for this very day. July 19th was to be his final sermon as he stepped down, to live his last months on this plane in pain and suffering.
Now, he was in perfect health. Who was he to tell those who looked to him for guidance to not save their bodies? He would help them with their souls. As long as they continued showing up and seeking forgiveness for their transgressions, their souls would be safe.
It was the best he could do. Nobody had planned for such an event, after all.
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System Broadcast
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