# Comments on the second act

JOHANNES: sees the world of spiritual beings placed between himself and nature; they never again allow him to see nature in its simple grandeur; but he sees another John who was able to do so. In his vision, this John becomes an independent being who wants to be redeemed.

MARY: She wants to have defeated this being in John. She dislikes this being. What she often felt was still interfering in her relationship with John, she now sees reappearing in John's vision. If John does not defeat it, it will be a troublemaker between them.

JOHANNES: He sees it most vividly in Mary's presence. In the physical world it was overcome; it has fled into the spiritual world.

MARY: It was lustful love; John bravely defeated it. Through this he became Mary's spiritual companion. But she sees how Lucifer was able to steal this part of John's being for himself. John will only be able to detach himself from THIS companion, who is after all an illusory being, by truly recognizing him.

JOHANNES: He does not dare to approach him, because as he is, he turns against Mary with hatred and even wants to make John Mary's enemy.

LUCIFER: makes this illusory figure tremble, hoping that in a subsequent incarnation he will be able to destroy all influences from Benedictus and Mary in John and unite him with the remaining spirit being.

MARY: She sees that she must arm herself against Lucifer. To do so, she needs Benedictus' help. He can penetrate the soul forces in John in such a way that they bring the illusory figure to his consciousness. Mary feels that she needs knowledge that she does not yet have in order to proceed with this work. John will not be useful to the physical world as long as he finds the spirit form placed between himself and this world.

BENEDICTUS: The knowledge for this work of Mary can only come to her from other worlds. She must see herself in her relationships in the spirit.