When Baltasar was king of Babylon, he invited a thousand of his nobles to a great feast. He ordered that the vessels of gold and silver which his father Nabuchodonosor had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem should be used. From these holy vessels the king and his guests drank wine at the feast.
As this great company feasted, drinking wine from the sacred vessels, a hand appeared, writing on the wall. The hand wrote a few words, and then disappeared.
Upon seeing the hand. the king turned pale and trembled with fear. He called upon all the wise men in Babylon to tell him the meaning of the writing on the wall. He promised, "Whosoever can tell me the meaning of these words shall be clothed in purple, and shall wear a gold chain around his neck. He shall be the third greatest in the whole kingdom." But no one could interpret the writing.
Then the queen came into the banquet-hall. She advised the king to consult Daniel, as Nabuchodonosor had done.
Daniel was therefore brought before Baltasar, who promised him what he had promised the other wise men, if he could interpret the writing.
Daniel replied, "God gave your father, Nabuchodonosor, a kingdom and much power and glory. Your father became proud. and so God took away all powers from him. But you, Baltasar, knowing this, have not been humble. You have lifted yourself up against God. You have used the sacred vessels in your feasting. Therefore see the writing on the wall: Mane, Thecel, Phares. And this is the meaning: Mane: God has numbered your kingdom and has brought it to an end. Thecel: You are weighed in the balance, and are found wanting. Phares: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
Baltasar was terrified. Nevertheless he did what he had promised, and rewarded Daniel. That night the king was killed.
History often tells us that those who profane churches or things pertaining to the sacrifice of the Mass are punished by God.
- from My Bible History in Pictures, by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., 1934; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael J O'Doherty of Manila, Philippines