The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-01-09

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It was very generally agreed in the
monastery that it could be no dlmcul'
matter for Brother Felipe to forget the
world. The difficulty for him would
have been to remember it. He coulo
not even remember the little worldly
calls which, even in a monastery, mus'
needs be hardened to from day to day
and though in themselves trivial are
yet, when properly responded to, OF
no small use in keeping the devil al
bay. For example, the call to meals
Fasting to the proper and enJolned ex-
tent is an excellent thing; no orotner
not even Brother Antonio, would nave
dared deny it. For by fasting the nesn
is mortified, as it should be. But to Tor
get the times and seasons for the par
taking of food altogether, as brotner
Felipe sometimes did, is to 60 10 ex-
tremes. And when, as also sometimes
happened, Brother Felipe forgot wnen
he was. as a matter of rotation, kltch-
ener for the day, the mortification-ol
other people rather than OF nimseA-
was excessive.
II he did not forget to prepare a
meal, Brother Felipe was as likely as
not to err on some other SIDE OF MS
memory. Such was the case when, oe-
ing engaged in the composition OF a
liquor for which the monastery was IA
nous throughout the province, ne
used, quite unsuspected, soda by mis-
take for sugar. Brother Antonio SUI
fering from a sharp attack OF rheum
which required in the abbot's opinion
as well as in Brother Antonios-a
warming draught, was the victim OF
this monstrous brew. His words, as
he rushed from the buttery plucking
at his chest, which the torrid liquid
was burning from within, were such
as had never been dreamed OF In that
unworldly place, and caused his broth
ers to hang their heads for weeks al
terward.
Brother Antonio did penance for the
words. as dld Brother Felipe for the
brew. Brother Fenpe did it without a
grumble. He denghled in dong pen
ance-another strange thing.
Often he implored something to be
put upon him when from his confession
there was no need Of it. Only 1t must
be borne in mind that he never could
remember anything-not even his sins.
And that in itself becomes SIM
said The abbot upon one occasion.
Punish me, therefore; punish me,
Father" Felipe replied. and was given
his wish; though, it must be admitted.
II absent mindedness made him sim
ner, it also prevented him from being
q sufferer, seeing that he usually for
got that what he was 4oing was q
penance, and ne had none Of the pangs
of conscience. OF this doubtless. the
Abbot was aware.
The others often wondered what
Brother Felipe had been like in the
outside world. They themselves had
been SO different in some ways. Not
in all. of course. Brother Antonio had
never hated meat and wine then any
more than he did now. The difference
was that now he tried to uate them.
They all tried to hate the past, and II
they ever spoke Of it, which was sell
dom, they spoke Of it with fear and
loathing. 49,.
Brother Felipe, on the other hand,
had thrown q thunderbolt once or
twice into their midst by speaking OF
some incident of the past with obvious
........ .
His devoutness was beyond question.
his docility equally SO, the only proofs
Of his having been not unvisited by
The devil in his youth being certain
of quick temper. once
Tor nothing at all he had knocked
/ brother down, a sign Of depravity,
indeed, in anybody else but Brother
Felipe. Somehow 1t was, like its
cause. nothing at all in him. The ab-
bot had visited it mildly, plainly find
ing 1t impossible to punish overmuch
one who was beyond doubt as uncon-
,cious of his sin as a summer sky that
! moment before had been streaked
With lightning.
Every one was agreed. in fine. that
Brother Felipe was without guile. But
.or his wool gathering wits he might
have been a saint. Also-but for what
.ollows.
It il possible. though not easy. to
'orget the world at all times except
,ne. That is in time Of war. II the
,nemy thunders on ones gates, he
brings the world with him. Neither
prayers nor recommendations can
Keep him out. And so. one might say.
J captain IS stronger than the devil
who is not. at least, at his
.ase in . holy place. II this be any
excuse for what Brother Felipe did.
u It be told IN his fsvor. ..r4.. j .sfr
! u was sttsy tbs melting Of tAe saoM.