FR URBAN: Should make for conversation.
RECTOR: That’s the idea, exactly — to get these kids talking and thinking about the Order. Even if they don’t do anything about it, they’ll learn a few facts they ought to know. You’d say it’s O.K. then?
FR URBAN: Yes.
RECTOR: Father John?
FR JOHN: Yes.
RECTOR: Good. I was afraid maybe you wouldn’t like it. Now then. As you know, since you voted, this was an election year. The outcome I now make known to you, as required by the Rule. Our Holy Founder, you’ll remember, was very clear on this point, and so we’ve never had the kind of situation that he aimed to prevent. Of course, communications are better nowadays. But be that as it may. The honor goes to one of our best men, as it should — and indeed as it always does, thanks be to God. About that I don’t think there’ll be much disagreement here. At least I hope not. I have the honor, then, the special honor, I might add…
The Rector distributed copies of Regula S. Clementis necnon Rituale Ordinis Ejus.[1]
RECTOR: Urbanus?[2]
Urban?
FR URBAN: Urbanus sum.
I am Urban.
RECTOR: Surge, Urbane. Si contigerit (quod Deus advertat) te carne esse depressum, peccato captivum, ignorantia caecum, exterioribus deditum, oremus: [Orant.]
Rise Urban. [Urban does.] In the event (which God forbid) that you are depressed by the flesh, a prisoner to sin, blinded by ignorance, in bondage to creatures and things, let us pray: [They pray.]
… utinam suaviter purgeris, ardenter afficiaris, misericors fias.
That you be gently purged, ardently moved, and made merciful.
FR URBAN: Amen.
Let it be so.
RECTOR: Scisne privatum dominum temerarios servos nutrire?
Do you know that a familiar master breeds contemptuous servants?
FR URBAN: Scio.
I do.
RECTOR: Num oportet me monere te de periculis in marsupiis latentibus?
Need I speak to you of the dangers in pockets?
FR URBAN: Non oportet. De marsupiis audivi, atque ea vitare volo tamquam occasiones peccatorum, etsi ipsa marsupia non sunt mala.
No. Of them I have heard and will them avoid as occasions of sin, though in themselves they are not evil.
RECTOR: Quae sunt tria angula veritatis?
What are the three corners of truth?
FR URBAN: Ratio, qua nos discutimus. Affectus, quo aliis miseremur. Puritas, qua ad invisibilia sublevamur.
Reason, by which we examine ourselves. Love, by which we sympathize with others. Purity, by which we are lifted to invisible heights.
RECTOR: Putas, primo homini profuit, licet ipse non libenter peccavit, quod se per uxorem, tanquam per carnis infirmitatem, defendit? Aut primi Martyris lapidatores, quoniam aures suas continuerunt, per ignorantiam excusabiles erunt?
Did it profit the first man when he said he did not sin willingly, and advanced his wife, that is, the weakness of the flesh, in his defense? Will the stoners of the first martyr, because they would not listen, be pardoned for their ignorance?
FR URBAN: Non erunt. Qui studio et amore peccandi a veritate se sentiunt alienatos, et infirmitate et ignorantia pressos, studium in gemitum, amorem in moerorem convertant, infirmitatem carnis fervore justitiae vincant, ignorantiam liberalitate repellant.
Those who are estranged from truth by passion and pleasure in sinning, and who are overcome by weakness and ignorance, must surrender their passion to regret, their pleasure to sorrow, and conquer the infirmities of the flesh with the fire of justice, and meet ignorance with liberality.
RECTOR: Cur?
Why?
FR URBAN: Ne si nunc egentem, nudam, infirmam veritatem ignorant, cum potestate magna et virtute venientem, terrentem, arguentem, sero cum rubore cognoscant, frustra cum tremore respondeant: Quando te vidimus esurientem, aut sitientem, aut hospitem, aut nudum, aut infirmum, aut in carcere, et non ministravimus tibi? Cognoscetur certe Dominus judicia faciens, qui nunc ignoratur misericordiam quaerens. Denique videbunt in quem transfixerunt: similiter et avari quem contempserunt. Beati enim mundo corde, quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt.
Otherwise, if they fail to recognize truth as it appears now, needy, naked, and weak, they may not know it until it comes with great power and glory, terrible and indicting, and they may then redden and in vain answer in trembling voices: When did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to thee? The Lord shall be known when he judges, if he is not known when he seeks mercy. Then they shall look on him whom they pierced with a lance, and likewise the avaricious on him whom they despised in their hearts. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
RECTOR: Quomodo?
How?
FR URBAN: Per laborem humilitatis, per affectum compassionis, per excessum contemplationis. In primo veritas reperitur severa; in secundo pia; in tertio, pura. Ad primum ratio ducit. Ad secundum affectus perducit. Ad tertium puritas rapit.
By the toil of humility, by the emotion of compassion, by the ecstasy of contemplation. In the first, truth is found harsh, in the second, loving, in the third, pure. Reason leads us to the first, Love brings us to the second, Purity carries us up to the third.
RECTOR: Domine, abscondisti haec a sapientibus, et revelasti ea nobis.
O, Lord, you have hid these things from the sapient and revealed them to us.
FR URBAN: Amen.
Verily.
RECTOR: Num remanet ullum spei refugium, ubi oratio non invenit locum?
Is there any safe harbor for hope where prayer finds no place?
FR URBAN: Non remanet. Et si contigerit (quod Deus avertat) aliquem de nostris fratribus, non in corpore, sed in anima mori; quamdiu adhuc inter nos erit, pulsabo et ego meis qualiscumque peccator, pulsabo et fratrum precibus Salvatorem.
No, and if it should happen (which God forbid) that any of our brethren should die, not in body, but in soul, so long as he is still among us I will besiege the Saviour, both with my own prayers, whatever a sinner can avail, and with those of the brethren.