The circumstance that I should become a monk was no departure from the idea
to which I had been trained, although explicitly no more than my mere
priesthood had been spoken of. So I lay there without thinking of any
words in which to answer him.
Gervasio considered me steadily, and sighed a little. "Agostino," he said
presently, "you are upon the eve of taking a great step, a step whose
import you may never fully have considered. I have been your tutor, and
your rearing has been my charge. That charge I have faithfully carried out
as was ordained me, but not as I would have carried it out had I been free
to follow my heart and my conscience in the matter.
"The idea of your ultimate priesthood has been so fostered in your mind
that you may well have come to believe that to be a priest is your own
inherent desire. I would have you consider it well now that the time
approaches for a step which is irrevocable."
His words and his manner startled me alike.
"How?" I cried. "Do you say that it might be better if I did not seek
ordination? What better can the world offer than the priesthood? Have you
not, yourself, taught me that it is man's noblest calling?"
"To be a good priest, fulfilling all the teachings of the Master, becoming
in your turn His mouthpiece, living a life of self-abnegation, of self-
sacrifice and purity," he answered slowly, "that is the noblest thing a man
can be.
Pages:
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105