'I am unworthy of the meanest order in the Church. In pilgrimings
and fastings I do penance for a sin of youth. You see how wasted is
my flesh.'
'What, then,' asked Aurelia, 'was the message you said you bore for
me?'
'This. Though I myself have no power to perform the sacraments of
our faith, I tend upon one who has. He lies not far from here, like
myself sick and weary, and, because of a vow, may not come within
the precincts of any dwelling. In Macedonia, oppressed by our
persecutors, he was long imprisoned, and so sorely tormented that,
in a moment when the Evil One prevailed over his flesh, he denied
the truth. This sin gave him liberty, but scarce had he come forth
when a torment of the soul, far worse than that of his body, fell
upon him. He was delivered over to the Demon, and, being yet alive,
saw about him the fires of Gehenna. Thus, for a season, did he
suffer things unspeakable, wandering in desert places, ahungered,
athirst, faint unto death, yet not permitted to die. One night of
storm, he crept for shelter into the ruins of a heathen temple.
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