GREGORY OF NYSSA: Life of Macrina [TO THE MONK OLYMPIUS] INTRODUCTION [960 A ] THE form of this volum !

if o" m#$ %u&' from its h #&i"'! is #((#r "tl$ (istol#r$! )ut its )ul* +, &s th#t of # l tt r! +t "&i"' #s it &o s to th l "'th of # )oo*- M$ #(olo'$ must ) th#t th su)% ,t o" .hi,h $ou )#& m .rit is 'r #t r th#" ,#" ) ,om(r ss & .ithi" th limits of # l tt rI #m sur $ou &o "ot for' t our m ti"'! .h "! o" m$ .#$ to / rus#l m i" (ursu#", of # vo.! i" or& r to s th r li,s of th Lor&0s so%our"i"' i" th fl sh o" th #,tu#l s(ots- ["ot 1 2 #&i"' [3r *1 " tois to(ois] Mi'" h#s [3r *1 " tois tu(ois] 4i" th ir im(r ssio"s-4 Th i"t "tio" .#s "ot fulfill & u"til # $ #r or t.o l#t r! #ft r his visit to th 5hur,h of 6#)$lo"-] I r#" #,ross $ou i" th ,it$ of A"tio,h7 #"& $ou must r m m) r #ll th &iff r "t t#l*s . "%o$ &! for it .#s "ot li* l$ th#t our m ti"' .oul& ) # sil "t o" ! .h " $our .it (rovi& & so m#"$ su)% ,ts for ,o"v rs#tio"- As oft " h#(( "s #t su,h tim s! th [960 6] t#l* flo. & o" u"til . ,#m to &is,uss th lif of som f#mous ( rso"- I" this ,#s it .#s # .om#" .ho (rovi& & us .ith our su)% ,t 7 if i"& & sh shoul& ) st$l & .om#"0 for I &o "ot *"o. .h th r it is fitti"' to & si'"#t h r )$ h r s +! .ho so sur(#ss & h r s +- Our #,,ou"t of h r .#s "ot )#s & o" th "#rr#tiv of oth rs0 )ut our t#l* .#s #" #,,ur#t & s,ri(tio" of .h#t . h#& l #r" & )$ ( rso"#l +( ri ", "or &i& it " & to ) #uth "ti,#t & )$ str#"' rs- Nor v " .#s th vir'i" r f rr & to u"*"o." to our f#mil$ ,ir,l 0 to m#* it " , ss#r$ to l #r" th .o"& rs of h r lif throu'h oth rs! )ut sh ,#m from th s#m (#r "ts #s ours lv s0 ) i"'0 so to s( #* 0#" off ri"' of firstfruits0 si", sh .#s th #rli st )or" of m$ moth r0s .om)- As th " $ou h#v & ,i& & th#t th stor$ of h r "o)l ,#r r is .orth t lli"'0 to (r v "t su,h # lif ) i"' u"*"o." to our tim ! #"& th r ,or& of # .om#" .ho r#is & [960 5] h rs lf )$ 4 (hiloso(h$ 00 ["ot 1 0 Th us of th .or& 4 (hiloso(h$ 4 to & si'"#t 5hristi#"it$ is ,ommo" i" th .riti"'s of th fourth , "tur$! #"& m#$ ( rh#(s ) tr#, & )#,* to Ori' "0s s$"th sis of th 3os( l #"& (hiloso(h$- It is m(lo$ & i" # t.ofol& s "s ! of th 5hristi#" r li'io" ' " r#ll$ #"& of #s, ti,ism i" (#rti,ul#r- 5f- 3r '- N#8-! Or-! 9II! 9 :& s,ri)i"' th #s, ti,ism of his )roth r 5;s#rius<1 4 As (hiloso(h$ is th 'r #t st! so is it th most &iffi,ult! of (rof ssio"s! .hi,h ,#" ) t#* " i" h#"& )$ )ut f .! #"& o"l$ )$ thos .ho h#v ) " ,#ll & forth )$ th &ivi" m#'"#"imit$-4 S # ,#r ful "ot i" 6oul "' r! Gregoire de Nazianze, Discours funbres :P#ris! =90><! (- lvi-] to th 'r #t st h i'ht of hum#" virtu (#ssi"' i"to th sh#& s of us l ss o)livio"! I thou'ht it . ll to o) $ $ou0 #"& i" # f . .or&s! #s ) st I ,#"0 to t ll h r stor$ i" u"stu&i & #"& sim(l st$l MACRINA'S PARENTS Th vir'i"0s "#m .#s M#,ri"#7 sh .#s so ,#ll & )$ h r (#r "ts #ft r # f#mous M#,ri"# som tim ) for i" th f#mil$0 our f#th r0s moth r0 .ho h#& ,o"f ss & 5hrist [96? A] li* # 'oo& #thl t i" th tim of th ( rs ,utio"s- This i"& & .#s h r "#m to th outsi& .orl&0 th o" us & )$ h r fri "&s- 6ut #"oth r "#m h#& ) " 'iv " h r (riv#t l$0 #s th r sult of # visio" ) for sh .#s )or" i"to th .orl&@or i"& & h r moth r .#s so virtuous th#t sh .#s 'ui& & o" #ll o,,#sio"s )$ th &ivi" .ill- I" (#rti,ul#r sh lov & th (ur #"& u"st#i" & mo& of lif so mu,h th#t sh .#s u".illi"' to ) m#rri &6ut si", sh h#& lost )oth h r (#r "ts! #"& .#s i" th v r$ flo. r of h r $outhful ) #ut$! #"& th f#m of h r 'oo& loo*s .#s #ttr#,ti"' m#"$ suitors! #"& th r .#s # &#"' r th#t! if sh . r "ot m#t & to som o" .illi"'l$! sh mi'ht suff r som [96? 6] u".ish & for viol "t f#t 0 s i"' th#t som m "0 i"fl#m & )$ h r ) #ut$0 . r r #&$ to #)&u,t h rAo" this #,,ou"t sh ,hos for h r hus)#"& # m#" .ho .#s *"o." #"& #((rov & for th 'r#vit$ of his ,o"&u,t0 #"& so '#i" & # (rot ,tor of h r lif THE BIRTH OF MACRINA At h r first ,o"fi" m "t sh ) ,#m th moth r of M#,ri"#- Bh " th &u tim ,#m for h r (#"'s to ) "& & )$ & liv r$0 sh f ll #sl ( #"& s m & to ) ,#rr$i"' i" h r h#"&s th#t .hi,h .#s still i" h r .om)- A"& som o" i" form #"& r#im "t mor s(l "&i& th#" # hum#" ) i"' #(( #r & #"& #&&r ss & th ,hil& sh .#s ,#rr$i"' )$ th "#m of Th ,l#! th#t Th ,l#! I m #"! .ho is so f#mous #mo"' th vir'i"s-

["ot 1 Th ,l# .#s # ,o"t m(or#r$ of St- P#ul! #,,or&i"' to th A,ts of Paul and Thecla, .hi,h m#$ . ll h#v ) " fou"& & o" f#,t- S #rti,l 4 Th ,l# 4 i" Dictionary of Christian Biography, #"& th ,h#(t r o" Th ,l# i" Sir B- M- 2#ms#$0s Church in the Roman mpire! ] Aft r &oi"' this #"& t stif$i"' to it thr tim s! h & (#rt & from h r si'ht #"& '#v h r #s$ & liv r$! so th#t #t th#t mom "t sh #.o* from sl ( #"& s#. h r &r #m r #lis &- No. this "#m .#s us & o"l$ i" s ,r t- 6ut it [96? 5] s ms to m th#t th #((#ritio" s(o* "ot so mu,h to 'ui& th moth r to # ri'ht ,hoi, of "#m 0 #s to for ,#st th lif of th $ou"' ,hil&0 #"& to i"&i,#t )$ th "#m th#t sh .oul& follo. h r "#m s#* 0s mo& of lif MACRINA'S CHILDHOOD B ll! th ,hil& .#s r #r &- Althou'h sh h#& h r o." "urs ! $ t #s # rul h r moth r &i& th "ursi"' .ith h r o." h#"&s- Aft r (#ssi"' th st#' of i"f#",$! sh sho. & h rs lf #(t i" #,Cuiri"' ,hil&ish #,,om(lishm "ts0 #"& h r "#tur#l (o. rs . r sho." i" v r$ stu&$ to .hi,h h r (#r "ts0 %u&'m "t &ir ,t & h r- Th &u,#tio" of th ,hil& .#s h r moth r0s t#s* 7 sh &i& "ot0 ho. v r! m(lo$ th usu#l .orl&l$ m tho& of &u,#tio"! .hi,h m#* s # (r#,ti, of usi"' (o tr$ #s # [96? D] m #"s of tr#i"i"' th #rl$ $ #rs of th ,hil&- @or sh ,o"si& r & it &is'r#, ful #"& Cuit u"suit#)l ! th#t # t "& r #"& (l#sti, "#tur shoul& ) t#u'ht ith r thos tr#'i, (#ssio"s of .om#"hoo& .hi,h #ffor& & (o ts th ir su'' stio"s #"& (lots! or th i"& , ",i s of ,om &$0 to ) 0 so to s( #*! & fil & .ith u"s ml$ t#l s of 4 th h#r m-4 ["ot 1 [3r *1 tois #s m"ot rois tO" 'u"#i* iO" &iE'Em#si"]] 6ut su,h (#rts of i"s(ir & S,ri(tur #s $ou .oul& thi"* . r i",om(r h "si)l to $ou"' ,hil&r " . r th su)% ,t of th 'irl0s stu&i s 7 i" (#rti,ul#r th Bis&om of Solomo"! #"& thos (#rts of it s( ,i#ll$ .hi,h h#v #" thi,#l ) #ri"'- Nor .#s sh i'"or#"t of #"$ (#rt of th Ps#lt r0 )ut #t st#t & tim s sh r ,it & v r$ (#rt of it- Bh " sh ros from ) &! or "'#' & i" hous hol& &uti s0 or r st &! [96E A] or (#rtoo* of foo&0 or r tir & from t#)l ! .h " sh . "t to ) & or ros i" th "i'ht for (r#$ r! th Ps#lt r .#s h r ,o"st#"t ,om(#"io"! li* # 'oo& f llo. A tr#v ll r th#t " v r & s rt & h rHER BETROTHAL @illi"' h r tim .ith th s #"& th li* o,,u(#tio"s! #"& #tt#i"i"' ) si& s # ,o"si& r#)l (rofi,i ",$ i" .ool.or*! th 'ro.i"' 'irl r #,h & h r t. lfth $ #r! th #' .h " th )loom of #&ol s, ", ) 'i"s to #(( #r- I" .hi,h ,o"" ,tio" it is "ot .orth$ th#t th 'irl0s ) #ut$ ,oul& "ot ) ,o", #l & i" s(it of fforts to hi& it- Nor i" #ll th ,ou"tr$si& ! so it s ms! .#s th r #"$thi"' so m#rv llous #s h r ) #ut$ i" ,om(#riso" .ith th#t of oth rs- So f#ir .#s sh th#t v " (#i"t rs0 h#"&s ,oul& "ot &o %usti, to h r [96E 6] ,om li" ss7 th #rt th#t ,o"triv s #ll thi"'s #"& ss#$s th 'r #t st t#s*s! so #s v " to mo& l i" imit#tio" th fi'ur s of th h #v "l$ )o&i s! ,oul& "ot #,,ur#t l$ r (ro&u, th lov li" ss of h r form- I" ,o"s Cu ", # 'r #t s.#rm of suitors s *i"' h r i" m#rri#' ,ro.& & rou"& h r (#r "ts- 6ut h r f#th r A # shr .& m#" .ith # r (ut#tio" for formi"' ri'ht & ,isio"sA(i,* & out from th r st # $ou"' m#" r l#t & to th f#mil$! .ho .#s %ust l #vi"' s,hool! of 'oo& )irth #"& r m#r*#)l st #&i" ss! #"& & ,i& & to ) troth his &#u'ht r to him! #s soo" #s sh .#s ol& "ou'h- M #"tim h #rous & 'r #t ho( s! #"& h off r & to his futur f#th ri"l#. his f#m i" (u)li, s( #*i"'0 #s it . r o" of th )ri& 'room0s 'ifts7 for h &is(l#$ & th [96E 5] (o. r of his loCu ", i" for "si, ,o"t sts o" ) h#lf of th .ro"' &DEATH OF TIIE YOUNG MAN 6ut E"v$ ,ut off th s )ri'ht ho( s )$ s"#t,hi"' #.#$ th (oor l#& from lif - No. M#,ri"# .#s "ot i'"or#"t of h r f#th r0s s,h m s- 6ut .h " th (l#" form & for h r .#s sh#tt r & )$ th $ou"' m#"0s & #th! sh s#i& h r f#th r0s i"t "tio" .#s Cuiv#l "t to # m#rri#' ! #"& r solv & to r m#i" si"'l h ", for.#r&! %ust #s if th i"t "tio" h#& ) ,om #,,om(lish & f#,t- A"& i"& & h r & t rmi"#tio" .#s mor st #&f#st th#" ,oul& h#v ) " +( ,t & from h r #' - @or .h " h r (#r "ts )rou'ht (ro(os#ls of m#rri#' to h r! #s oft " h#(( " & o.i"' to th "um) r of suitors th#t ,#m #ttr#,t & )$ th f#m of h r ) #ut$! sh .oul& s#$ th#t it .#s #)sur& #"& u"l#.ful "ot to ) f#ithful to th m#rri#' th#t h#& ) " #rr#"' & for h r )$ h r f#th r! )ut to ) ,om( ll & to ,o"si& r #"oth r 7 si", i" th "#tur of thi"'s th r .#s )ut o" m#rri#' ! #s th r is o" )irth #"& o" & #th- Sh ( rsist & th#t th m#" .ho h#& ) " li"* & to h r )$ h r [96E D] (#r "ts0 #rr#"' m "t .#s "ot & #&! )ut th#t sh ,o"si& r & him .ho liv & to 3o&! th#"*s to th ho( of th r surr ,tio"! to ) #)s "t o"l$! "ot & #&7 it .#s .ro"' "ot to * ( f#ith .ith th

)ri& 'room .ho .#s #.#$MACRINA RESOLVES NEVER TO LEAVE HER MOTHER Bith su,h .or&s r ( lli"' thos .ho tri & to t#l* h r ov r! sh s ttl & o" o" s#f 'u#r& of h r 'oo& r solutio"! i" # r solv "ot to ) s (#r#t & from h r moth r v " for # mom "t of tim - So th#t h r moth r .oul& oft " s#$ th#t sh h#& ,#rri & th r st of h r ,hil&r " i" h r .om) for # & fi"it tim ! )ut th#t M#,ri"# sh )or #l.#$s! si", i" # s "s sh v r ,#rri & h r #)out- 6ut th &#u'ht r0s ,om(#"io"shi( .#s "ot # )ur& " to h r moth r0 "or (rofitl ss- @or th #tt "tio"s r , iv & from h r &#u'ht r . r .orth thos [966 A] of m#"$ m#i&s rv#"ts! #"& th ) " fits . r mutu#l- @or th moth r loo* & #ft r th 'irl0s soul! #"& th 'irl loo* & #ft r h r moth r0s )o&$! #"& i" #ll r s( ,ts fulfill & th r Cuir & s rvi, s! v " 'oi"' so f#r #s to (r (#r m #ls for h r moth r .ith h r o." h#"&s- Not th#t sh m#& this h r ,hi f )usi" ss- 6ut #ft r sh h#& #"oi"t & h r h#"&s )$ th ( rform#", of r li'ious &uti sA for sh & m & th#t 8 #l for this .#s ,o"sist "t .ith th (ri",i(l s of h r lif Ai" th tim th#t .#s l ft sh (r (#r & foo& for h r moth r )$ h r o." toil- A"& "ot o"l$ this! )ut sh h l( & h r moth r to ) #r h r )ur& " of r s(o"si)iliti s- @or sh h#& four so"s #"& fiv &#u'ht rs! #"& (#i& t#+ s to thr &iff r "t 'ov r"ors! si", h r (ro( rt$ .#s s,#tt r & i" #s m#"$ &istri,ts- I" ,o"s Cu ", [966 6] h r moth r .#s &istr#,t & .ith v#rious #"+i ti s! for h r f#th r h#& )$ this tim & (#rt & this lif - I" #ll th s m#tt rs sh sh#r & h r moth r0s toils! &ivi&i"' h r ,#r s .ith h r! #"& li'ht "i"' h r h #v$ lo#& of sorro.s- At o" #"& th s#m tim ! th#"*s to h r moth r0s 'u#r&i#"shi(! sh .#s * (i"' h r o." lif )l#m l ss! so th#t h r moth r0s $ )oth &ir ,t & #"& .it" ss & #ll sh &i& 7 #"& #lso )$ h r o." lif sh i"stru,t & h r moth r 'r #tl$! l #&i"' h r to th s#m m#r*! th#t of (hiloso(h$ I m #"! #"& 'r#&u#ll$ &r#.i"' h r o" to th imm#t ri#l #"& mor ( rf ,t lif BASIL RETURNS FROM THE UNIVERSITY Bh " th moth r h#& #rr#"' & +, ll "t m#rri#' s for th oth r sist rs! su,h #s .#s ) st i" #,h ,#s ! M#,ri"#0s )roth r! th 'r #t 6#sil! r tur" & #ft r his lo"' ( rio& of [966 5] &u,#tio"! #lr #&$ # (r#,tis & rh tori,i#"- H .#s (uff & u( ) $o"& m #sur .ith th (ri& of or#tor$ #"& loo* & &o." o" th lo,#l &i'"it#ri s! +, lli"' i" his o." stim#tio" #ll th m " of l #&i"' #"& (ositio"- N v rth l ss M#,ri"# too* him i" h#"&! #"& .ith su,h s( & &i& sh &r#. him #lso to.#r& th m#r* of (hiloso(h$ th#t h forsoo* th 'lori s of this .orl& #"& & s(is & f#m '#i" & )$ s( #*i"'! #"& & s rt & it for this )us$ lif .h r o" toils .ith o" 0s h#"&s- His r "u",i#tio" of (ro( rt$ .#s ,om(l t ! l st #"$thi"' shoul& im( & th lif of virtu - 6ut! i"& &! his lif #"& th su)s Cu "t #,ts! )$ .hi,h h ) ,#m r "o." & throu'hout th .orl& #"& (ut i"to th sh#& #ll thos .ho h#v .o" r "o." for th ir virtu ! .oul& [966 D ]" & # lo"' & s,ri(tio" #"& mu,h tim - 6ut I must &iv rt m$ t#l to its #((oi"t & t#s*No. th#t #ll th &istr#,tio"s of th m#t ri#l lif h#& ) " r mov &! M#,ri"# ( rsu#& & h r moth r to 'iv u( h r or&i"#r$ lif #"& #ll sho.$ st$l of livi"' #"& th s rvi, s of &om sti,s to .hi,h sh h#& ) " #,,ustom & ) for ! #"& )ri"' h r (oi"t of vi . &o." to th#t of th m#ss s! #"& to sh#r th lif of th m#i&s! tr #ti"' #ll h r sl#v 'irls #"& m "i#ls #s if th $ . r sist rs #"& ) lo"' & to th s#m r#"* #s h rs lf6ut #t this (oi"t I shoul& li* to i"s rt # short (#r "th sis i" m$ "#rr#tiv #"& "ot to (#ss ov r u"r l#t & su,h # m#tt r #s th follo.i"'! i" .hi,h th loft$ ,h#r#,t r of th m#i& " is &is(l#$ &THE STORY OF NAUCRATIUS Th s ,o"& of th four )roth rs! N#u,r#tius )$ "#m ! .ho ,#m " +t #ft r th 'r #t 6#sil! +, ll & th r st i" "#tur#l "&o.m "ts #"& (h$si,#l ) #ut$! i" str "'th! s( & #"& #)ilit$ to tur" his h#"& to #"$thi"'Bh " [96> A] h h#& r #,h & his t. "t$first $ #r! #"& h#& 'iv " su,h & mo"str#tio" of his stu&i s )$ s( #*i"' i" (u)li,! th#t th .hol #u&i ", i" th th #tr .#s thrill &! h .#s l & )$ # &ivi" (rovi& ", to & s(is #ll th#t .#s #lr #&$ i" his 'r#s(! #"& &r#." )$ #" irr sisti)l im(uls . "t off to # lif of solitu& #"& (ov rt$- H too* "othi"' .ith him )ut hims lf! s#v th#t o" of th s rv#"ts "#m & 5hr$s#(ius follo. & him! ) ,#us of th #ff ,tio" h h#& to.#r&s his m#st r #"& th i"t "tio" h h#&

form & to l #& th s#m lif - So h liv & )$ hims lf! h#vi"' fou"& # solit#r$ s(ot o" th )#"*s of th IrisA # riv r flo.i"' throu'h th mi&st of Po"tus- It ris s #,tu#ll$ i" Arm "i#! (#ss s throu'h our (#rts! #"& &is,h#r' s its str #m i"to th [96> 6] 6l#,* S #- 6$ it th $ou"' m#" fou"& # (l#, .ith # lu+uri#"t 'ro.th of tr s #"& # hill " stli"' u"& r th m#ss of th ov rh#"'i"' mou"t#i"- Th r h liv & f#r r mov & from th "ois s of th ,it$ #"& th &istr#,tio"s th#t surrou"& th liv s )oth of th sol&i r #"& th (l #& r i" th l#. ,ourts- H#vi"' thus fr & hims lf from th &i" of ,#r s th#t im( & s m#"0s hi'h r lif ! .ith his o." h#"&s h loo* & #ft r som ol& ( o(l .ho . r livi"' i" (ov rt$ #"& f )l " ss! ,o"si& ri"' it #((ro(ri#t to his mo& of lif to m#* su,h # .or* his ,#r - So th ' " rous $outh .oul& 'o o" fishi"' +( &itio"s! #"& si", h .#s +( rt i" v r$ form of s(ort! h (rovi& & foo& to his 'r#t ful ,li "ts )$ this m #"s- A"& #t th s#m tim )$ su,h + r,is s h .#s t#mi"' his o." m#"hoo&6 si& s this! h #lso 'l#&l$ o) $ & his moth r0s .ish s .h " v r sh issu & # ,omm#"&- A"& so i" th s t.o .#$s h 'ui& & his lif ! [96> 5] su)&ui"' his $outhful "#tur )$ toils #"& ,#ri"' #ssi&uousl$ for his moth r! #"& thus * (i"' th &ivi" ,omm#"&s h .#s tr#v lli"' hom to 3o&I" this m#"" r h ,om(l t & th fifth $ #r of his lif #s # (hiloso(h r! )$ .hi,h h m#& his moth r h#(($! )oth )$ th .#$ i" .hi,h h #&or" & his o." lif )$ ,o"ti" ", ! #"& )$ th & votio" of #ll his (o. rs to &o th .ill of h r th#t )or himTHE TRAGIC DEATH OF NAUCRATIUS Th " th r f ll o" th moth r # 'ri vous #"& tr#'i, #ffli,tio"! ,o"triv &! I thi"*! )$ th A&v rs#r$! .hi,h )rou'ht trou)l #"& mour"i"' u(o" #ll th f#mil$- @or h .#s s"#t,h & su&& "l$ #.#$ from lif - No (r vious si,*" ss h#& (r (#r & th m for th )lo.! "or &i& #"$ of th usu#l #"& . ll *"o." mis,h#", s )ri"' & #th u(o" th $ou"' m#"- [96> D] H#vi"' st#rt & out o" o" of th +( &itio"s! )$ .hi,h h (rovi& & " , ss#ri s for th ol& m " u"& r his ,#r ! h .#s )rou'ht )#,* hom & #&! to' th r .ith 5hr$s#(ius .ho sh#r & his lif - His moth r .#s f#r #.#s! thr &#$s &ist#"t from th s, " of th tr#' &$Som o" ,#m to h r t lli"' th )#& " .s- P rf ,t thou'h sh .#s i" v r$ & (#rtm "t of virtu ! $ t "#tur &omi"#t & h r #s it &o s oth rs- @or sh ,oll#(s &! #"& i" # mom "t lost )oth )r #th #"& s( ,h! si", h r r #so" f#il & h r u"& r th &is#st r! #"& sh .#s thro." to th 'rou"& )$ th #ss#ult of th vil ti&i"'s! li* som "o)l #thl t hit )$ #" u" +( ,t & )lo.MACRINA THE ONE SUPPORT OF HER MOTHER A"& "o. th virtu of th 'r #t M#,ri"# .#s &is(l#$ &- @#,i"' th &is#st r i" # [9F0 A] r#tio"#l s(irit! sh )oth (r s rv & h rs lf from ,oll#(s ! #"& ) ,omi"' th (ro( of h r moth r0s . #*" ss! r#is & h r u( from th #)$ss of 'ri f! #"& )$ h r o." st #&f#st" ss #"& im( rtur)#)ilit$ t#u'ht h r moth r0s soul to ) )r#v - I" ,o"s Cu ", ! h r moth r .#s "ot ov r.h lm & )$ th #ffli,tio"! "or &i& sh ) h#v i" #"$ i'"o)l #"& .om#"ish .#$! so #s to ,r$ out #t th ,#l#mit$! or t #r h r &r ss! or l#m "t ov r th trou)l ! or stri* u( fu" r#l ,h#"ts .ith mour"ful m lo&i s- O" th ,o"tr#r$ sh r sist & th im(uls s of "#tur ! #"& Cui t & h rs lf )oth )$ su,h r fl ,tio"s #s o,,urr & to h r s(o"t#" ousl$! #"& thos th#t . r #((li & )$ h r &#u'ht r to ,ur th ill- @or th " .#s th "o)ilit$ of M#,ri"#0s soul most of #ll ,o"s(i,uous 7 si", [9F0 6] "#tur#l #ff ,tio" .#s m#*i"' h r suff r #s . ll- @or it .#s # )roth r! #"& # f#vourit )roth r! .ho h#& ) " s"#t,h & #.#$ )$ su,h # m#"" r of & #th- N v rth l ss! ,o"Cu ri"' "#tur ! sh so sust#i" & h r moth r )$ h r #r'um "ts th#t sh ! too! ros su( rior to h r sorro.- 6 si& s .hi,h! th mor#l l v#tio" #l.#$s m#i"t#i" & )$ M#,ri"#0s lif '#v h r moth r th o((ortu"it$ of r %oi,i"' ov r th )l ssi"'s sh "%o$ & r#th r th#" 'ri vi"' ov r thos th#t . r missi"'MOTHER AND DAUGHTER MA E FURTHER PROGRESS IN THE ASCETIC LIFE Bh " th ,#r s of )ri"'i"' u( # f#mil$ #"& th #"+i ti s of th ir &u,#tio" #"& s ttli"' i" lif h#& ,om to #" "&! #"& th (ro( rt$A# fr Cu "t ,#us of .orl&li" ssA h#& ) " for th most (#rt &ivi& & #mo"' th ,hil&r "! th "! #s I s#i& #)ov ! th lif of th vir'i" ) ,#m h r moth r0s 'ui& #"& l & h r o" to this (hiloso(hi, #"& s(iritu#l [9F0 5] m#"" r of lif - A"& . #"i"' h r from #ll #,,ustom & lu+uri s! M#,ri"# &r . h r o" to #&o(t h r o." st#"&#r& of humilit$- sh i"&u, & h r to liv o" # footi"' of Cu#lit$ .ith

th st#ff of m#i&s! so #s to sh#r .ith th m i" th s#m foo&! th s#m *i"& of ) &! #"& i" #ll th " , ss#ri s of lif ! .ithout #"$ r '#r& to &iff r ", s of r#"*- Su,h .#s th m#"" r of th ir lif ! so 'r #t th h i'ht of th ir (hiloso(h$! #"& so hol$ th ir ,o"&u,t &#$ #"& "i'ht! #s to m#* v r)#l & s,ri(tio" i"#& Cu#t - @or %ust #s souls fr & from th )o&$ )$ & #th #r s#v & from th ,#r s of this lif ! so .#s th ir lif f#r r mov & from #ll #rthl$ folli s #"& or& r & .ith # vi . of imit#ti"' th #"' li, lif - @or "o #"' r or % #lous$! "o h#tr & or (ri& ! .#s o)s rv & i" th ir mi&st! "or #"$thi"' ls of this "#tur ! si", th $ h#& ,#st #.#$ #ll v#i" & sir s for ho"our #"& 'lor$! #ll v#"it$! #rro'#", #"& th li* - 5o"ti" ", .#s th ir lu+ur$! #"& o)s,urit$ th ir 'lor$- Pov rt$! #"& th ,#sti"' #.#$ of #ll m#t ri#l su( rfluiti s li* &ust from th ir )o&i s! .#s th ir . #lth- I" f#,t! of #ll th thi"'s #ft r .hi,h m " #' rl$ (ursu i" this lif ! th r . r "o" .ith .hi,h th $ ,oul& "ot #sil$ &is( "s - ["ot 1 [3r *1 r'o" tO" *#t# tE" 8OE" t#utE" s(ou&#8om "o" ou& "! hoti mE (#r r'o"!] Th (l#$ o" .or&s is h#r& to r (ro&u, -] Nothi"' .#s l ft )ut th ,#r of &ivi" thi"'s #"& th u", #si"' rou"& of (r#$ r #"& "&l ss h$m"o&$! ,o +t "siv .ith tim its lf! (r#,tis & )$ "i'ht #"& &#$- So th#t to th m this m #"t .or*! #"& .or* so ,#ll & .#s r stBh#t hum#" .or&s ,oul& m#* $ou r #lis su,h # lif #s this! # lif o" th )or& rli" ) t. " hum#" #"& s(iritu#l "#tur G @or th#t "#tur shoul& ) fr from hum#" . #*" ss s is mor th#" ,#" ) +( ,t & from m#"*i"&- 6ut th s .om " f ll short of th #"' li, #"& imm#t ri#l "#tur o"l$ i" so f#r #s th $ #(( #r & i" )o&il$ form! #"& . r ,o"t#i" & .ithi" # hum#" fr#m ! #"& . r & ( "& "t u(o" th or'#"s of s "s - P rh#(s som mi'ht v " &#r to s#$ th#t th &iff r ", .#s "ot to th ir &is#&v#"t#' - si", livi"' i" th )o&$ #"& $ t #ft r th li* " ss of th imm#t ri#l ) i"'s! th $ . r "ot )o. & &o." )$ th . i'ht of th )o&$! )ut th ir lif .#s +#lt & to th s*i s #"& [9F? 6] th $ .#l* & o" hi'h i" ,om(#"$ .ith th (o. rs of h #v "Th ( rio& ,ov r & )$ this mo& of lif .#s "o short o" ! #"& .ith th l#(s of tim th ir su,, ss s i",r #s &! #s th ir (hiloso(h$ ,o"ti"u#ll$ 'r . (ur r .ith th &is,ov r$ of " . )l ssi"'sPETER! THE YOUNGEST BROTHER M#,ri"# .#s h l( & most of #ll i" #,hi vi"' this 'r #t #im of h r lif )$ h r o." )roth r P t r- Bith him th moth r0s (#"'s , #s &! for h .#s th l#t st )or" of th f#mil$- At o" #"& th s#m tim h r , iv & th "#m s of so" #"& or(h#"! for #s h "t r & this lif his f#th r (#ss & #.#$ from it- 6ut th l& st of th f#mil$! th su)% ,t of our stor$! too* him soo" #ft r )irth from th "urs 0s )r #st #"& r #r & him h rs lf #"& &u,#t & [9F? 5] him o" # loft$ s$st m of tr#i"i"'! (r#,tisi"' him from i"f#",$ i" hol$ stu&i s! so #s "ot to 'iv his soul l isur to tur" to v#i" thi"'s- Thus h#vi"' ) ,om #ll thi"'s to th l#& A f#th r! t #,h r! tutor! moth r! 'iv r of #ll 'oo& #&vi, Ash (ro&u, & su,h r sults th#t ) for th #' of )o$hoo& h#& (#ss &! .h " h .#s $ t # stri(li"' i" th first )loom of t "& r $outh! h #s(ir & to th hi'h m#r* of (hiloso(h$- A"&! th#"*s to his "#tur#l "&o.m "ts! h .#s ,l v r i" v r$ #rt th#t i"volv s h#"&A .or*! so th#t .ithout #"$ 'ui&#", h #,hi v & # ,om(l t l$ #,,ur#t *"o.l &' of v r$thi"' th#t or&i"#r$ ( o(l l #r" )$ tim #"& trou)l - S,or"i"' to o,,u($ [9F? D] his tim .ith .orl&l$ stu&i s! #"& h#vi"' i" "#tur # suffi,i "t i"stru,tor i" #ll 'oo& *"o.l &' ! #"& #l.#$s loo*i"' to his sist r #s th mo& l of #ll 'oo&! h #&v#", & to su,h # h i'ht of virtu th#t i" his su)s Cu "t lif h s m & i" "o .hit i"f rior to th 'r #t 6#sil- 6ut #t this tim h .#s #ll i" #ll to his sist r #"& moth r! ,o o( r#ti"' .ith th m i" th (ursuit of th #"' li, lif - O", .h " # s v r f#mi" h#& o,,urr & #"& ,ro.&s from #ll Cu#rt rs . r fr Cu "ti"' th r tr #t .h r th $ liv &! &r#." )$ th f#m of th ir ) " vol ", ! P t r0s *i"&" ss su((li & su,h #" #)u"&#", of foo& th#t th & s rt s m & # ,it$ )$ r #so" of th "um) r of visitorsDEATH OF THE MOTHER [9FE A] It .#s #)out this tim th#t th i" th #rms of h r t.o ,hil&r "- It is ,hil&r "! m "tio"i"' #,h of th #)s of th )l ssi"'! #"& ,omm "&i"' s( moth r &i &! ho"our & )$ #ll! #"& . "t to 3o&! $i l&i"' u( h r lif .orth .hil to 'iv th .or&s of )l ssi"' .hi,h sh us & ov r h r "t o" s i" lovi"' r m m)r#", ! so th#t "o si"'l o" .#s & (riv & ,i#ll$ to 3o& i" h r (r#$ rs thos .ho . r (r s "t .ith h r-

@or #s th s t.o s#t )$ h r o" #,h si& of th ) &! sh tou,h & th m .ith h r h#"&s! #"& utt r & th s (r#$ rs to 3o& .ith h r &$i"' .or&sA

4 To Th ! O Lor&! I 'iv th fruit of m$ .om) #s )oth firstfruits #"& t "ths- @or this m$ l& st is th firstfruits #"& this m$ l#st)or" is th t "th- E#,h is s#",tifi & to Th )$ th L#.! #"& th $ #r votiv off ri"'s to Th - Th r for l t Th$ s#",tifi,#tio" [9FE 6] & s, "& o" this m$ first #"& this m$ t "th-00 As sh s(o* sh i"&i,#t & )$ ' stur s h r &#u'ht r #"& so"- Th "! h#vi"' , #s & to )l ss! sh , #s & to liv ! h#vi"' first )i&& " h r ,hil&r " l#$ h r )o&$ i" th ir f#th r0s 'r#v - 6ut th $! h#vi"' fulfill & th ,omm#"&! ,l#v to (hiloso(h$ .ith still lofti r r solv ! v " strivi"' #'#i"st th ir o." lif #"& ,li(si"' th ir (r vious r ,or& )$ th ir su)s Cu "t su,, ss sBASIL DIES AFTER A NOBLE CAREER M #".hil 6#sil! th f#mous s#i"t! h#& ) " l ,t & )isho( ["ot 1 [3r *1 (rost#tHs]] Of th 'r #t ,hur,h of 5# s#r #- H #&v#", & P t r to th s#,r & or& r of th (ri sthoo&! ,o"s ,r#ti"' him i" ( rso" .ith m$sti, , r mo"i#l- A"& i" this .#$ # furth r #&v#", i" th &ir ,tio" of &i'"it$ [9FE 5] #"& s#",tit$ .#s m#& i" th ir lif ! "o. th#t (hiloso(h$ .#s "ri,h & )$ th (ri sthoo&Ei'ht $ #rs #ft r this! th .orl&r "o." & 6#sil & (#rt & from m " to liv .ith 3o&! to th ,ommo" 'ri f of his "#tiv l#"& #"& th .hol .orl&- No. .h " M#,ri"# h #r& th " .s of th ,#l#mit$ i" h r &ist#"t r tr #t! sh .#s &istr ss & i"& & i" soul #t so 'r #t # lossAfor ho. ,oul& sh "ot ) &istr ss & #t # ,#l#mit$! .hi,h .#s f lt v " )$ th " mi s of th truthGA)ut %ust #s th $ s#$ th#t th t sti"' of 'ol& t#* s (l#, i" s v r#l fur"#, s! so th#t if #"$ im(urit$ s,#( s th first fur"#, ! it m#$ ) s (#r#t & i" th s ,o"&! #"& #'#i" i" th l#st o" #ll #&mi+tur of &ross m#$ ) (ur' & #.#$A,o"s Cu "tl$ it is th most #,,ur#t t sti"' of (ur 'ol& if h#vi"' 'o" throu'h v r$ fur"#, it sho.s "o r fus - So it h#(( " & #lso i" h r ,#s - Bh " h r "o)l ,h#r#,t r h#& ) " t st & )$ th s &iff r "t #,, ssio"s of trou)l ! i" v r$ r s( ,t th m t#l of h r soul .#s (rov & to ) u"#&ult r#t & #"& u"& fil &- Th first t st .#s th loss of th o" )roth r! th s ,o"& th (#rti"' from h r moth r! th thir& .#s .h " th ,ommo" 'lor$ of th f#mil$! 'r #t 6#sil! .#s r mov & from hum#" lif - So sh r m#i" &! li* #" i"vi",i)l #thl t i" "o .is )ro* " )$ th #ss#ult of trou)l sGREGORY RESOLVES TO VISIT HIS SISTER It .#s th "i"th mo"th or # littl lo"' r #ft r this &is#st r! #"& # s$"o& of )isho(s .#s '#th r & #t A"tio,h! i" .hi,h . #lso too* (#rt- A"& .h " . )ro* u(! #,h to 'o hom ) for th $ #r .#s ov r! th " I! [9F6 A] 3r 'or$! f lt # & sir to visit M#,ri"#- @or # lo"' tim h#& l#(s & &uri"' .hi,h visits . r (r v "t & )$ th &istr#,tio" of th trou)l s .hi,h I u"& r. "t! ) i"' ,o"st#"tl$ &riv " out from m$ o." ,ou"tr$ )$ th l #& rs of h r s$- A"& .h " I ,#m to r ,*o" th i"t rv "i"' tim &uri"' .hi,h th trou)l s h#& (r v "t & us m ti"' f#, to f#, ! "o l ss th#" i'ht $ #rs! or v r$ " #rl$ th#t ( rio&! s m & to h#v l#(s &No. .h " I h#& #,,om(lish & most of th %our" $ #"& .#s o" &#$0s %our" $ &ist#"t! # visio" #(( #r & to m i" # &r #m #"& fill & m .ith #"+ious #"ti,i(#tio"s of th futur - I s m & to ) ,#rr$i"' m#rt$rs! r li,s i" m$ h#"&s 7 # li'ht ,#m from th m! su,h #s [9F6 6] ,om s from # ,l #r mirror .h " it is (ut f#,i"' th su"! so th#t m$ $ s . r )li"& & )$ th )rilli#", of th r#$s- Th s#m visio" r ,urr & thr tim s th#t "i'ht- I ,oul& "ot ,l #rl$ u"& rst#"& th ri&&l of th &r #m! )ut I s#. trou)l for m$ soul! #"& I .#t,h & ,#r full$ so #s to %u&' th visio" )$ v "tsBh " I #((ro#,h & th r tr #t i" .hi,h M#,ri"# l & h r #"' li, #"& h #v "l$ lif ! first of #ll I #s* & o" of th s rv#"ts #)out m$ )roth r! .h th r h . r #t hom - H tol& us th#t h h#& 'o" out four &#$s #'o "o.! #"& I u"& rstoo&! .hi,h i"& & .#s th ,#s ! th#t h h#& 'o" to m t us )$ #"oth r .#$- Th " I #s* & #ft r th 'r #t l#&$- H s#i& sh .#s v r$ ill! #"& I .#s th mor #' r to hurr$ o" #"& ,om(l t th r m#i"& r of th %our" $! for # , rt#i" #"+i t$ #"& (r mo"itor$ f #r of .h#t .#s ,omi"' stol [9F6 5] i" #"& &isCui t & m GREGORY COMES TO THE MONASTERY AND FINDS MACRINA ON HER DEATH BED

6ut .h " I ,#m to th #,tu#l (l#, ! rumour h#& #lr #&$ #""ou", & m$ #rriv#l to th )roth rhoo&- Th " th .hol ,om(#"$ of th m " ,#m str #mi"' out to m t us from th ir #(#rtm "ts- @or it .#s th ir ,ustom to ho"our fri "&s )$ m ti"' th m- 6ut th )#"& of vir'i"s o" th .om "0s si& mo& stl$ .#it & i" th ,hur,h for us to #rriv - 6ut .h " th (r#$ rs #"& th )l ssi"' . r ov r! #"& th .om "! #ft r r v r "tl$ i",li"i"' th ir h #& for th )l ssi"'! r tir & to th ir o." #(#rtm "ts! "o" of th m . r l ft .ith us- I 'u ss & th +(l#"#tio"! th#t th #)) ss .#s "ot .ith th m- A m#" l & m to th hous i" .hi,h .#s m$ 'r #t sist r! #"& [9F6 D] o( " & th &oor- Th " I "t r & th#t hol$ &. lli"'- I fou"& h r #lr #&$ t rri)l$ #ffli,t & .ith . #*" ss- sh .#s l$i"' "ot o" # ) & or ,ou,h! )ut o" th floor7 # s#,* h#& ) " s(r #& o" # )o#r&! #"& #"oth r )o#r& (ro(( & u( h r h #&! so ,o"triv & #s to #,t #s # (illo.! su((orti"' th si" .s of th " ,* i" sl#"ti"' f#shio"! #"& hol&i"' u( th " ,* ,omfort#)l$- No. .h " sh s#. m " #r th &oor sh r#is & h rs lf o" h r l)o. )ut ,oul& "ot ,om to m t m ! h r str "'th ) i"' #lr #&$ &r#i" & )$ f v r- 6ut )$ (utti"' h r h#"&s o" th floor #"& l #"i"' ov r from th (#ll t #s f#r #s sh ,oul&! sh sho. & th r s( ,t [9F> A] &u to m$ r#"*- I r#" to h r #"& m)r#, & h r (rostr#t form! #"& r#isi"' h r! #'#i" r stor & h r to h r usu#l (ositio"- Th " sh lift & h r h#",l to 3o& #"& s#i& A 4 This f#vour #lso Thou h#st 'r#"t & m ! O 3o&! #"& h#st "ot & (riv & m of m$ & sir ! ) ,#us Thou h#st stirr & u( Th$ s rv#"t to visit Th$ h#"&m#i&-00 L st sh shoul& v + m$ soul sh still & h r 'ro#"s #"& m#& 'r #t fforts to hi& ! if (ossi)l ! th &iffl,ult$ of h r )r #thi"'- A"& i" v r$ .#$ sh tri & to ) ,h rful! )oth t#*i"' th l #& h rs lf i" fri "&l$ t#l*! #"& 'ivi"' us #" o((ortu"it$ )$ #s*i"' Cu stio"s- Bh " i" th ,ours of ,o"v rs#tio" m "tio" .#s m#& of th 'r #t 6#sil! m$ soul .#s s#&& " & #"& m$ f#, f ll & % ,t &l$- 6ut so f#r .#s sh from sh#ri"' i" m$ #ffli,tio" [9F> 6] th#t! tr #ti"' th m "tio" of th s#i"t #s #" o,,#sio" for $ t lofti r (hiloso(h$! sh &is,uss & v#rious su)% ,ts! i"Cuiri"' i"to hum#" #ff#irs #"& r v #li"' i" h r ,o"v rs#tio" th &ivi" (ur(os ,o", #l & i" &is#st rs- 6 si& s this! sh &is,uss & th futur lif ! ["ot 1 I" th lo"' &i#lo'u ! De "nima et Resurrectione :Mi'" ! HL9I! ===60<! 3r 'or$ (ur(orts to r (ro&u, this ,o"v rs#tio"-] #s if i"s(ir & )$ th Hol$ s(irit! so th#t it #lmost s m & #s if m$ soul . r lift & )$ th h l( of h r .or&s #.#$ from mort#l "#tur #"& (l#, & .ithi" th h #v "l$ s#",tu#r$- A"& %ust #s . l #r" i" th stor$ of /o) th#t th s#i"t .#s torm "t & i" v r$ (#rt of his )o&$ .ith &is,h#r' s o.i"' to th ,orru(tio" of his .ou"&s! $ t &i& "ot #llo. th (#i" [9F> 5] to #ff ,t his r #so"i"' (o. r! )ut i" s(it of th (#i"s i" th )o&$ &i& "ot r l#+ his #,tiviti s "or i"t rru(t th loft$ s "tim "ts of his &is,ours A simil#rl$ &i& I s i" th ,#s of this 'r #t .om#"- @ v r .#s &r$i"' u( h r str "'th #"& &rivi"' h r o" to & #th! $ t sh r fr sh & h r )o&$ #s it . r .ith & .! #"& thus * (t h r mi"& u"im( & & i" th ,o"t m(l#tio" of h #v "l$ thi"'s! i" "o .#$ i"%ur & )$ h r t rri)l . #*" ss- A"& if m$ "#rr#tiv . r "ot +t "&i"' to #" u",o"s,io"#)l l "'th I .oul& t ll v r$thi"' i" or& r! ho. sh .#s u(lift & #s sh &is,ours & to us o" th "#tur of th soul #"& +(l#i" & th r #so" of lif i" th fl sh! #"& .h$ m#" .#s m#& ! #"& ho. h .#s mort#l! #"& th ori'i" of & #th #"& th "#tur of th %our" $ from & #th to lif #'#i"- I" #ll of [9F> D] .hi,h sh tol& h r t#l ,l #rl$ #"& ,o"s ,utiv l$ #s if i"s(ir & )$ th (o. r of th Hol$ s(irit! #"& th v " flo. of h r l#"'u#' .#s li* # fou"t#i" .hos .#t r str #ms &o." u"i"t rru(t &l$SHE SENDS GREGORY A"AY TO REST HIMSELF Bh " our ,o"v rs#tio" .#s fi"ish &! sh s#i& 4 It- is tim ! )roth r- for $ou to r st $our )o&$ #.hil ! si", it is . #ri & .ith th 'r #t toil of $our %our" $-4 A"& thou'h I fou"& it # 'r #t #"& ' "ui" r st to s h r #"& h #r h r "o)l .or&s! $ t si", sh .#"t & it so mu,h! th#t I mi'ht i" v r$ (#rti,ul#r s m to o) $ m$ mistr ss! I fou"& # (r tt$ #r)our (r (#r & for m i" o" of th " i'h)ouri"' '#r& "s! #"& r st & u"& r th sh#& of th tr#ili"' vi" s- 6ut it .#s im(ossi)l to h#v #"$ f li"'s of [9>0 A] "%o$m "t .h " m$ soul .ithi" m .#s ,o"str#i" & )$ 'loom$ #"ti,i(#tio"s! for th s ,r t of th visio" of m$ &r #m s m & to ) "o. r v #l & to m )$ .h#t I h#& s "- @or th im#' I h#& s " .#s i"& & tru A th r li,s of # hol$ m#rt$r .hi,h h#& ) " & #& i" si"! )ut "o. . r r s(l "& "t .ith th i"&. lli"' (o. r of th S(irit- I +(l#i" & this to o" of thos .ho h#& h #r& m t ll th &r #m ) for -

B . r ! #s o" mi'ht 'u ss! i" # & % ,t & st#t ! +( ,ti"' s#& ti&i"'s! .h " M#,ri"#! som ho. or oth r &ivi"i"' our ,o"&itio" of mi"&! s "t to us # m ss "' r .ith mor ,h rful " .s! #"& )#& us ) of 'oo& ,h r #"& h#v ) tt r ho( for h r! for sh .#s f li"' # ,h#"' for th ) tt r- No. this .#s "ot s#i& to & , iv ! )ut th m ss#' .#s [9>0 6]#,tu#ll$ tru ! thou'h . &i& "ot *"o. it #t th tim - @or i" v r$ truth! %ust #s # ru"" r .ho h#s (#ss & his #&v rs#r$ #"& #lr #&$ &r#." " #r to th "& of th st#&ium! #s h #((ro#,h s th %u&' 0s s #t #"& s s th ,ro." of vi,tor$! r %oi, s i".#r&l$ #s if h h#& #lr #&$ #tt#i" & his o)% ,t #"& #""ou", s his vi,tor$ to his s$m(#this rs #mo"' th s( ,t#torsAi" su,h # fr#m of mi"& &i& sh ! too! t ll us to ,h rish ) tt r ho( s for h r! for sh .#s #lr #&$ loo*i"' to th (ri8 of h r h #v "l$ ,#lli"'! #"& #ll )ut utt ri"' th #(ostl 0s .or&s1 4 H ", for.#r& is l#i& u( for m th ,ro." of ri'ht ous" ss! .hi,h th ri'ht ous /u&' sh#ll 'iv m 00! for 4 I h#v fou'ht th 'oo& fi'ht! I h#v fi"ish & th ,ours ! I h#v * (t th f#ith-00 A,,or&i"'l$! f li"' h#(($ #t th 'oo& [9>0 5] " .s! . ) '#" to "%o$ th si'hts th#t l#$ ) for us- @or th $ . r v r$ v#ri & #"& th #rr#"' m "ts '#v mu,h (l #sur ! si", th 'r #t l#&$ .#s ,#r ful v " of th s trifl sGREGORY RETURNS TO MACRINA! "HO RECALLS THE EVENTS OF HER CHILDHOOD 6ut .h " . s#. h r #'#i"! for sh &i& "ot #llo. us to s( "& tim )$ ours lv s i" i&l " ss! sh ) '#" to r ,#ll h r (#st lif ! ) 'i""i"' .ith ,hil&hoo&! #"& & s,ri)i"' it #ll i" or& r #s i" # histor$- sh r ,ou"t & #s mu,h #s sh ,oul& r m m) r of th lif of our (#r "ts! #"& th v "ts th#t too* (l#, )oth ) for #"& #ft r m$ )irth- 6ut h r #im throu'hout .#s 'r#titu& to.#r&s 3o&! for sh & s,ri) & our (#r "ts! lif "ot so mu,h from th (oi"t of vi . of th r (ut#tio" th $ "%o$ & i" th $ s of ,o"t m(or#ri s o" #,,ou"t of th ir ri,h s! #s #" +#m(l of th &ivi" )l ssi"'M$ f#th r0s (#r "ts h#& th ir 'oo&s ,o"fis,#t & for ,o"f ssi"' 5hrist- Our m#t r"#l [9>0 D] 'r#"&f#th r .#s sl#i" )$ th im( ri#l .r#th! #"& #ll his (oss ssio"s . r tr#"sf rr & to oth r m#st rs- N v rth l ss th ir lif #)ou"& & so i" f#ith th#t "o o" .#s "#m & #)ov th m i" thos tim s- A"& mor ov r! #ft r th ir su)st#", h#& ) " &ivi& & i"to "i" (#rts #,,or&i"' to th "um) r of th ,hil&r "! th sh#r of #,h .#s so i",r #s & )$ 3o&0s )l ssi"'! th#t th i",om of #,h of th ,hil&r " +, & & th (ros( rit$ of th (#r "ts- 6ut .h " it ,#m to M#,ri"# h rs lf sh * (t "othi"' of th thi"'s #ssi'" & to h r i" th Cu#l &ivisio" ) t. " )roth rs #"& sist rs! )ut #ll h r sh#r .#s 'iv " i"to th (ri st0s h#"&s #,,or&i"' to th &ivi" ,omm#"&- Mor ov r h r lif ) ,#m su,h )$ 3o&0s h l( th#t h r h#"&s " v r , #s & to .or* #,,or&i"' to th ,omm#"&m "t- N v r &i& sh v " loo* for h l( to #"$ hum#" ) i"'! "or &i& hum#" ,h#rit$ 'iv h r th o((ortu"it$ of # ,omfort#)l +ist ", - N v r . r ( titio" rs tur" & #.#$! $ t " v r &i& sh #(( #l for h l(! )ut 3o& s ,r tl$ )l ss & th littl s &s of h r 'oo& .or*s till th $ 'r . i"to # mi'ht$ fruitAs I tol& m$ o." trou)l #"& #ll th#t I h#& ) " throu'h! first m$ +il #t th h#"&s of th Em( ror 9#l "s o" #,,ou"t of th f#ith! #"& th " th ,o"fusio" i" th 5hur,h th#t summo" & m to ,o"fli,ts #"& tri#ls! m$ 'r #t sist r s#i&A 4 Bill $ou "ot , #s to ) i"s "si)l to th &ivi" )l ssi"'sG Bill $ou "ot r m &$ th i"'r#titu& of $our soul G Bill $ou "ot ,om(#r $our (ositio" .ith th#t of $our [9>? 6] (#r "tsG A"& $ t! #s r '#r&s .orl&l$ thi"'s! . m#* our )o#st of ) i"' . ll )or" #"& thi"*i"' . ,om of # "o)l f#mil$- Our f#th r .#s 'r #tl$ st m & #s # $ou"' m#" for his l #r"i"' 7 i" f#,t his f#m .#s st#)lish & throu'hout th l#. ,ourts of th (rovi", - su)s Cu "tl$! thou'h h +, ll & #ll oth rs i" rh tori,! his r (ut#tio" &i& "ot +t "& ) $o"& Po"tus- 6ut h .#s s#tisfi & .ith f#m i" his o." l#"&4 6ut $ou!0! sh s#i&! 4 #r r "o." & i" ,iti s #"& ( o(l s #"& "#tio"s- 5hur,h s summo" $ou #s #" #ll$ #"& &ir ,tor! #"& &o $ou "ot s th 'r#, of 3o& i" it #ll G Do $ou f#il to r ,o'"is th ,#us of su,h 'r #t )l ssi"'s! th#t it is $our (#r "ts! (r#$ rs th#t #r lifti"' $ou u( o" hi'h! $ou th#t h#v littl or "o Cui(m "t .ithi" $ours lf for su,h su,, ss G 00 Thus sh s(o* ! #"& I lo"' & for th l "'th of th &#$ to ) furth r +t "& &! th#t sh mi'ht " v r , #s

& li'hti"' our #rs .ith s. t" ss- 6ut th voi, of th ,hoir .#s summo"i"' us to th v "i"' s rvi, ! #"& s "&i"' m to ,hur,h! th 'r #t o" r tir & o", mor to 3o& i" (r#$ r- A"& thus sh s( "t th "i'htTHE EVENTS OF THE NE#T DAY: MACRINA'S LAST HOURS 6ut .h " &#$ ,#m it .#s ,l #r to m from .h#t I s#. th#t th ,omi"' &#$ .#s th utmost limit of h r lif i" th fl sh! si", th f v r h#& ,o"sum & #ll h r i""#t str "'th- 6ut sh ! ,o"si& ri"' th . #*" ss of our mi"&s! .#s ,o"trivi"' ho. to &iv rt us from our sorro.ful #"ti,i(#tio"s! #"& o", mor .ith thos ) #utiful .or&s of h rs (our & out .h#t .#s l ft of h r suff ri"' soul .ith [9>? D] short #"& &iffi,ult )r #thi"'- M#"$! i"& &! #"& v#ri &! . r th motio"s of m$ h #rt #t .h#t I s#.- @or "#tur h rs lf .#s #ffli,ti"' m #"& m#*i"' m s#& 7 #s .#s o"l$ to ) +( ,t &! si", I ,oul& "o lo"' r ho( v r to h #r su,h # voi, #'#i"- Nor #s $ t .#s I r ,o",il & to th thou'ht of losi"' th ,ommo" 'lor$ of our f#mil$! )ut m$ mi"&! #s it . r i"s(ir & )$ th s( ,t#,l ! su((os & th#t sh .oul& #,tu#ll$ ris su( rior to th ,ommo" lot- @or th#t sh &i& "ot v " i" h r l#st )r #th fi"& #"$thi"' str#"' i" th ho( of th 2 surr ,tio"! "or ,v " shri"* #t th & (#rtur from this lif ! )ut .ith loft$ mi"& ,o"ti"u & to &is,uss u( to h r l#st )r #th th ,o"vi,tio"s sh h#& form & from th ) 'i""i"' #)out this lif A#ll this s m & to m mor th#" hum#"- 2#th r &i& it s m #s if som #"' l h#& t#* " hum#" form .ith # sort of i",#r"#tio"! to .hom it .#s "othi"' [9>E] A str#"' th#t th mi"& shoul& r m#i" u"&istur) &! si", h h#& "o *i"shi( or li* " ss .ith this lif of fl sh! #"& so th fl sh &i& "ot &r#. th mi"& to thi"* o" its #ffli,tio"s- Th r for ["ot 1 I" or& r to #ssur th m th#t sh .#s r #ll$ &$i"'! sh utt r & #lou& th (r#$ r i" th " +t (#r#'r#(h-] I thi"* sh r v #l & to th )$st#"& rs th#t &ivi" #"& (ur lov of th i"visi)l )ri& 'room! .hi,h sh * (t hi&& " #"& "ourish & i" th s ,r t (l#, s of th soul! #"& sh (u)lish & #)ro#& th s ,r t &is(ositio" of h r h #rtAh r hurr$i"' to.#r&s Him Bhom sh & sir &! th#t sh mi'ht s( &il$ ) .ith Him! loos & from th ,h#i"s of th )o&$- @or i" v r$ truth h r ,ours .#s &ir ,t & to.#r&s virtu ! #"& "othi"' ls ,oul& &iv rt h r #tt "tio"MACRINA'S DYING PRAYER [9>E 6] Most of th &#$ h#& "o. (#ss &! #"& th su" .#s & ,li"i"' to.#r&s th B st- H r #' r" ss &i& "ot &imi"ish! )ut #s sh #((ro#,h & h r "&! #s if sh &is, r" & th ) #ut$ of th 6ri& 'room mor ,l #rl$! sh h#st " & to.#r&s th 6 lov & .ith th 'r #t r #' r" ss- su,h thou'hts #s th s &i& sh utt r! "o lo"' r to us .ho . r (r s "t! )ut to Him i" ( rso" o" Bhom sh '#8 & fi+ &l$- H r ,ou,h h#& ) " tur" & to.#r&s th E#st7 #"&! , #si"' to ,o"v rs .ith us! sh s(o* h ", for.#r& to 3o& i" (r#$ r0 m#*i"' su((li,#tio" .ith h r h#"&s #"& .his( ri"' .ith # lo. voi, ! so th#t . ,oul& %ust h #r .h#t .#s s#i&- Su,h .#s th (r#$ r7 . " & "ot &ou)t th#t it r #,h & [9>E 5] 3o& #"& th#t sh ! too! .#s h #ri"' His voi, 4 Thou! O Lor&! h#st fr & us from th f #r of & #th- Thou h#st m#& th "& of this lif th ) 'i""i"' to us oI tru lif - Thou for # s #so" r st st our )o&i s i" sl ( #"& #.#* st th m #'#i" #t th l#st trum(Thou 'iv st our #rth! .hi,h Thou h#st f#shio" & .ith Th$ h#"&s! to th #rth to * ( i" s#f t$- O" &#$ Thou .ilt t#* #'#i" .h#t Thou h#st 'iv "! tr#"sfi'uri"' .ith immort#lit$ #"& 'r#, our mort#l #"& u"si'htl$ r m#i"s- Thou h#st s#v & us from th ,urs #"& from si"! h#vi"' ) ,om )oth for our s#* sThou h#st )ro* " th h #&s of th &r#'o" .ho h#& s i8 & us .ith his %#.s! i" th $#."i"' 'ulf of &iso) &i,", - Thou h#st sho." us th .#$ of r surr ,tio"! h#vi"' )ro* " th '#t s of h ll! #"& )rou'ht to "ou'ht him .ho h#& th (o. r of & #thAth & vil- Thou h#st 'iv " # si'" to thos th#t f #r Th i" th s$m)ol of th Hol$ 5ross! [9>E D] to & stro$ th #&v rs#r$ #"& s#v our lif - O 3o& t r"#l! to Bhom I h#v ) " #tt#,h & from m$ moth r0s .om)! Bhom m$ soul h#s lov & .ith #ll its str "'th! to Bhom I h#v & &i,#t & )oth m$ fl sh #"& m$ soul from m$ $outh u( u"til "o.A&o Thou 'iv m #" #"' l of li'ht to ,o"&u,t m to th (l#, of r fr shm "t! .h r is th .#t r of r st! i" th )osom of th hol$ @#th rs- Thou th#t &i&st )r #* th fl#mi"' s.or& #"& &i&st r stor to P#r#&is th m#" th#t .#s ,ru,ifi & .ith Th #"& im(lor & Th$ m r,i s! r m m) r m ! too! i" Th$ *i"'&om7 ) ,#us I! too! .#s ,ru,ifi & .ith Th ! h#vi"' "#il & m$ fl sh to th ,ross for f #r of Th ! #"& of Th$ %u&'m "ts h#v I ) " #fr#i&- L t "ot th t rri)l ,h#sm s (#r#t m from Th$ l ,t- Nor l t [9>6 A] th sl#"& r r

st#"& #'#i"st m i" th .#$7 "or l t m$ si" ) fou"& ) for Thv $ s! if i" #"$thi"' I h#v si"" & i" .or& or & & or thou'ht! l & #str#$ )$ th . #*" ss of our "#tur - O Thou Bho h#st (o. r o" #rth to for'iv si"s! for'iv m ! th#t I m#$ ) r fr sh & #"& m#$ ) fou"& ) for Th .h " I (ut off m$ )o&$! .ithout & fil m "t o" m$ soul- 6ut m#$ m$ soul ) r , iv & i"to Th$ h#"&s s(otl ss #"& u"& fil &! #s #" off ri"' ) for Th -4 As sh s#i& th s .or&s sh s #l & h r $ s #"& mouth #"& h #rt .ith th ,ross- A"& 'r#&u#ll$ h r to"'u &ri & u( .ith th f v r! sh ,oul& #rti,ul#t h r .or&s "o lo"' r! #"& h r voi, &i & #.#$! #"& o"l$ )$ th tr m)li"' of h r li(s #"& th motio" of h r h#"&s &i& . r ,o'"is th#t sh .#s (r#$i"'M #".hil v "i"' h#& ,om #"& # l#m( [9>6 6] .#s )rou'ht i"- All #t o", sh o( " & th or) of h r $ s #"& loo* & to.#r&s th li'ht! ,l #rl$ .#"ti"' to r ( #t th th#"*s'ivi"' su"' #t th Li'hti"' of th L#m(s- 6ut h r voi, f#il & #"& sh fulfill & h r i"t "tio" i" th h #rt #"& )$ movi"' h r h#"&s! .hil h r li(s stirr & i" s$m(#th$ .ith h r i".#r& & sir - 6ut .h " sh h#& fi"ish & th th#"*s'ivi"'! #"& h r h#"& )rou'ht to h r f#, to m#* th si'" h#& si'"ifi & th "& of th (r#$ r! sh &r . # 'r #t & ( )r #th #"& ,los & h r lif #"& h r (r#$ r to' th rGREGORY PERFORMS THE LAST OFFICES [9>6 5] A"& "o. th#t sh .#s )r #thl ss #"& still! r m m) ri"' th ,omm#"& th#t sh h#& 'iv " #t our first m ti"'! t lli"' m sh .ish & h r h#"&s l#i& o" h r $ s! #"& th #,,ustom & offi, s &o" for th )o&$ )$ m ! I )rou'ht h r h#"&s! #ll "um) .ith th &is #s ! o" to h r hol$ f#, ! o"l$ th#t I mi'ht "ot s m to " 'l ,t h r )i&&i"'- @or h r $ s " & & "o" to ,om(os th m! ) i"' ,ov r & 'r#, full$ )$ th li&s! %ust #s h#(( "s i" "#tur#l sl (7 th li(s . r suit#)l$ ,los & #"& th h#"&s l#i& r v r "tl$ o" th )r #st! #"& th .hol )o&$ h#& #utom#ti,#ll$ f#ll " i"to th ri'ht (ositio"! #"& i" "o .#$ " & & th h l( of th l#$ rsoutTHE SISTERS LAMENT FOR THEIR ABBESS No. m$ mi"& .#s ) ,omi"' u"" rv & i" t.o .#$s! from th si'ht th#t m t m$ '#8 ! #"& th s#& .#ili"' of th vir'i"s th#t sou"& & i" m$ #rs- So f#r th $ h#& r m#i" & [9>6 D] Cui t #"& su((r ss & th ir 'ri f! r str#i"i"' th ir im(uls to mour" for f #r of h r! #s if th $ &r #& & h r r )u* v " .h " h r voi, .#s sil "t! l st i" #"$ .#$ # sou"& shoul& )r #* forth from th m ,o"tr#r$ to h r ,omm#"& #"& th ir mistr ss ) 'ri v & i" ,o"s Cu ", - 6ut .h " th $ ,oul& "o lo"' r su)&u th ir #"'uish i" sil ", ! #"& 'ri f li* som i".#r& fir .#s smoul& ri"' i" th ir h #rts! #ll #t o", # )itt r #"& irr (r ssi)l ,r$ )ro* out7 so th#t m$ r #so" "o lo"' r r m#i" & ,#lm! )ut # floo& of motio"! li* # .#t r,ours i" s(#t ! s. (t it #.#$! #"& so! " 'l ,ti"' m$ &uti s! I '#v m$s lf u( to l#m "t#tio"- I"& &! th ,#us for th m#i& "s! . (i"' s m & to m %ust #"& [9>> A] r #so"#)l - @or th $ . r "ot ) .#ili"' th loss of hum#" ,om(#"io"shi( #"& 'ui&#", ! "or #"$ oth r su,h thi"' #s m " 'ri v ov r .h " &is#st r ,om s- 6ut it s m & #s if th $ h#& ) " tor" #.#$ from th ir ho( i" 3o& #"& th s#lv#tio" of th ir souls! #"& so th $ ,ri & #"& ) .#il & i" this m#"" rA 4 Th li'ht of our $ s h#s 'o" out0 Th li'ht th#t 'ui& & our souls h#s ) " t#* " #.#$Th s#f t$ of our lif is & stro$ &0 Th s #l of immort#lit$ is r mov &0 Th )o"& of r str#i"t h#s ) " t#* " #.#$! Th su((ort of th . #* h#s ) " )ro* "0 Th h #li"' of th si,* r mov &I" th$ (r s ", th "i'ht ) ,#m to us #s &#$! Illumi" & .ith (ur lif ! 6ut "o. v " our &#$ .ill ) tur" & to 'loom-4 S#&& st of #ll i" th ir 'ri f . r thos .ho [9>> 6] ,#ll & o" h r #s moth r #"& "urs - Th s . r th $ .hom sh (i,* & u(! +(os & )$ th ro#&si& i" th tim of f#mi" - Sh h#& "urs & #"& r #r & th m! #"& l & th m to th (ur #"& st#i"l ss lif -

6ut .h "! #s it . r from th & (! I r ,ov r & m$ thou'hts! I loo* & to.#r&s th#t hol$ f#, #"& it s m & #s if it r )u* & m for th ,o"fusio" of th "ois$ mour" rs- So I ,#ll & to th sist rs .ith # lou& voi, A 4 Loo* #t h r! #"& r m m) r h r ,omm#"&s! )$ .hi,h sh tr#i" & $ou to ) or& rl$ #"& & , "t i" v r$thi"'- O" o,,#sio" for t #rs &i& this &ivi" soul or&#i" for us! r ,omm "&i"' us to . ( #t th tim of (r#$ r- 7 Bhi,h "o. . m#$ &o! )$ tur"i"' th l#m "t#tio"s i"to (s#lmo&$ i" th s#m str#i"-00 VESTIANA COMES TO HIELP GREGORY [9>> 5] I h#& to shout i" or& r to ) h #r& #)ov th "ois of th mour" rs- Th " I ) sou'ht th m to 'o #.#$ for #.hil to th " i'h)ouri"' hous ! )ut #s* & th#t som of thos .hos s rvi, s sh us & to . l,om .h " sh .#s #liv shoul& st#$ ) hi"&Amo"' th s .#s # l#&$ of ' "tl )irth! .ho h#& ) " f#mous i" $outh for . #lth! 'oo& f#mil$! (h$si,#l ) #ut$ #"& v r$ oth r &isti",tio"- sh h#& m#rri & # m#" of hi'h r#"* #"& liv & .ith him # short tim Th "! .ith h r )o&$ still $ou"'! sh .#s r l #s & from m#rri#' ! #"& ,hos th 'r #t M#,ri"# #s (rot ,tor #"& 'u#r&i#" of h r .i&o.hoo&! #"& s( "t h r tim mostl$ .ith th vir'i"s! l #r"i"' from th m th lif of virtu Th l#&$0s "#m .#s 9 sti#"#! #"& h r [9>> D] f#th r .#s o" of thos .ho ,om(os & th ,ou",il of s "#tors- To h r I s#i& th#t th r ,oul& ) "o o)% ,tio" "o.! #t #"$ r#t ! to (utti"' fi" r ,lothi"' o" th )o&$ #"& #&or"i"' th#t (ur #"& st#i"l ss form .ith f#ir li" " ,loth s- 6ut sh s#i& o" ou'ht to l #r" .h#t th s#i"t h#& thou'ht (ro( r i" th s m#tt rs- @or it .#s "ot ri'ht th#t #"$thi"' #t #ll shoul& ) &o" )$ us ,o"tr#r$ to .h#t sh .oul& h#v .ish &- 6ut %ust .h#t .#s & #r #"& (l #si"' to 3o&! .oul& ) h r & sir #lsoNo. th r .#s # l#&$ ,#ll & L#m(#&i#! l #& r of th )#"& of sist rs! # & #,o" ss i" r#"*- Sh & ,l#r & th#t sh *" . M#,ri"#0s [990 A] .ish s i" th m#tt r of )uri#l +#,tl$- Bh " I #s* & h r #)out th m :for sh h#(( " & to ) (r s "t #t our & li) r#tio"s<! sh s#i& .ith t #rsA 4 Th s#i"t r solv & th#t # (ur lif shoul& ) h r #&or"m "t! th#t this shoul& & ,* h r )o&$ i" lif #"& h r 'r#v i" & #th- 6ut so f#r #s ,loth s to #&or" th )o&$ 'o! sh (ro,ur & "o" .h " sh .#s #liv ! "or &i& sh stor th m for th (r s "t (ur(os - so th#t "ot v " if . .#"t it .ill th r ) #"$thi"' mor th#" .h#t . h#v h r ! si", "o (r (#r#tio" is m#& for this " &-4 4 Is it "ot (ossi)l !0! s#i& I! 4 to fi"& i" th stor ,u()o#r& #"$thi"' to m#* # fitti"' fu" r#l G 00 4 Stor ,u()o#r& i"& &J0! s#i& sh 7 4 $ou h#v i" fro"t of $ou #ll h r tr #sur - Th r is th ,lo#*! th r is th h #&,ov ri"'! th r th . ll.or" sho s o" th f t- This is #ll h r . #lth! th s #r h r ri,h s- Th r is "othi"' stor & #.#$ i" s ,r t (l#, s ) $o"& .h#t $ou s ! or (ut #.#$ s#f l$ i" )o+ s or ) &room- sh *" . of o" stor hous [990 )] #lo" for h r . #lth! th tr #sur i" h #v "- Th r sh h#& stor & h r #ll! "othi"' .#s l ft o" #rth-00 4 Su((os !0! s#i& I! 4 I . r to )ri"' som of th thi"'s I h#v 'ot r #&$ for th fu" r#l! shoul& I ) &oi"' #"$thi"' of .hi,h sh .oul& "ot h#v #((rov & G 00 4 I &o "ot thi"*00! s#i& sh ! 4 th#t this .oul& ) #'#i"st h r .ish- @or h#& sh ) " livi"'! sh .oul& h#v #,, (t & su,h ho"our from $ou o" t.o 'rou"&s A $our (ri sthoo& .hi,h sh #l.#$s (ri8 & so & #r! #"& $our r l#tio"shi(! for sh .oul& "ot h#v r (u&i#t & .h#t ,#m to h r from h r )roth r- This .#s .h$ sh '#v ,omm#"&s th#t $our h#"&s . r to (r (#r h r )o&$ for )uri#lTHEY FIND ON THE BODY MAR S OF MACRINA'S SANCTITY

Bh " . h#& & ,i& & o" this! #"& it .#s " , ss#r$ for th#t s#,r & )o&$ to ) ro) & i" li" "! . &ivi& & th .or* #"& #((li & ours lv s to our &iff r "t t#s*s- I or& r & o" of m$ m " to )ri"' th ro) - 6ut 9 sti#"# [990 5] #)ov m "tio" & .#s & ,*i"' th#t hol$ h #& .ith h r o." h#"&s! .h " sh (ut h r h#"& o" th " ,*4 S !4 sh s#i&! loo*i"' #t m ! 4 .h#t sort of #" or"#m "t h#s hu"' o" th s#i"t0s " ,* J 00 As sh s(o* ! sh loos " & th f#st " r ) hi"&! th " str t,h & out h r h#"& #"& sho. & us th r (r s "t#tio" of # ,ross of iro" #"& # ri"' of th s#m m#t ri#l! )oth of .hi,h . r f#st " & )$ # sl "& r thr #& #"& r st & ,o"ti"u#ll$ o" th h #rt4 L t us sh#r th tr #sur !0! I s#i&- 4 You h#v th (h$l#,t r$ of th ,ross! I .ill ) ,o"t "t .ith i"h riti"' th ri"' 4Afor th ,ross h#& ) " tr#, & o" th s #l of this too- [990 D] Loo*i"' #t it! th l#&$ s#i& to m #'#i"A 4 You h#v m#& "o mist#* i" ,hoosi"' this tr #sur 7 for th ri"' is hollo. i" th hoo(! #"& i" it h#s ) " hi&& " # (#rti,l of th 5ross of Lif ["ot 1 = A,,or&i"' to th . ll*"o." stor$! th 5ross .#s &is,ov r & )$ H l "#! moth r of 5o"st#"ti" th 3r #t :,- K?F<- Th #rli st m "tio" of th .oo& of th 5ross #s # r li, s ms to ) i" 5$ril of / rus#l m0s Catechetical #ectnres! S iv- =0! 4Th .hol .orl& h#s si", ) " fill & .ith (i , s of th .oo& of th 5ross-4 5f- +- =9! +iii- E-]#"& so th m#r* o" th s #l #)ov sho.s .h#t is hi&& " ) lo.-4 THE STORY OF A SCAR 6ut .h " it .#s tim th#t th (ur )o&$ shoul& ) .r#(( & i" its ro) s! th ,omm#"& of th 'r #t & (#rt & o" m#& it " , ss#r$ for m to u"& rt#* th mi"istr$7 )ut th sist r .ho sh#r & .ith m th#t 'r #t i"h rit#", .#s (r s "t #"& %oi" & i" th .or*4 Do "ot l t th 'r #t .o"& rs #,,om(lish & $ th s#i"t (#ss )$ u""oti, &!4 sh r m#r* &0 l#$i"' )#r (#rt of th )r #st4 Bh#t &o $ou m #" G 4 I s#i&[99?A]4 Do $ou s !4 sh s#i&! 4 this sm#ll f#i"t m#r* ) lo. th " ,* G 4 It .#s li* # s,#r m#& )$ # sm#ll " &l - As sh s(o* sh )rou'ht th l#m( " #r to th (l#, sh .#s sho.i"' m 4 Bh#t is th r sur(risi"'!4 I s#i&! 4 if th )o&$ h#s ) " )r#"& & .ith som f#i"t m#r* i" this (l#, G 00 4 This00! sh r (li &! 4 h#s ) " l ft o" th )o&$ #s # to* " of 3o&0s (o. rful h l(- @or th r 'r . o", i" this (l#, # ,ru l &is #s ! #"& th r .#s # &#"' r ith r th#t th tumour shoul& r Cuir #" o( r#tio"! or th#t th ,om(l#i"t shoul& ) ,om Cuit i" ,ur#)l ! if it shoul& s(r #& to th " i'h)our hoo& of th h #rtH r moth r im(lor & h r oft " #"& ) '' & h r to r , iv th #tt "tio" of # &o,tor! si", th m &i,#l #rt! sh [99? 6] s#i&! .#s s "t from 3o& for th s#vi"' of m "- 6ut sh %u&' & it .ors th#" th (#i"! to u",ov r #"$ (#rt of th )o&$ to # str#"' r0s $ s- so .h " v "i"' ,#m ! #ft r .#iti"' o" h r moth r #s usu#l .ith h r o." h#"&s! sh . "t i"si& th s#",tu#r$ #"& ) sou'ht th 3o& of h #li"' #ll "i'ht lo"'- A str #m of t #rs f ll from h r $ s o" to th 'rou"&! #"& sh us & th mu& m#& )$ th t #rs #s # r m &$ for h r #ilm "t- Th " .h " h r moth r f lt & s(o"& "t #"& #'#i" ur' & h r to #llo. th &o,tor to ,om ! sh s#i& it .oul& suffi, for th ,ur of h r &is #s if h r moth r .oul& m#* th hol$ s #l o" th (l#,

.ith h r o." h#"&- 6ut .h " th moth r (ut h r h#"& .ithi" h r )osom! to m#* th si'" of th ,ross o" th (#rt! th si'" .or* & #"& th tumour &is#(( #r &4 6ut this00! s#i& sh ! 4 is th ti"$ tr#, of it 7 it #(( #r & th " i" (l#, of th fri'htful [99? 5] sor #"& r m#i" & u"til th "&! th#t it mi'ht ) ! #s I im#'i" ! # m mori#l of th &ivi" visit#tio"! #" o,,#sio" #"& r mi"& r of ( r( tu#l th#"*s'ivi"' to 3o&-00 Bh " our .or* ,#m to #" "& #"& th )o&$ h#& ) " & ,* & .ith th ) st . h#& o" th s(ot! th & #,o" ss s(o* #'#i"! m#i"t#i"i"' th#t it .#s "ot fitti"' th#t sh shoul& ) s " )$ th $ s of th vir'i"s ro) & li* # )ri& - 46ut I h#v 00! sh s#i&! 4 l#i& )$ o" of $our moth r0s &#r*,olour & ro) s .hi,h I thi"* .oul& &o . ll l#i& ov r h r! th#t this hol$ ) #ut$ ) "ot & ,* & out .ith th u"" , ss#r$ s(l "&our of ,lothi"'-00 H r ,ou"s l (r v#il &! #"& th ro) .#s l#i& u(o" th )o&$- 6ut sh .#s r s(l "& "t t v " i" th &#r* ro) ! &ivi" (o. r h#vi"' #&& &! #s I thi"*! this fi"#l 'r#, to th )o&$! so th#t! #s i" th visio" of m$ &r #m! r#$s #,tu#ll$ s m & to shi" forth from h r ) #ut$TUE ALLNIGHT VIGIL: A CRO"D OF VISITORS ARRIVES 6ut .hil . . r thus m(lo$ & #"& th vir'i"s! voi, s si"'i"' (s#lms mi"'l & .ith th l#m "t#tio"s . r filli"' th (l#, ! som ho. th " .s h#& Cui,*l$ s(r #& throu'hout th .hol " i'h)ourhoo&! #"& #ll th ( o(l th#t liv & " #r . r str #mi"' to.#r&s th (l#, ! so th#t th "tr#", h#ll ,oul& "o lo"' r hol& th ,o",ours Bh " th #ll"i'ht vi'il for h r! #,,om(#"i & )$ h$m"si"'i"'! #s i" th ,#s of m#rt$rs! f stiv#ls! .#s fi"ish &! #"& th &#." ,#m ! th multitu& of m " #"& .om " th#t h#& flo,* & i" from #ll th " i'h)ouri"' ,ou"tr$ . r i"t rru(ti"' th (s#lms .ith .#ili"'s- 6ut I! si,* #t h #rt thou'h I .#s o.i"' to th ,#l#mit$! .#s $ t ,o"trivi"'! so f#r #s .#s (ossi)l .ith .h#t . h#&! th#t "o suit#)l [99E A]#,,om(#"im "t of su,h # fu" r#l shoul& ) omitt &GREGORY MA ES THE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS I &ivi& & th visitors #,,or&i"' to s +! #"& (ut th ,ro.&s of .om " .ith th )#"& of vir'i"s! .hil th m " fol* I (ut i" th r#"*s of th mo"*s- I #rr#"' & th#t th (s#lms shoul& ) su"' )$ )oth s + s i" rh$thmi,#l #"& h#rmo"ious f#shio"! #s i" ,horus si"'i"'! so th#t #ll th voi, s shoul& )l "& suit#)l$- 6ut si", th &#$ .#s (ro'r ssi"'! #"& th "tir s(#, of th r tr #t .#s ' tti"' ,ro.& & .ith th multitu& of #rriv#ls! th )isho( of th#t &istri,t :Ar#+ius )$ "#m ! .ho h#& ,om .ith th "tir ,om(l m "t of his (ri sts< or& r & th fu" r#l (ro, ssio" to st#rt slo.l$! [99E 6] for th r .#s # lo"' .#$ to 'o! #"& th ,ro.& s m & li* l$ to im( & )ris* mov m "t- At th s#m tim #s h '#v this or& r h summo" & to him #ll (r s "t .ho sh#r & .ith him i" th (ri sthoo&! th#t th )o&$ mi'ht ) )or" )$ th mBh " this h#& ) " s ttl & #"& his &ir ,tio"s . r ) i"' ,#rri & out! I 'ot u"& r th ) & #"& ,#ll & Ar#+ius to th oth r si& 7 t.o oth r &isti"'uish & (ri sts too* th hi"& r (#rt of th ) &- Th " I . "t for.#r&! slo.l$ #s .#s to ) +( ,t &! our (ro'r ss ) i"' )ut 'r#&u#l- @or th ( o(l thro"' & rou"& th ) & #"& #ll . r i"s#ti#)l to s th#t hol$ si'ht! so th#t it .#s "ot #s$ for us to ,om(l t our %our" $O" ith r si& . . r fl#"* & )$ # ,o"si& r#)l "um) r of [99E 5] & #,o"s #"& s rv#"ts! s,orti"' th )i r i" or& r! #ll hol&i"' .#+ t#( rsTh .hol thi"' r s m)l & # m$sti, (ro, ssio"! #"& from ) 'i""i"' to "& th voi, s )l "& & i" si"'i"' (s#lms! th#t! for +#m(l ! th#t ,om s i" th H$m" of th Thr 5hil&r "S v " or i'ht st#& s i"t rv " & ) t. " th 2 tr #t #"& th #)o& of th Hol$ M#rt$rs! i" .hi,h #lso th )o&i s of our (#r "ts . r l#i&- Bith &iffi,ult$ &i& . #,,om(lish th %our" $ i" th ) st (#rt of # &#$! for

th ,ro.&s th#t ,#m .ith us #"& thos th#t . r ,o"st#"tl$ %oi"i"' us &i& "ot #llo. our (ro'r ss to ) .h#t . .ish &ARRIVAL AT THE CIIURCH: THE BURIAL SERVICE 6ut .h " . 'ot i"si& th ,hur,h . l#i& &o." th ) & #"& tur" & first to (r#$ r- 6ut our (r#$ r .#s th si'"#l for th ( o(l 0s l#m "t#tio"s to st#rt #'#i"- @or .h " th voi, of (s#lmo&$ .#s still! #"& th vir'i"s '#8 & o" th#t hol$ f#, ! #"& th 'r#v of our (#r "ts .#s #lr #&$ ) i"' o( " &! i" .hi,h it h#& ) " & ,i& & th#t M#,ri"# shoul& ) [99E D] l#i&! # .om#" ,ri & out im(ulsiv l$ th#t #ft r this hour . shoul& s th#t &ivi" f#, "o mor - Th " th r st of th vir'i"s ,ri & out th s#m ! #"& # &isor& rl$ ,o"fusio" &istur) & th or& rl$ #"& sol m" ,h#"ti"' of (s#lms! #ll ) i"' u(s t #t th .#ili"' of th vir'i"s- Bith &iffi,ult$ &i& . su,, & i" (ro,uri"' sil ", )$ our ' stur ! #"& th (r , "tor t#*i"' th l #& #"& i"to"i"' th #,,ustom & (r#$ rs of th 5hur,h! th ( o(l ,om(os & th ms lv s #t l#st to (r#$ rTHE FAMILY GRAVE IS OPENED [996 A] Bh " th (r#$ r h#& ,om to its &u ,los ! f #r "t r & m$ mi"& of tr#"s'r ssi"' th &ivi" ,omm#"&! .hi,h for)i&s us to u",ov r th sh#m of f#th r or moth r- 4 A"& ho.!4 s#i& I! 4 sh#ll I s,#( su,h ,o"& m"#tio" if I '#8 #t th ,ommo" sh#m of hum#" "#tur m#& m#"if st i" th )o&i s of m$ (#r "ts G Si", th $ #r #ll & ,#$ & #"& &issolv &! #s must ) +( ,t &! #"& tur" & i"to foul #"& r (ulsiv sh#( l ss" ss-4 As I thou'ht of th s thi"'s #"& th #"' r of No#h #'#i"st his so" .#s stri*i"' f #r i"to m ! th stor$ of No#h #&vis & m .h#t .#s to ) &o" - 6 for th li& of th 'r#v .#s lift & suffi,i "tl$ to r v #l th )o&i s to our '#8 ! th $ . r ,ov r & )$ # (ur li" " ,loth str t,h & #,ross from #,h "&- A"& "o. th#t [996 6] th )o&i s . r hi&& " u"& r th ,loth! . A m$s lf! th#t is! #"& th #for m "tio" & )isho( of th &istri,tAtoo* u( th#t hol$ )o&$ from th ) & #"& l#i& it &o." )$ th si& of th moth r! thus fulfilli"' th ,ommo" (r#$ r of )oth- @or )oth . r .ith o" voi, #s*i"' 3o& for this )oo" #ll th ir liv s lo"'! th#t th ir )o&i s shoul& ) mi"'l & .ith o" #"oth r #ft r & #th! #"& th#t th ir ,omr#& shi( i" lif shoul& "ot v " i" & #th ) )ro* "THE FUNERAL OVER! GREGORY RETURNS HOME 6ut .h " . h#& ,om(l t & #ll th #,,ustom & fu" r#l rit s! #"& it ) ,#m " , ss#r$ to r tur" hom ! I first thr . m$s lf o" th 'r#v #"& m)r#, & th &ust! #"& th " I st#rt & o" m$ .#$ )#,*! &o.",#st #"& t #rful! (o"& ri"' ov r th 'r #t" ss of m$ lossO" m$ .#$ I m t # &isti"'uish & sol&i r .ho h#& # milit#r$ ,omm#"& i" # littl ,it$ of Po"tus "#m & S )#sto(olis! #"& &. lt [996 5] th r .ith his su)or&i"#t s- H m t m i" fri "&l$ f#shio" .h " I r #,h & th to."! #"& .#s 'r #tl$ &istur) & to h #r of th ,#l#mit$! for h .#s li"* & to us )$ ti s )oth of r l#tio"shi( #"& fri "&shi(- H tol& m # stor$ of # m#rv llous (iso& i" h r lif ! .hi,h I sh#ll i",or(or#t i"to m$ histor$ #"& th " ,los m$ t#l - Bh " . h#& , #s & our t #rs #"& h#& "t r & i"to ,o"v rs#tio"! h s#i& to m A 4 L #r" .h#t m#"" r of 'oo&" ss h#s ) " t#* " #.#$ from hum#" lif -4 Bith this (r lu& h ) '#" his "#rr#tiv THE SOLDIER'S STORY 4 M$ .if #"& I o", h#& #" #r" st & sir to (#$ # visit to th s,hool of virtu - @or so I thi"* th (l#, ou'ht to ) ,#ll &! i" .hi,h th#t )l ss & soul h#& h r #)o& - No. th r [996 D] liv & .ith us #lso our

littl &#u'ht r! .ho h#& ) " l ft .ith #" #ffli,tio" of th $ #ft r #" i"f ,tious ill" ss- A"& h r #(( #r#", .#s hi& ous #"& (iti#)l ! th m m)r#" rou"& th $ ) i"' "l#r' & #"& .hitish from th ,om(l#i"t- 6ut .h " . ,#m i"si& th#t &ivi" #)o& ! m$ .if #"& I s (#r#t & i" our 7 visit to thos s * rs #ft r (hiloso(h$ #,,or&i"' to our s +- I . "t to th m "0s & (#rtm "t! (r si& & ov r )$ P t r! $our )roth r7 .hil m$ .if . "t to th .om "0s si& #"& ,o"v rs & .ith th s#i"t- A"& .h " # suit#)l i"t rv#l h#& l#(s &! . ,o"si& r & it tim to & (#rt from th 2 tr #t! #"& #lr #&$ our (r (#r#tio"s . r ) i"' m#& for this! )ut *i"& (rot sts . r r#is & from )oth si& s S Cu#ll$- Your )roth r .#s ur'i"' m to st#$ [99> A] #"& (#rt#* of th (hiloso(h rs! t#)l 7 #"& th )l ss & l#&$ .oul& "ot l t m$ .if 'o! )ut hol&i"' our littl 'irl i" h r )osom! s#i& sh .oul& "ot 'iv h r u( ) for sh h#& (r (#r & # m #l for th m #"& h#& "t rt#i" & th m .ith th ri,h s of (hiloso(h$- A"& *issi"' th ,hil&! #s .#s "#tur#l! #"& (utti"' h r li(s to h r $ s! sh s#. th ,om(l#i"t of th (u(il #"& s#i&A 40If $ou 'r#"t m this f#vour #"& sh#r our m #l! I .ill 'iv $ou i" r tur" # r .#r& "ot u".orth$ of su,h #" ho"our-0 40Bh#t is th#t G ! s#i& th ,hil&0s moth r4 0I h#v # &ru'0! s#i& th 'r #t l#&$0 ! .hi,h is (o. rful to ,ur $ ,om(l#i"ts-0

4 A"& th " " .s .#s )rou'ht m from th .om "0s #(#rtm "ts! t lli"' m of this (romis 0 #"& . 'l#&l$ r m#i" &! thi"*i"' littl of th (r ssi"' " , ssit$ of st#rti"' o" our /our" $[99> 6] 4 6ut .h " th f #st ,#m to #" "& #"& . h#& s#i& th (r#$ r! 'r #t P t r .#iti"' o" us .ith his o." h#"&s #"& ,h ri"' us! #"& .h " hol$ M#,ri"# h#& &ismiss & m$ .if .ith #ll ,ourt s$! th " #t l#st . . "t hom to' th r .ith 'l#& #"& ,h rful h #rts! t lli"' o" #"oth r #s . %our" $ & .h#t h#& ) f#ll " us- I & s,ri) & to h r .h#t h#& h#(( " & i" th m "0s room! )oth .h#t I h#& h #r& #"& s "- Sh tol& v r$ & t#il #s i" # histor$! #"& thou'ht "othi"' ou'ht to ) l ft out! v " th sm#ll st (oi"ts- Sh tol& v r$thi"' i" or& r! * (i"' th s Cu ", of th "#rr#tiv - [99> 5] Bh " sh ,#m to th (oi"t #t .hi,h th (romis .#s m#& to ,ur th ,hil&0s $ s! sh )ro* off h r t#l 40Oh! .h#t h#v . &o" G ! sh ,ri &- ! Ho. ,oul& . h#v " 'l ,t & th (romis ! th#t s#lv ,ur th#t th l#&$ s#i& sh .oul& 'iv G 0 4I .#s v + & #t th ,#r l ss" ss! #"& )#& som o" ru" )#,* Cui,*l$ to f t,h it- /ust #s this .#s ) i"' &o" ! th ,hil&! .ho .#s i" h r "urs 0s #rms! loo* & #t h r moth r! #"& th moth r loo* & #t th ,hil& $ s440Sto(0! sh s#i&! ! ) i"' v + & #t th ,#r l ss" ss00Ash ,ri & #lou& .ith %o$ #"& fri'ht- ! @or! s J Nothi"' of .h#t .#s (romis & us is l#,*i"' J sh h#s i"& & 'iv " h r th tru &ru' .hi,h ,ur s &is #s 7 it is th h #li"' th#t ,om s from (r#$ r- sh h#s )oth 'iv " it #"& it h#s #lr #&$ (rov & ffi,#,ious! #"& "othi"' is l ft of th #ffli,tio" [99> D] of th $ - It is #ll (ur' & #.#$ )$ th#t &ivi" &ru'-0 4 A"& #s sh s#i& this! sh too* u( th ,hil& #"& l#i& h r i" mv #rms- A"& I u"& rstoo& th m#rv ls of th 3os( l th#t hith rto h#& ) " i",r &i)l to m #"& s#i&A 40Bh#t is th r sur(risi"' i" th )li"& r ,ov ri"' th ir si'ht )$ th h#"& of 3o&! .h " "o. His h#"&m#i& "! #,,om(lishi"' thos ,ur s )$ f#ith i" Him! h#s .or* & # thi"' "ot mu,h i"f rior to thos mir#,l s G 40 Su,h .#s his stor$7 it .#s i"t rru(t & )$ so)s! #"& t #rs ,ho* & his utt r#", - So mu,h for th sol&i r #"& his t#l CONCLUSION

I &o "ot thi"* it #&vis#)l to #&& to m$ "#rr#tiv #ll th simil#r thi"'s th#t . h #r& from thos .ho liv & .ith h r #"& *" . h r lif #,,ur#t l$- @or most m " %u&' .h#t is [=000 A] ,r &i)l i" th .#$ of # t#l )$ th m #sur of th ir o." +( ri ", - 6ut .h#t +, &s th ,#(#,it$ of th h #r r! m " r , iv .ith i"sult #"& sus(i,io" of f#ls hoo&! #s r mot from truth- 5o"s Cu "tl$ I omit th#t +tr#or&i"#r$ #'ri,ultur#l o( r#tio" i" th f#mi" tim ! ho. th#t th ,or" for th r li f of " &! thou'h ,o"st#"tl$ &istri)ut &! suff r & "o ( r, (ti)l &imi"utio"! r m#i"i"' #l.#$s i" )ul* th s#m #s ) for it .#s &istri)ut & to th " &s of th su((li#"ts- A"& #ft r this th r #r h#(( "i"'s still mor sur(risi"'! of .hi,h I mi'ht t ll- H #li"'s of &is #s s! #"& ,#sti"'s out of & mo"s! #"& tru (r &i,tio"s of th futur All #r ) li v & to ) tru ! v " thou'h #((#r "tl$ i",r &i)l ! )$ thos .ho h#v i"v sti'#t & th m #,,ur#t l$6ut )$ th ,#r"#ll$ mi"& & th $ #r %u&' & outsi& th (ossi)l - Thos ! I m #"! .ho &o "ot *"o. th#t #,,or&i"' to th (ro(ortio" of f#ith so is 'iv " th &istri)utio" of s(iritu#l 'ifts! littl to thos of littl f#ith! mu,h to thos [=000 6] .ho h#v (l "t$ of 4 s #room4 ["ot 1 [3r *7 uru,hOri#"] i" th ir r li'io"A"& so! l st th u") li v r shoul& ) i"%ur & )$ ) i"' l & to &is) li v th 'ifts of 3o&! I h#v #)st#i" & from # ,o"s ,utiv "#rr#tiv of th s su)lim .o"& rs! thi"*i"' it suffi,i "t to ,o",lu& m$ lif of M#,ri"# .ith .h#t h#s ) " #lr #&$ s#i&-