DOI article:
Rolfe, Frederick W.: Stories Toto told me, [3]
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.38746#0156
Stories Toto Told Me
152
from his throne among the Doctors of the Church, and came down
to the bar and stood beside me and Blessed Father Francesco, who
whispered in my ear, “ Cheer up, little brother, and hope for the
best! ”
“‘And the Padre Eterno said, “San Gregorio, this little
brother has been accused before Us, that on the first Monday in
Lent, in the Church of San Carlo A1 Corso, he preached heresy
in the following words : ‘No one shall be crowned unless he has
contended lawfully.’ We have examined him, and he alleges that
he has taken these words from the 37th Homily, which you have
written upon the 14th chapter of the Gospel of San Luca. We
demand, therefore, that you should say, first, whether you acknow-
ledge that you have written these words; and secondly, if you
have done so, what excuse you have to offer ? ” And San Gregorio
opened the book of his writings which, of course, he always carries
with him, and turned the pages with an anxious finger. Presently
he looked up with a smile into the Face of God and said, “ May
it please Your Majesty, our little brother has spoken the truth, for
I have found the passage, and when I have read it, You will find
the answer to both questions which Your Condescension has put
me.” So San Gregorio read from his writings these words, “ But
we cannot arrive at the great reward unless through great labours:
wherefore, that most excellent preacher, San Paolo, says, ‘ No one
shall be crowned unless he has contended lawfully.’ The great-
ness of rewards, therefore, may delight the mind, but does not take
away the obligation of first fighting for it.” “ Hm-m-m-m,” said
the Padre Eterno, “ this begins to grow interesting ; for it seems,
My children, that Our little brother here has quoted his heresy from
San Gregorio, and that San Gregorio in his turn quoted it from
San Paolo, upon whom, therefore, the responsibility seems to rest.
Call San Paolo.”
“‘So
152
from his throne among the Doctors of the Church, and came down
to the bar and stood beside me and Blessed Father Francesco, who
whispered in my ear, “ Cheer up, little brother, and hope for the
best! ”
“‘And the Padre Eterno said, “San Gregorio, this little
brother has been accused before Us, that on the first Monday in
Lent, in the Church of San Carlo A1 Corso, he preached heresy
in the following words : ‘No one shall be crowned unless he has
contended lawfully.’ We have examined him, and he alleges that
he has taken these words from the 37th Homily, which you have
written upon the 14th chapter of the Gospel of San Luca. We
demand, therefore, that you should say, first, whether you acknow-
ledge that you have written these words; and secondly, if you
have done so, what excuse you have to offer ? ” And San Gregorio
opened the book of his writings which, of course, he always carries
with him, and turned the pages with an anxious finger. Presently
he looked up with a smile into the Face of God and said, “ May
it please Your Majesty, our little brother has spoken the truth, for
I have found the passage, and when I have read it, You will find
the answer to both questions which Your Condescension has put
me.” So San Gregorio read from his writings these words, “ But
we cannot arrive at the great reward unless through great labours:
wherefore, that most excellent preacher, San Paolo, says, ‘ No one
shall be crowned unless he has contended lawfully.’ The great-
ness of rewards, therefore, may delight the mind, but does not take
away the obligation of first fighting for it.” “ Hm-m-m-m,” said
the Padre Eterno, “ this begins to grow interesting ; for it seems,
My children, that Our little brother here has quoted his heresy from
San Gregorio, and that San Gregorio in his turn quoted it from
San Paolo, upon whom, therefore, the responsibility seems to rest.
Call San Paolo.”
“‘So