DOI article:
Rolfe, Frederick W.: Stories Toto told me, [3]
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.38746#0157
By Baron Corvo 153
“ 1 So the seven archangels blew their trumpets and summoned
San Paolo, who was attending a meeting of the Apostolic
College, and when he came into Court his guardian angel led
him to the bar, where he took his place by the side of San
Gregorio ’ (the one who made them Catholics in England, sir,
and the chant, sir, and saw San Michele Arcangiolo on top of
the Mola, sir), ‘and of my wretched self. “Now, San Paolo,”
said the Padre Eterno, “We have here a little grey friar who has
been accused of preaching heresy on the first Monday in Lent, in
the Church of San Carlo A1 Corso, in these words, ‘ No one shall
be crowned unless he has contended lawfully.’ And he has in-
formed Us that he quoted these words from the 37th Homily of
San Gregorio on the 14th chapter of the Gospel of San Luca. We
have examined San Gregorio, and he has pointed out to Us that he
did indeed use these words, as our little brother has said ; but San
Gregorio also alleges that they are not his own words, but yours.
The Court, therefore, would like to know whether San Gregorio’s
statement is true.” Then San Paolo’s guardian angel handed to
him the book which contained all the letters he had written, and
after he had refreshed his memory with this, the great apostle
replied, “ May it please Your Majesty, there is no doubt that both
our little brother and San Gregorio are right, for I find in my second
letter to San Timoteo, chapter ii. verse 5, the following words :
‘ And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned
except he contend lawfully.” “Well !” said the Padre Eterno,
“this is a very shocking state of things that you, of all men,
should publish heresies in this manner and lead men of all ages into
error ! San Gregorio, taking the statement on your authority,
preaches heresy in his time, and a thousand years after, our little
brother, innocently thinking that men of such eminence as the
Apostle of the Gentiles and the Apostle of England are of good
authority,
“ 1 So the seven archangels blew their trumpets and summoned
San Paolo, who was attending a meeting of the Apostolic
College, and when he came into Court his guardian angel led
him to the bar, where he took his place by the side of San
Gregorio ’ (the one who made them Catholics in England, sir,
and the chant, sir, and saw San Michele Arcangiolo on top of
the Mola, sir), ‘and of my wretched self. “Now, San Paolo,”
said the Padre Eterno, “We have here a little grey friar who has
been accused of preaching heresy on the first Monday in Lent, in
the Church of San Carlo A1 Corso, in these words, ‘ No one shall
be crowned unless he has contended lawfully.’ And he has in-
formed Us that he quoted these words from the 37th Homily of
San Gregorio on the 14th chapter of the Gospel of San Luca. We
have examined San Gregorio, and he has pointed out to Us that he
did indeed use these words, as our little brother has said ; but San
Gregorio also alleges that they are not his own words, but yours.
The Court, therefore, would like to know whether San Gregorio’s
statement is true.” Then San Paolo’s guardian angel handed to
him the book which contained all the letters he had written, and
after he had refreshed his memory with this, the great apostle
replied, “ May it please Your Majesty, there is no doubt that both
our little brother and San Gregorio are right, for I find in my second
letter to San Timoteo, chapter ii. verse 5, the following words :
‘ And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned
except he contend lawfully.” “Well !” said the Padre Eterno,
“this is a very shocking state of things that you, of all men,
should publish heresies in this manner and lead men of all ages into
error ! San Gregorio, taking the statement on your authority,
preaches heresy in his time, and a thousand years after, our little
brother, innocently thinking that men of such eminence as the
Apostle of the Gentiles and the Apostle of England are of good
authority,