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The old woman made a sign to the priest and disappeared。
〃Let us walk；〃 said the rector to Veronique leading her along the
terrace to the other end； from which Les Tascherons could be seen。
〃You belong to me； I must render account to God for your sick soul。〃
〃Give me time to recover from my depression；〃 she said to him。
〃Your depression comes from injurious meditation；〃 he replied；
quickly。
〃Yes；〃 she said； with the simplicity of a grief which has reached the
point of making no attempt at concealment。
〃I see plainly that you have fallen into the gulf of apathy；〃 he
cried。 〃If there is a degree of physical suffering at which all sense
of modesty expires； there is also a degree of moral suffering in which
all vigor of soul is lost； I know that。〃
She was surprised to hear that subtle observation and to find such
tender pity from this village rector； but； as we have seen already；
the exquisite delicacy which no passion had ever touched gave him the
true maternal spirit for his flock。 This /mens devinior/； this
apostolic tenderness； places the priest above all other men and makes
him； in a sense； divine。 Madame Graslin had not as yet had enough
experience of Monsieur Bonnet to know this beauty hidden in his soul
like a spring； from which flowed grace and purity and true life。
〃Ah！ monsieur；〃 she cried； giving herself wholly up to him by a
gesture； a look； such as the dying give。
〃I understand you；〃 he said。 〃What is to be done？ What will you
become？〃
They walked in silence the whole length of the balustrade； facing
toward the plain。 The solemn moment seemed propitious to the bearer of
good tidings； the gospel messenger； and he took it。
〃Suppose yourself now in the presence of God；〃 he said； in a low
voice； mysteriously； 〃what would you say to Him？〃
Madame Graslin stopped as though struck by a thunderbolt； she
shuddered； then she said simply； in tones that brought tears to the
rector's eyes：
〃I should say； as Jesus Christ said： 'Father； why hast thou forsaken
me？'〃
〃Ah！ Magdalen； that is the saying I expected of you；〃 cried Monsieur
Bonnet； who could not help admiring her。 〃You see you are forced to
appeal to God's justice； you invoke it！ Listen to me； madame。 Religion
is； by anticipation； divine justice。 The Church claims for herself the
right to judge the actions of the soul。 Human justice is a feeble
image of divine justice； it is but a pale imitation of it applied to
the needs of society。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃You are not the judge of your own case； you are dependent upon God；〃
said the priest； 〃you have neither the right to condemn yourself nor
the right to absolve yourself。 God； my child； is a great reverser of
judgments。〃
〃Ah！〃 she exclaimed。
〃He /sees/ the origin of things； where we see only the things
themselves。〃
Veronique stopped again； struck by these ideas； that were new to her。
〃To you；〃 said the brave priest； 〃to you whose soul is a great one； I
owe other words than those I ought to give to my humble parishioners。
You； whose mind and spirit are so cultivated； you can rise to the
sense divine of the Catholic religion； expressed by images and words
to the poor and childlike。 Listen to me attentively； for what I am
about to say concerns you； no matter how extensive is the point of
view at which I place myself for a moment； the case is yours。 /Law/；
invented to protect society； is based on equality。 Society； which is
nothing but an assemblage of acts； is based on inequality。 There is
therefore lack of harmony between act and law。 Ought society to march
on favored or repressed by law？ In other words； ought law to be in
opposition to the interior social movement for the maintenance of
society； or should it be based on that movement in order to guide it？
All legislators have contented themselves with analyzing acts；
indicating those that seemed to them blamable or criminal； and
attaching punishments to such or rewards to others。 That is human law；
it has neither the means to prevent sin； nor the means to prevent the
return to sinfulness of those it punishes。 Philanthropy is a sublime
error； it tortures the body uselessly； it produces no balm to heal the
soul。 Philanthropy gives birth to projects； emits ideas； confides the
execution of them to man； to silence； to labor； to rules； to things
mute and powerless。 Religion is above these imperfections； for it
extends man's life beyond this world。 Regarding us all as degraded
from our high estate； religion has opened to us an inexhaustible
treasure of indulgence。 We are all more or less advanced toward our
complete regeneration； no one is sinless； the Church expects wrong…
doing； even crime。 Where society sees a criminal to be expelled from
its bosom； the Church sees a soul to save。 More； far more than that！
Inspired by God； whom she studies and contemplates； the Church admits
the inequalities of strength； she allows for the disproportion of
burdens。 If she finds us unequal in heart； in body； in mind； in
aptitude； and value； she makes us all equal by repentance。 Hence
equality is no longer a vain word； for we can be； we are； all equal
through feeling。 From the formless fetichism of savages to the
graceful inventions of Greece； or the profound and metaphysical
doctrines of Egypt and India； whether taught in cheerful or in
terrifying worship； there is a conviction in the soul of manthat of
his fall； that of his sinfrom which comes everywhere the idea of
sacrifice and redemption。 The death of the Redeemer of the human race
is an image of what we have to do for ourselves；redeem our faults；
redeem our errors； redeem our crimes！ All is redeemable； Catholicism
itself is in that word； hence its adorable sacraments； which help the
triumph of grace and sustain the sinner。 To weep； to moan like
Magdalen in the desert； is but the beginning； the end is Action。
Monasteries wept and prayed； they prayed and civilized； they were the
active agents of our divine religion。 They built； planted； cultivated
Europe； all the while saving the treasures of learning； knowledge；
human justice； politics； and art。 We shall ever recognize in Europe
the places where those radiant centres once were。 Nearly all our
modern towns are the children of monasteries。 If you believe that God
will judge you； the Church tells you by my voice that sin can be
redeemed by works of repentance。 The mighty hand of God weighs both
the evil done and the value of benefits accomplished。 Be yourself like
those monasteries； work here the same miracles。 Your prayers must be
labors。 From your labors must come the good of those above whom you
are placed by fortune； by superiority of mind； even this natural
position of your dwelling is the image of your social situation。〃
As he said the last words； the priest and Madame Graslin turned to
walk back toward the plains； and the rector pointed both to the
village at the foot of the hill； and to the chateau commanding the
whole landscape。 It was then half…past four o'clock； a glow of yellow
sunlight enveloped the balustrade and the gardens； illuminated the
chateau； sparkled on the gilded railings of the roof； lighted the long
plain cut in two