They do not shut themselves up from the world, like the
monks, under pretence of escaping contamination, but devote themselves
to the mission of traveling about in apostolic poverty from house to
house, and, by prayer and preaching, by inculcating charity, and
receiving alms, sow every where the seeds of the faith they profess."
"The words old Chaucer puts into the mouth of his friar," said L'Isle,
"well express the objects of the order:
"In shrift, in preaching is my diligence,
And study in Peter's words and in Paul's;
I walk and fish Christian men's souls,
To yield my Lord Jesu his proper rent;
To spread his word is set all mine intent."
"A truly apostolic aim!" Lady Mabel exclaimed, looking triumphantly
round on her old follower.
The descending road here narrowed suddenly, and Moodie reined back his
horse, silent in the sad conviction that Lady Mabel had already got
beyond that half-way house between the region of evangelical purity
and idolatrous Rome.
In the narrow valley, overgrown with shrubs and brushwood at the foot
of the hill, they came suddenly on a large number of swine luxuriating
in the cool waters, or on the shady banks of a brook.
Pages:
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178