Where the abbot proudly displays the riches of his abbey
and fearful of the heretics, and eventually he had doubts Adso
hurt to go for the world
We found the abbot in the church, before the high altar. He was following the work of some novices who had taken some penetralia a number of sacred vessels, chalices, patens, monstrance, a crucifix and I had not seen during the morning function. I could not repress an exclamation of wonder at the dazzling beauty of those holy furnishings. It was high noon and the light came gushing through the windows of the choir, and even more from those of the face, forming white waterfalls, streams of divine substance as mystics, were going to cross at various points of the church, filling the same altar.
vases, glasses, everything reveals its precious material: yellow gold from the immaculate whiteness of ivory and the transparency of glass, I saw shine gems of every color and size, and I recognized the hyacinth, topaz, ruby, sapphire, emerald, beryl, onyx, anthrax and agate and jasper. And at the same time I realized how much of the morning, who was kidnapped earlier in prayer, and then shocked by terror, I had not noticed: altar frontal and the other three panels that made him the crown, were entirely of gold, and eventually the whole golden altar appeared anywhere you look.
The abbot smiled at my amazement, "These riches you see," he said to me and to my teacher, "and still others will see, are the legacy of centuries of piety and devotion, and witness the power and sanctity of this abbey. Princes and potentates of the earth, archbishops and bishops who have sacrificed on this altar and the objects they used the rings of their investiture, the gold and the stones were a sign of their greatness, and took them here for the greater glory of the recovered Lord of this and his place. Despite the abbey today has been marred by a another sad event, we can not forget the face of our fragility and the power of the force. They approach the holiday of Christmas, and we are beginning to clean the sacred vessels, so that the Saviour's birth is also celebrated with all the pomp and grandeur it deserves and wants. All will appear in its full splendor ... "William added, looking fixedly, and I realized later why he insisted so proudly to justify his actions," because we think it is useful and convenient not to hide, but rather proclaim the divine gifts. "
"Sure," William said politely, "if the sublimity your opinion that the Lord should be so glorified, your abbey has achieved the greatest excellence in the contribution of praise. "
" And so it should be, "said the abbot. "If pitchers and vials of gold and gold small mortars was customary to serve the will of God or the prophets in order to collect the blood of goats or calves or heifer in the temple of Solomon, the more vessels of gold and stones valuable, and anything that has more value from created things, should be used with full devotion and reverence continues to receive the blood of Christ! If a second creation our substance came to be the same as cherubim and seraphim, would still be unworthy of the service it could provide to a victim so ineffable ... "
" So be it, "I said.
"Many objected that inspired a holy mind, pure heart, full of faith intent should suffice for this sacred function. We are the first to state explicitly and strongly that this is the essential thing, but we believe that we should pay tribute through the outward ornaments of sacred furnishings, it is most fitting and appropriate that we serve our Savior in all things, fully, that he has not refused to provide for us in all things fully and without exception. "
" This has always been the opinion of the great your order, "allowed William," and I remember beautiful things written on the ornaments of the churches from the great and venerable abbot Sugero. "
" So it is, "the abbot said. "You see this crucifix. It is not yet complete ... "She took him in hand with infinite love and considered it his face lit up with happiness. "There are still some gems here, or I found the right size. At one time, Andrea turned to the holy cross of Golgotha \u200b\u200bsaying it adorns the limbs of Christ as pearls. It should be adorned with pearls this humble image of that great miracle. Although I have seen fit to make setting, and at this point, over the head of the Saviour, the most beautiful diamond I have ever seen. "stroked with pious hands, with his long white fingers, the most precious parts of the sacred wood, ivory or the sacred, because of this wonderful material were made into the arms of the cross.
"When, as I enjoy all the beauty of this house of God and the magic of multi-colored stones pulled me to outpatient care, and a worthy meditation has induced me to reflect, transferring that which is material to that which is intangible , on the diversity of sacred virtue, then I seem to see me, so to speak, in a strange region of the universe that is no longer completely closed in the mud of the earth nor entirely free in the purity the sky. It seems to me that, by the grace of God, I can be transported from this world less than higher because anagogical ... "
spoke, and he turned his face to the aisle. A flood of light that penetrated from the top was for a special benevolence of the star during the day, illuminating his face, and hands that had opened in the form of a cross, as he was kidnapped by his fervor. "Every creature," he said, "whether visible or invisible, is a light, being brought by the father of lights. The ivory, the burden, but also the stone that surrounds us is a light, because I feel that is good and beautiful, which exist according to its own rules of proportion, which differ by gender and species from other genera and species, which are defined by their numbers, which are not less in their order, who seek their place in accordance with their specific gravity. And the more these things are revealed to me the more I look at the matter that is inherently valuable, and the better you light the creative power of God, as if I have to go back to the sublimity of the cause, inaccessible in its fullness, the sublimity of 'effect, how much better I do not speak of divine causality an admirable effect which the gold or diamond, if it can already speak and Finance The dung insect! And then, when I perceive these things than these stones, the soul cries of joy moved, and not for love or vanity of earthly riches, but for pure love of the uncaused first cause. "
" Really this is the sweetest of all theologies, "William said with perfect humility, and I thought he used that insidious figure of thought which the rhetoricians call it irony, which you should always use the pronunciatio preceding it, which constitutes the signal and the justification, which William never did. Why the abbot, more prone to the use of figures of speech, William took the letter and added, still in the grip of his mystical rapture: "And 'the most immediate ways that put us in contact with the Almighty, material theophany. "
William coughed politely, "Uh ... oh ... "he said. So he did when he wanted to introduce another topic. He was able to do so with good grace because it was his custom - and I think it's typical of men of his country - to begin every speech with long moans started, as if to start the exposure of a completed thought cost him a great effort of the mind. While I was now convinced, as many groans he prefers to his claims, the more he was sure of the goodness of the proposition it expresses.
"Eh ... oh ... "So said William. "Should we talk about the meeting and the debate on poverty ..."
"Poverty ..." said the abbot still absorbed, as if to struggle to be descended from that beautiful region of the universe in which he had kidnapped her buds. 'It is true, the meeting ... "And they began to discuss
thick of things, some of which I already knew and some I could understand by listening to their conversation. It was, as I have said from the beginning of my faithful chronicle of two lawsuit that pitted the first emperor to the pope, the pope and the other to the Franciscans in Perugia chapter, albeit with many years late, had taken up the thesis of the spiritual poverty of Christ, and that entanglement was formed by combining the Franciscans empire, tangle that - triangle of oppositions and alliances - Had now been transformed into a square for the surgery, still obscure to me, the abbots of the order of St. Benedict. I did not catch
never clear why the Benedictine abbots gave protection and shelter to the Spiritual Franciscans, even before their own order or share it somehow opinions. Because if the Spirituals preached the renunciation of all worldly goods, the abbots of my order, I had had that very day the bright confirmation followed a path not less virtuous but quite the opposite. But I think the abbots felt that excessive power of the pope meant excessive power of the bishops and cities, while the order I had retained its own power forever in battle with the secular clergy and the city merchants, acting as a direct mediator between heaven and earth, and counselor of kings.
I had heard so many times to repeat the phrase that God's people was divided into a shepherd (ie clerics), dogs (or warriors), and sheep, the people. But I learned later that this sentence can be retold in different ways. The Benedictines had not often spoken of three orders, but of two great divisions, which covered the administration of earthly things and the other concerning the administration of heavenly things. As for earthly things worth the division between clergy, lay lords and people, but on this tripartite division was dominated by the presence of the Ordo monachorum, direct link among the people of God and heaven, and the monks had nothing to do with those shepherds who were the secular priests and bishops, ignorant and corrupt, prone now to the interests of the city, where the sheep were not now so good and faithful peasants, but the merchants and craftsmen. Benedictine order not sorry that the Government was simply entrusted to the secular clergy, provided that the final rule to establish this relationship to the monks competed in direct contact with the source of all earthly power, the empire, as they were with the source of all power in heaven. That's why, I believe, many Benedictine abbots, to restore dignity to the empire against the government of the city (bishops and merchants united) also agreed to protect the Spiritual Franciscans, which did not share the ideas, but the presence of which was convenient for them, as it offered good syllogisms empire against the excessive power of the pope.
These were the reasons, I arguii, so now Abo was willing to collaborate with William, sent by the emperor, to mediate between the Franciscan order and the papacy. In fact, despite the violence of the dispute that was so periclitare the unity of the church, Michael of Cesena repeatedly called to Avignon by Pope John, it was finally willing to accept the invitation because they did not want his order would put you in shock final meeting with the pontiff. As general of the Franciscans wanted at a time and to succeed in their positions and obtain the consent of the Pope, because he sensed that without the consent of the pope could not stay long at the head of the order.
But many have pointed out that the pope would have expected France to hold out a trap, and charged with heresy trial. It is advisable for the first leg of Michael Avignon was preceded by some negotiations. Marsilio had a better idea: send Michael with a imperial envoy who presented to the pope's point of view of the supporters of the emperor. Not so much to convince the old Cahors but to strengthen the position of Michael, as part of an imperial legation, he could fall so easily prey to papal revenge.
This idea had several drawbacks, however, and it was not feasible at once. From there came the idea of \u200b\u200ba preliminary meeting between members of the imperial legation and some envoys of the pope, to prove their positions and draw up agreements for a meeting in which the security of Italian visitors would be guaranteed. To organize this first meeting was in fact responsible for William of Baskerville. Which would then represent the views of the imperial theologians to Avignon, where he felt that the trip could be made without danger. Not an easy undertaking because it was assumed that the pope, who wanted only to be able to reduce by Michele easier to obedience, would educated in Italy sent a mission to derail, to the extent possible, the imperial envoys travel to his court. William had moved up to then with great skill. After extensive consultation with various Benedictine abbots (here because of the many stops on our trip) where we had chosen the abbey because it was known that the abbot was devoted to the empire and yet, to his great diplomatic skill, not invisible the papal court. Neutral territory, therefore, the abbey, where the two groups could meet.
But the resistance of the pope were not over. He knew that once on the ground of the abbey, his delegation would be subject to the jurisdiction of the Abbot: and since it also would be part of the secular clergy members, did not accept this clause, claiming fears of an Imperial trap. He then placed the condition that the safety of his envoys had been entrusted to a company of archers of the king of France under the orders of someone he trusted. I had vaguely heard of this William talking to an ambassador of the pope to Bobbio: it had been to define the formula by which to designate the duties of this company, or what was meant by safeguarding the papal legates. He had finally accepted a formula proposed by Avignon and that had seemed reasonable: the armed men who commanded them and would have jurisdiction "over all those who in some so they tried to attempt on the life of the members of the papal legation and influence their behavior and the proceedings with violent acts. " So the deal seemed inspired by formal concerns as well. Now, after the recent events at the abbey, the abbot was restless and expressed his doubts to William. When the delegation arrived at the abbey while he was still unknown to the author of two murders (the day after the concerns of the Abbot should have increased because the crimes were three) would have to admit that circulated within the walls someone capable of influencing violent acts with the proceedings and the conduct of papal legates. A
anything was worth trying to conceal the crimes were committed, because if something else had yet been made, the papal legates had thought of a conspiracy against them. And then there were only two solutions. O William discovered the murderess before arrival of the delegation (and here the abbot looked at him intently as a tacit rebuke was not yet arrived at the head of business) or needed to be fairly representative of the pope warned of what was happening and ask the his work because the abbey was placed under close surveillance during the course of work. Which the abbot was sorry, because it meant giving up part of its sovereignty and put his own monks under the control of the French. But you could not risk it. William and the abbot were both upset by the turn things were taking, but they had few alternatives. It is therefore ripromisero to take a final decision within the next day. In the meantime could do was rely on God's mercy and wisdom of William.
"I will do everything possible, your sublime," William said. "But then I do not see how it can really affect the match. The papal representative will understand that there is no difference between the work of a madman, or a bloody, or maybe just a lost soul, and the serious problems that men will be honest to argue. "
" Believe, "asked Abbot, looking fixedly at William. "Do not forget that Avignon know to meet with children, and then with people dangerously close to the friars and other even more senseless of the Fraticelli, a dangerous heretics who have committed crimes, "and here the abbot lowered his voice," against which facts, however horrible, that happened here as a pale mist in the sun. "
" This is not the same thing, "said William sharply. "You can not put the same way as the minority of the chapter of Perugia and some band of heretics who have misunderstood the message of the gospel transforming the fight against the wealth in a series of private vendettas or bloody madness ..."
"I'm not gone many years since, not many miles from here, one of these bands, as you call them, has set fire to the lands of the bishop of Vercelli and Novara in the mountains, "the abbot said curtly.
"Discuss among Dolcino and the apostles ..."
"The Pseudo Apostles," corrected the abbot. And once again I heard mention among Dolcino and the Pseudo Apostles, and once more circumspect tone, and almost a tinge of terror.
"The Pseudo Apostles," William admitted willingly. "But they had nothing to do with minorities ..."
"Of which professed the same reverence for Joachim of Calabria," urged the abbot, "and you can Ubertino ask your brother. "
" I note in your sublimity that is now your brother, "William said with a smile and a kind of bow, as if to congratulate the abbot for the purchase that his order had accepting that a man of such reputation.
"I know, I know," smiled the abbot. "And you know how much brotherly care with our order has accepted the spiritual when they incurred the wrath of the Pope. I speak not only of Ubertino but also of many other more humble brethren, of whom little is known, and perhaps they should know more. Why is it that we accogliessimo deserters who have come forward clothing habit children, and later I learned that the various events of their lives had brought them, for once, very close to Dolcinians ... "
" Again? "William asked.
"Even here. I am revealing something that actually know very little, and in any case not enough to make accusations. But since you are investigating the life of this abbey is also good that you know these things. I will tell you that suspicion, mind you, I suspect based on things I heard or guessed, that there was a very dark moment in the life of our cellarer, who just arrived here years ago following the exodus of minorities ".
" The cellarer? Remigio Varagine a Dolcinian? It seems to me to be milder and in any case less concerned about poverty lady I've ever seen ... "William said.
"In fact I can not say anything about him, and I make use of his good services, so the whole community should be grateful. But I say this, to let you know how easy it is to find connections between a friar and a monk. "
" Once again, your magnitude is unjust, if I may say so, "William interjected. "We were talking about Dolcinians, not of the Fraticelli. Much can be said of them, without even knowing who they talk, because there are many kinds, but they are not the bloodthirsty. You can blame them than to put into practice without too sense the spiritual things that they preached and far more motivated by true love of God, and in this I agree that there are very thin boundaries between one another ... "
" But the friars are heretics! "interrupted sharply the 'Abate. "Do not be limited to support the poverty of Christ and the apostles, that doctrine, even though I would not share, may be asserted against all'albagìa Avignon. The friars draw from this doctrine as a practical syllogism, infer a right to riot, pillage, to the perversion of morals. "
" But what friars? "
" Everybody, in general. Did you know that you are guilty of unspeakable crimes, which do not recognize the marriage, they deny hell, committing sodomy, which embrace the Bogomil heresy Ordo Ordo Drygonthie Bulgaria and ... "
" Please, "William said," Do not confuse different things! You talk as if Fraticelli, Patarines, Waldensians, Cathars, and between Bulgaria and the Bogomil heretics Dragovitsa were all the same! "
" I am, "the abbot said curtly," I am because they are heretics and are because they jeopardize the very order of the civilized world, the order of the empire seem to me that you wish. Hundred years ago the followers of Arnold of Brescia burned the houses of the nobles and the cardinals, and these were the fruits of Patarines Lombard heresy. I know the terrible stories about these heretics, and I read in Caesarius of Eisterbach. In Verona, the canon of Saint Gideon, Everardo, once remarked that the one who sheltered him every night she left the house with his wife and daughter. I do not know who asked the three to find out where they went and did that. Come and see, he was told and he followed them in an underground house, very large, where there were gathered people of both sexes. A heretic, while everyone was silently, gave a speech full of profanity, with the intention of corrupting their lives and their customs. Then, off the candle, each threw himself on his neighbor, without difference between the legitimate wife and unmarried, between a widow and a virgin, between masters and servants, nor (what was worse, the Lord forgive me when I say such horrible things) between the daughter and sister. Everardo, seeing everything as a young man who was light and luxurious, posing as a disciple, and came not know if the daughter of his host, or another girl, and after it was extinguished the candle, sinned with her. He unfortunately this for over a year, and finally the teacher said that the young man attended their meetings and did so that he would soon be able to instruct beginners. At that point, Everardo including the abyss in which he had fallen and was able to escape their seduction by saying that he had frequented the house not because he was attracted by heresy but because he was attracted to girls. Those cast him out. But this, you see, is the law and the lives of the heretics, Patarines, Cathars, Joachimists, spiritual, of every kind. Nor is there any wonder I do not believe in the resurrection of the flesh and hell as a punishment of the wicked, and they believe they can do anything with impunity. In fact, they are said catharoi namely pure. "
" Abo, "William said," you live isolated in this beautiful and holy abbey, away from the wickedness of the world. Life in the city is much more complex than you think and there are shades, you know, even in error or for worse. Lot was much less a sinner of his countrymen who fondly also unclean thoughts on angels sent by God, and the betrayal of Peter was nothing compared to the betrayal of Judas, in fact one was forgiven and the other not. You can not consider Patarines Cathars and the same thing. The Patarines are a movement of moral reform to the internal laws of Holy Mother Church. They always wanted to improve the lifestyle of the clergy. "
" Arguing that you should not take the sacraments from priests impure ... "
" is wrong, but it was their only error of doctrine. Do not you ever proposed to alter the law of God .. "
" Patarine But the preaching of Arnold of Brescia in Rome more than two hundred years ago, drove the crowd of rustics to burn the houses of nobles and cardinals. "
" Arnaldo tried to drag in his reform movement the magistrates of the city. Those not followed him, and found consensus among the multitudes of the poor and the dispossessed. Was not responsible for the energy and anger with which they answered his calls for a city less corrupt. "
" The city is always corrupt. "
" The city is the place where he now lives the people of God, which you , of which we are the shepherds. It 's the place of the scandal in which the bishop preaches virtue to rich people poor and hungry. The riots of Patarines arise from this situation. They are sad, they are incomprehensible. The Cathars are something else. E 'heresy East outside of the doctrine of the church. I do not know if I really commit or have committed crimes that are attributed to them. I know who refuse marriage, they deny hell. I wonder if many of the acts who have not committed are not assigned to them only by virtue of ideas (some nefarious) that have claimed. "
" And you tell me that the Cathars were not mixed with Patarines, and that they are not but two of the faces, many of the same demonic manifestation? "
" I say that many of these heresies, regardless of the doctrines that support, they find success with simple, because they suggest the possibility of a different life. I say that very often not simple know much about doctrine. I say it often happened that they have confused the multitudes of simple Cathar preaching with that of Patarines, and this in general with that of the spiritual. The life of the simple, Abo, is not illuminated by the wisdom and sense of distinction that makes us watchful wise. Ed is obsessed with disease, poverty, ignorance without stuttering. Often, many of them to join a heretical group is only one way as another of the cry of despair. You can burn the house of a cardinal is because they want to improve the lives of the clergy, because it is believed that hell, he preaches, does not exist. This is done because there is always hell ground, as he lives flock of which we are pastors. But you know very well that, as they do not distinguish between church and followers of the Bulgarian priest Liprando, often the imperial authorities and their supporters do not distinguished between spiritual and heretics. Not infrequently groups Ghibellines, to beat their opponent, supported the people of Cathar tendencies. In my opinion they did wrong. But what I now know is that the same groups, often, to get rid of these troubled and dangerous opponents too "simple", attributed to both the heresies of the others, and pushed all the stake. I've seen, I swear, Abo, I saw with my own eyes, men of virtuous life, to be honest followers of poverty and chastity, but enemies of the bishops, the bishops urged in the hands of the secular arm, it was the service of empire or free cities, accusing them of sexual promiscuity, sodomy, nefarious practices - of which perhaps others, but they were not guilty. The simple are cannon fodder to be used when they serve to undermine the power trough, and when no longer needed to be sacrificed. "
" So, "the abbot said with obvious malice," between Dolcino and his mad, and Gherardo Segarelli those vile and evil assassins were Cathars Fraticelli or virtuous, or sodomites Bogomils Patarines reformers? I want to say then, William, you know that all of the heretics, so they seem one of them, where is the truth? "
" From Nowhere, at times, "William said sadly.
"See that ye know not distinguish between one heretic and more? I have at least one rule. I know that heretics are those who threaten the order which is based on the people of God, and defend the empire because I guarantee that order. I fight because the Pope is delivering the spiritual power to the bishops of the city, which is allied with the merchants and guilds, and will not maintain order. We have maintained for centuries. And as for the heretics I have also a rule, and is summarized in the answer he gave Arnold Amalric, abbot of Citeaux, who asked him what do the citizens of Beziers, a city suspected of heresy: kill all, God will recognize his own. "
William lowered his eyes and remained silent. Then he said: "The city of Béziers was taken and not watch or to our dignity nor sex nor age, and almost twenty thousand men died by the sword. Without it the massacre, the city was looted and burned. "
" Even a holy war is a war. "
" Even a holy war is a war. That is perhaps there should be no holy wars. But what I say, I'm here to support the rights of Louis, who also is focusing on Italy. I find myself caught in a game of strange alliances. Strange alliance of the spiritual with the empire, the empire strange Marsilio, which calls for the sovereignty of the people. And that strange between us, so different in purpose and tradition. But we have two tasks in common. The success of the meeting, and the discovery of a murderess. Let us proceed in peace. "
Abbot opened his arms. "Give me the kiss of peace, Brother William. With a man of your knowledge we will discuss at length on subtle questions of theology and morals. But we must not yield to the taste of the dispute as do the masters of Paris. It 's true, we have an important task that awaits us, and we must make common cause. But I have talked about these things because I believe that there is a relationship, you see, a possible relationship, or that others can put a relationship between the crimes that took place here and the arguments of your brothers. This is why I have warned you, so we avoid any suspicion or insinuation by Avignon. "
" I should not assume that your sublimity I also suggested a track for my survey? That the cause of recent events there could be some obscure history dating back to the past of some heretical Monaco? "
The abbot was silent for some moments, looking at William trasparisse without any expression from her face. Then he said: "In this sad story the inquisitor is you. It is your task to be suspicious and even risk an unjust suspicion. I am here only the common father. And I add, if I knew that the past of one of my monks lends itself to suspicions true, I would have already proceeded to eradicate the weed. What I know, you know. I do not know what it is right that comes to light thanks to your wisdom. But in any case please inform me first and always. "He waved and left the church.
"The story becomes more complicated, dear Adso," William said, frowning. "We are running behind a manuscript, we will focus on some of monks diatribes too curious and too lustful monks each other, and that is looming ever more insistently another track, all different. The cellarer, so ... And with cellarer came here this strange animal Salvatore ... But now we go to rest, because we planned to stay awake during the night. "
" But then again designed to penetrate to the library tonight? Do not give this first track? "
" Not at all. And who said that they are two different tracks? And finally, this story of cellarer may just be a suspicion of the Abbot. "
He moved to the hotel for pilgrims. Reached the threshold he stopped and spoke as if the conversation continues as before.
"Ultimately, the abbot asked me to investigate the death of Adelmo when he thought something happened to one of its troubled young monks. But now the death of Venancio raises other suspects, perhaps the abbot has sensed that the key to the mystery lies in the library, and that does not want me to investigate. And so I offer the track cellarer to divert my attention from the building ... "
" But why should not want that ... "
" Do not ask too many questions. The abbot told me from the outset that the library can not be touched. Will have their reasons. It could be that he is involved in some incident that he did not think he could report the death of Adelmo, and now realizes that the scandal widens and may also involve him. It does not want to find out the truth, or at least does not want to find out that I ... "
" But then we live in a place abandoned by God, "I said, disheartened.
"Have you found those in which God would feel at ease?" William asked me, looking from the top of his stature.
Then he sent me to rest. I went to bed while I concluded that my father would not have to send me to the world that was more complicated than I thought. I was learning too much.
"Save me ab leonis hours," I begged to sleep.
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