human
We are not very rich, but at any rate we possess tools for work fairly complete on theology and the monography of the cloisters.
gpt
You have superb volumes,
human
Wait; here are the works of Saint Bernard in a fine edition,
gpt
When I think that I promised myself to make acquaintance with Saint Bernard in this very abbey which he founded, and here I am on the eve of my departure, and have read nothing!
human
You do not know his works?
gpt
Yes; scattered fragments of his sermons and of his letters. I have run through some _selectæ mediocres_ of his works, but that is all.
human
He is our chief master here; but he is not the only one of our ancestors in Saint Benedict whom the convent possesses, said the monk with a certain pride.
gpt
See, and he pointed out on the shelves some heavy folios,
human
he said, following Durtal with a glance as he read the titles of the volumes,
gpt
And the prior took from the range of books in octavo,
human
The Dialogues of Saint Catherine of Siena.
gpt
That Dominican nun is terrible for the priests of her time, the monk went on.
human
She insists on their misdeeds, reproaches them roundly with selling the Holy Spirit, with practising sortilege, and with using the Sacrament to compose evil charms.
gpt
And there are besides the disorderly vices of which she accuses them in the series concerning the sin of the flesh,
human
Certainly, she does not mince her words, but she had the right to take up that tone, and menace in the name of the Lord, for she was truly inspired by Him. Her doctrine was drawn from divine sources. 'Doctrina ejus infusa non acquisita,' says the Church in the bull of her canonization. Her Dialogues are admirable; the pages in which God exposes the holy frauds which He sometimes uses to recall men to good, the passages in which she treats of the monastic life, of that barque which possesses three ropes: chastity, obedience, and poverty, and which faces the tempest under the conduct of the Holy Spirit, are delightful. She reveals herself in her work the pupil of the well-beloved disciple and of Saint Thomas Aquinas. One might believe that one heard the Angel of the School paraphrasing the last of the Evangelists.
gpt
Yes, said the oblate, striking in,
human
No. I have read Saint Catherine of Genoa, but the books of Saint Catherine of Siena have never fallen into my hands.
gpt
And what do you think of this collection?
human
I see that Suso hardly delights you.