eedy of
recognition seems to me to be one of the conceptions which insult the
dignity of the soul.

I have heard lately one or two mediaeval stories which illustrate what
I mean. There is a story of a pious monk, who, worn out by long
vigils, fell asleep, as he was saying his prayers before a crucifix.
He was awakened by a buffet on the head, and heard a stern voice
saying, "Is this an oratory or a dormitory?" I cannot conceive of any
story more grotesquely human than the above, or more out of keeping
with one's best thoughts about God. Again, there is a story which is
told, I think, of one of the first monasteries of the Benedictine
order. One of the monks was a lay brother, who had many little menial
tasks to fulfil; he was a well-meaning man, but extremely forgetful,
and he was often forced to retire from some service in which he was
taking part, because he had forgotten to put the vegetables on to boil,
or omitted other duties which would lead to the discomfort of the
brethren. Another monk, who was fond of more secular occupations, such
as wood-carving and garden-work, and not at all attached to habits of
prayer, seeing this, thought that he would do the same; and he too used
to slip away from a service, in order to return to the business that he
loved better. The Prior of the monastery, an anxious, humble man, was
at a loss how to act; so he called in a very holy hermit, who lived in
a cell hard by, that he might have the benefit of his advice. The
hermit came and attended an Office. Presently the lay brother rose
from his knees and slipped out. The hermit looked up, followed him
with his eyes, and appeared to be greatly moved. But he took no
action, and only addressed himself more assiduously to his prayers.
Shortly after, the other brother rose and went out. The hermit looked
up, and seeing him go, rose too, and followed him to the door, where he
fetched him a great blow upon the head that nearly brought him to the
ground. Thereupon the stricken man went humbly back to his place and
addressed himself to his prayers; and the hermit did the same.

The Office was soon over, and the hermit went to the Prior's room to
talk the matter over. The hermit said: "I bore in my mind what you
told me, dear Father, and when I saw one of the brethren rise from his
prayers, I asked God to show me what I should do; but I saw a wonderful
thing; there was a shining figure with our brother, his hand upon the
other's s