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“It’s very simple” said the Abbot with the most serious look he had ever seen. “We can return to the monastery proper, you can resume your life & resume your vows with the promise never to reveal what you’ve seen to this point, or we can go through that door and you begin a new life of service and prayer, similar but apart from the monastery. One choice is not superior to the other, both serve Christ & glorify God, but one carries the burden of knowledge. What shall it be?”

He didn’t hesitate: “Abbot shall we go inside?”

Last time: A Comical Stereotype Next Time: The Long & Short of it

It was almost a comical stereotype, hidden passages inside an ancient monastery but the number of twists and turns in the passage was beyond anything Herbert expected.

At the end of a corridor they approached a door in the wall, the Abbot stopped, turned to his right and touched a stone which receded exposing a lever which he pulled.

The Wall slid open exposing another door with an inscription over it:

“Dominus rex est, et ministri Romae coram eo se inclinant atque gaudent..”

The abbot turned: “I trust you’ve seen that phrase before? Now comes the time of your decision.”

Last Time: No Prior knowledge Next Time: Knowledge or Ignorance

The Prior entered in haste bowing to the chair noting, with some surprise the novice at his side. “My Lord Abbot called?”

“Brother Simon, Novice Herbert is designated for special duty within the order. He is removed from the rotation of all duties of his station. Furthermore for the next fortnight or more I will be indisposed. You shall take full management of the shrine from your cell. No one is to enter here under any circumstances till I say otherwise. You shall instruct the sub prior to take over your duties.”

The Prior’s shock was matched by Herbert’s

Last Time: A Translation Error? Next Time: A Comical Stereotype

“…I’ve been working on my translations of the Eucharistic Preface, no matter how many times I check my references in the oldest texts the prayer doesn’t translate “with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions…”

The Abbot interrupted knowingly “It’s the word ‘Dominions’ that isn’t translating properly, it’s translating as two different words.” smiling knowingly.

The novice was taken aback, He had hesitated to bring the issue to the Abbot when rebuked by his instructors even while confident of his work. He noticed the Abbot’s expression changed as he started to speak, but he never anticipated anything like this.

Last Time: The Cycle Begins Again Next Time: No Prior Knowledge