the grey brethren(阴郁的教友们)-第2章
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grace：…
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The Grey Brethren
The sacrament of purging； purifying labour； to balance and control the
knowledge of good and evil：…
The sacrament of life； divine life； with the outward body of
humiliation； bread and wine； fruit of the accursed ground； but useless
without man's labour； and St Paul； caught up into the third heaven； and St
John； with his wide…eyed vision of the Lamb； must eat this bread and drink
this cup if they would live：…
The sacrament of healing； the restoring of the Image of God in fallen
man。
The Church is one society； nay； the world is one society； for man
without his fellow…men is not； and into the society； both of the Church and
the world； are inextricably woven the most social sacraments。
Herein is great purpose； we say； bending the knee； and with deep
consciousness of sins and shortcomings we stretch out longing welcoming
hands to our grey brethren with their inheritance of faithfulness and
steadfastness under persecution； and their many gifts and graces； and we
cry； in the words of the Song of Songs which is Solomon's： 〃O my dove；
that art in the clefts of the rock； in the secret places of the stairs； let me see
thy countenance； let me hear thy voice； for sweet is thy voice； and thy
countenance is comely。〃 〃Rise up； my love； my fair one； and come away。
For lo； the winter is past； the rain is over and gone。〃
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The Grey Brethren
A Song of Low Degree
LORD； I am small； and yet so great； The whole world stands to my
estate； And in Thine Image I create。 The sea is mine； and the broad sky Is
mine in its immensity： The river and the river's gold； The earth's hid
treasures manifold； The love of creatures small and great； Save where I
reap a precious hate； The noon…tide sun with hot caress； The night with
quiet loneliness； The wind that bends the pliant trees； The whisper of the
summer breeze； The kiss of snow and rain； the star That shines a greeting
from afar； All； all are mine； and yet so small Am I； that lo； I needs must
call； Great King； upon the Babe in Thee； And crave that Thou would'st
give to me The grace of Thy humility。
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The Grey Brethren
A German Christmas Eve
IT was intensely cold； Father Rhine was frozen over； so he may speak
for it； and for days we had lived to the merry jangle and clang of
innumerable sleigh bells； in a white and frost…bound world。 As I passed
through the streets； crowded with stolidly admiring peasants from the
villages round； I caught the dear remembered 'Gruss Gott！' and 'All' Heil！'
of the countryside； which town life quickly stamps out along with many
other gentle observances。
〃Gelobt sei Jesu Christ！〃 cried little Sister Hilarius； coming on me
suddenly at a corner； her round face aglow with the sharp air； her arms
filled with queer…shaped bundles。 She begs for her sick poor as she goes
along … meat here； some bread there； a bottle of good red wine： I fancy
few refuse her。 She nursed me once； the good little sister； with unceasing
care and devotion； and all the dignity of a scant five feet。 〃Ach； Du
lieber Gott； such gifts！〃 she added； with a radiant smile； and vanished up a
dirty stairway。
In the Quergasse a jay fell dead at my feet … one of the many birds
which perished thus … he had flown townwards too late。 Up at the
Jagdschloss the wild creatures； crying a common truce of hunger； trooped
each day to the clearing by the Jager's cottage for the food spread for them。
The great tusked boar of the Taunus with his brother of Westphalia； the
timid roe deer with her scarcely braver mate； foxes； hares； rabbits；
feathered game； and tiny songbirds of the woods； gathered fearlessly
together and fed at the hand of their common enemy … a millennial banquet
truly。
The market…place was crowded； and there were Christmas trees
everywhere； crying aloud in bushy nakedness for their rightful fruit。 The
old peasant women； rolled in shawls； with large handkerchiefs tied over
their caps； warmed their numb and withered hands over little braziers
while they guarded the gaily decked treasure…laden booths； from whose
pent…roofs Father Winter had hung a fringe of glittering icicles。
Many of the stalls were entirely given over to Christmas…tree
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The Grey Brethren
splendours。 Long trails of gold and silver ENGELSHAAR； piles of
candles … red； yellow； blue； green； violet； and white … a rainbow of the
Christian virtues and the Church's Year； boxes of frost and snow； festoons
of coloured beads； fishes with gleaming scales； glass…winged birds； Santa
Klaus in frost…bedecked mantle and scarlet cap； angels with trumpets set to
their waxen lips； and everywhere and above all the image of the Holy
Child。 Sometimes it was the tiny waxen Bambino； in its pathetic
helplessness； sometimes the Babe Miraculous； standing with outstretched
arms awaiting the world's embrace … Mary's Son； held up in loving hands
to bless； or the Heavenly Child…King with crown and lily sceptre； borne
high by Joseph； that gentle； faithful servitor。 It was the festival of
Bethlehem； feast of never…ending keeping； which has its crowning
splendour on Christmas Day。
A Sister passed with a fat； rosy little girl in either hand； they were
chattering merrily of the gift they were to buy for the dear Christkind； the
gift which Sister said He would send some ragged child to receive for Him。
They came back to the poor booth close to where I was standing。 It was
piled with warm garments； and after much consultation a little white vest
was chosen … the elder child rejected pink； she knew the Christkind would
like white best … then they trotted off down a narrow turning to the church；
and I followed。
The Creche stood without the chancel； between the High Altar and that
of Our Lady of Sorrows。 It was very simple。 A blue paper background
spangled with stars； a roughly thatched roof supported on four rude posts；
at the back； ox and ass lying among the straw with which the ground was
strewn。 The figures were life…size； of carved and painted wood： Joseph；
tall and dignified； stood as guardian； leaning on his staff； Mary knelt with
hands slightly uplifted in loving adoration； and the Babe lay in front on a
truss of straw disposed as a halo。 It was the World's Child； and the
position emphasised it。 Two or three hard…featured peasants knelt telling
their beads； and a group of children with round； blue eyes and stiff； flaxen
pigtails； had
