Moralia in Job 1462 part 4/4

And when her body was stripped, according to the custom of the dead, to be washed, upon her elbows and knees, from long practice of prayer, the skin was found to have grown hardened after the manner of camels; and the dead flesh bore witness to what her living spirit had ever done. But these things were done before the day of the Lord's Nativity. When this had passed, she soon appeared to her sister Aemiliana through a vision of nocturnal sight, saying: 'Come, for since I kept the Lord's Nativity without you, the holy day of Theophany I shall now keep together with you.' To whom she straightway, anxious for the salvation of her sister Gordiana, replied: 'And if I come alone, to whom do I leave our sister Gordiana?' To whom, as she affirmed, with a sad countenance she again said:

'Come, for our sister Gordiana has indeed been counted among the laywomen.' Which vision was soon followed by an affliction of the body, and so, as had been said, before the day of the Lord's Manifestation, the same affliction growing heavier, she died. But Gordiana, as soon as she found that she alone remained, her wickedness increased; and what before lay hidden in the desire of thought, this afterward she carried out in the effect of wicked deed. For, forgetful of the fear of the Lord, forgetful of shame and reverence, forgetful of her consecration, she afterward took as husband the steward of her own fields. Behold, all three were at first converted with one ardor, but they did not remain in one and the same zeal, because, according to the Lord's word, 'Many are called, but few are chosen.'

These things, therefore, I have said, lest anyone already placed in good work should attribute to himself the powers of good work, lest anyone should be confident of his own action; because although he already knows today what manner of man he is, he still knows not what he shall be tomorrow. Let no one, then, rejoice secure of his works already done, when he still, in the uncertainty of this life, is ignorant what end shall follow. But since I have related a matter which has terrified you out of the divine severity, I add yet another thing near at hand, which out of the divine mercy may console your terrified hearts; which nevertheless I remember that I have already told in another sermon, but you were by no means present.

Two years ago a certain brother came into my monastery, which is situated beside the church of the blessed martyrs John and Paul, for the sake of the monastic life; who, being long tried according to rule, was at length received. His brother followed him to the monastery, not from zeal for the monastic life, but from carnal affection. But he who had come for the monastic life pleased the brethren greatly; whereas, on the contrary, that brother of his was utterly at variance with his life and manners. Yet he lived in the monastery from necessity rather than from will. And though in all his acts he showed himself perverse, for his brother's sake he was patiently tolerated by all. For he was frivolous in speech, depraved in action, showy in dress, uncultured in morals;

but he could not bear it if anyone spoke to him about the conduct of the holy habit. His laughter, moreover, had become grievous in the sight of all the brethren, but nevertheless, as has been said, for the sake of his brother he was tolerable to all. He greatly scorned it if anyone spoke to him anything about the correction of his wickedness. Not only could he not do good, but he could not even hear of it. Never, by swearing, by growing angry, by mocking, would he grant that he would come to the habit of holy conduct. But in this pestilence, which lately consumed the population of this city in great part, being struck in the groin, he was brought to death.

And when he was drawing his last breath, the brethren gathered together, to protect his departure by praying; his body was already dead in its extreme parts, only in the breast alone did the vital warmth still breathe. But all the brethren began to pray for him the more earnestly, the more they saw him now departing with speed. When suddenly, while those same brethren stood by, he began to cry out with what effort he could, and to interrupt their prayers, saying: 'Withdraw, withdraw, behold I am given to a dragon to be devoured, who because of your presence cannot devour me. My head he has already swallowed up in his mouth; give place, that he may torment me no more, but may do what he is about to do.'

'If I am given to him to be devoured, why do I suffer delay because of you?' Then the brethren began to say to him: 'What is this that you speak, brother? Sign yourself with the sign of the holy cross.' He answered as he could, saying: 'I wish to sign myself, but I cannot, because I am pressed by the dragon.' And when the brethren heard this, prostrate on the earth with tears they began to pray more vehemently for his deliverance. And behold, suddenly the sick man, now improved, began to exult with what voices he could, saying: 'Thanks be to God! Behold, the dragon that had taken me to be devoured has fled; driven out by your prayers, he could not stand. Now intercede for my sins, because I am ready to be converted, and utterly to forsake the secular life.'

The man therefore who, as has already been said, had died in the extreme parts of his body, being reserved to life, was converted to God with his whole heart. Trained by long and continual scourges in that same manner of life, and a few days before, the affliction of numbness increasing, he died. He, now dying, saw not the dragon, because through the change of heart he had conquered him. Behold, my brethren, Gordiana, of whom I spoke above, fell from the excellence of the nun's habit to punishment, and this brother, of whom I have narrated these things, from the very article of death returned to eternal life. Let no one, therefore, know what is treated concerning himself in the hidden judgments of God; because 'Many are called, but few are chosen.'

Since, therefore, no one is certain concerning himself that he is among the elect, it remains that all should tremble, that all should be fearful about their own conduct, that all should rejoice in the divine mercy alone, and that no one should presume upon his own strength. There is One who perfects our confidence, namely He who deigned to take up our nature in Himself, Jesus Christ, who with the Father lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, throughout all the ages of ages. Amen.