Портрет художника в юности

           Helistenedinreverentsilencenowtothepriest’sappealandthroughthewordsheheardevenmoredistinctlyavoicebiddinghimapproach,offeringhimsecretknowledgeandsecretpower.HewouldknowthenwhatwasthesinofSimonMagusandwhatthesinagainsttheHolyGhostforwhichtherewasnoforgiveness.Hewouldknowobscurethings,hiddenfromothers,fromthosewhowereconceivedandbornchildrenofwrath.Hewouldknowthesins,thesinfullongingsandsinfulthoughtsandsinfulacts,ofothers,hearingthemmurmuredintohisearsintheconfessionalundertheshameofadarkenedchapelbythelipsofwomenandofgirls;butrenderedimmunemysteriouslyathisordinationbytheimpositionofhands,hissoulwouldpassagainuncontaminatedtothewhitepeaceofthealtar.Notouchofsinwouldlingeruponthehandswithwhichhewouldelevateandbreakthehost;notouchofsinwouldlingeronhislipsinprayertomakehimeatanddrinkdamnationtohimselfnotdiscerningthebodyoftheLord.Hewouldholdhissecretknowledgeandsecretpower,beingassinlessastheinnocent,andhewouldbeapriestforeveraccordingtotheorderofMelchisedec.

           —Iwillofferupmymasstomorrowmorning,saidthedirector,thatAlmightyGodmayrevealtoyouHisholywill.Andletyou,Stephen,makeanovenatoyourholypatronsaint,thefirstmartyr,whoisverypowerfulwithGod,thatGodmayenlightenyourmind.