Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 4
Toreceivethatcall,Stephen,saidthepriest,isthegreatesthonourthattheAlmightyGodcanbestowuponaman.NokingoremperoronthisearthhasthepowerofthepriestofGod.Noangelorarchangelinheaven,nosaint,noteventheBlessedVirginherself,hasthepowerofapriestofGod:thepowerofthekeys,thepowertobindandtoloosefromsin,thepowerofexorcism,thepowertocastoutfromthecreaturesofGodtheevilspiritsthathavepoweroverthem;thepower,theauthority,tomakethegreatGodofHeavencomedownuponthealtarandtaketheformofbreadandwine.Whatanawfulpower,Stephen!
AflamebegantoflutteragainonStephen’scheekasheheardinthisproudaddressanechoofhisownproudmusings.Howoftenhadheseenhimselfasapriestwieldingcalmlyandhumblytheawfulpowerofwhichangelsandsaintsstoodinreverence!Hissoulhadlovedtomuseinsecretonthisdesire.Hehadseenhimself,ayoungandsilent-manneredpriest,enteringaconfessionalswiftly,ascendingthealtarsteps,incensing,genuflecting,accomplishingthevagueactsofthepriesthoodwhichpleasedhimbyreasonoftheirsemblanceofrealityandoftheirdistancefromit.Inthatdimlifewhichhehadlivedthroughinhismusingshehadassumedthevoicesandgestureswhichhehadnotedwithvariouspriests.
