TENTH SCENE
He had supernatural reasons
The tale continues in front of the fireplace
Voice
… Brother Gabriel, if you received the news
that you were to die right now what would
you do?
Gabriel
I would carry on doing what I am doing.
Voice
And if you received the news when you were
in the refectory, or at rest?
Gabriel
I would continue to eat and to sleep …
Voice
… In carrying out his charitable works he
lacked the qualities of Friendliness, empathy,
as those who love with a natural love, but he
had supernatural reasons, and therefore his
love towards his neighbour was true Christian
charity. He deliberately tried to associate and
deal with, as well as serve those who he didn’t
naturally get on with, and therefore gave them
preference. He did this with such courtesy,
friendliness, and an open heart … that anyone
who didn’t know what was in his heart would
believe that these people were his favourites …
Gabriel
… When you give something to someone,
especially if they are poor, give it to them with
an open heart, because God prefers something
small given with an open heart, rather than
something big given without such an open heart …
Voice
… He was so obedient that once when they were a little upset they told him: “Go and look after the sheep; Go and look after the hens” … At first he took it as a joke, which it was, and didn’t pay any attention.
Afterwards, he asked permission to go, but in the end he didn’t even ask permission, but would get up immediately and go and get his hat, and would have undoubtedly gone if I hadn’t called him back in time … When the eight-day celebration of the most holy icon came in 1856, he still hadn’t fulfilled his promise of becoming a priest. On that day at Spoleto they used to take the holy icon from the tabernacle and carry it in procession around the church, and then the servant of God also took part.