"
Tears coursed down the wrinkled cheeks.
The Bishop kneeled beside the bed.
"Dear Antony," he said. "Listen to me. 'Perfect love casteth out
fear, because fear hath torment.' You have loved with a perfect love.
You need have no fear. Trust in the love of God, in the precious blood
of the Redeemer, which cleanseth from all sin, in the understanding
tenderness of our Lady, who knoweth a woman's heart. You meant to do
right; and if, honestly intending to do well, you used the wrong means,
Divine love, judging you by your intention, will pardon the mistake.
'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' Think no more of
yourself, in this. Dwell solely on our Lord. Silence your own fears,
by repeating: 'He is faithful and just.'"
"Think you, Reverend Father," quavered the pathetic voice, "that They
will sometimes let old Antony out of hell for an hour, to sit on her
jasper seat and see the Reverend Mother walk up the golden stairs, with
the splendid Knight on one side and the great Lord Bishop on the other?"
"Sister Mary Antony," said the Bishop, clearly and solemnly, "there is
no place in hell for so faithful and so loving a heart. You shall go
straight to your jasper seat; and because, with the Lord, one day is as
a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, your eyes will
scarce have time to grow used to the great glory, before you see the
Reverend Mother coming, walking between the two who have faithfully
loved her; and you, who have also loved her faithfully, will also mount
the golden stair, and together we all shall kneel before the throne of
God, and understand at last the full meaning of those words of wonder:
GOD IS LOVE.
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