"It's not that I think it should be reordered," he corrected, his heart starting to race. "I view His creation as a wild beast which can be dangerous and fickle but also useful and productive if you invest the time into instructing it and asserting your authority as its master. I would say everything in the world is God's creation and that all of it is part of the divine plan in one way or another."
The monk nods "I do not mean to test you on your knowledge of theology, but my tasks involved the rooting out of heresy and offering those who have fallen the opportunity to repent, and since there is an inderdiction I must follow those guidelines in any confession I hear. Besides which, if I did uncover some minor heresy in your belief, would you not want the opportunity to be corrected and repent your error?"
"Yes, I would greatly appreciate you correct any errors in my views, if there are any, so I can be on the path to salvation as soon as possible. If you've spotted any so far do tell me. In regards to the sins I have to confess, that is everything as far as my memory serves me."
"The good news, and the bad, is that what confessions you have made are below the scope of my instruction as well as outside my experience to assign penance, but I have promised you the benefits of confession, and you have been cooperative, so I may, and will, grant you absolution for these past sins for the duration of the interdiction, after which time you should approach the local priest to receive proper penance for these sins. Before you go, are there any behaviors or activities of the other occupants of this castle which cause you concern or strike you as unusual?"
"Thank you, brother," he said with a bow as he rose. "I assure you, my fellow scholars are good christians of correct belief and no cause for concern. Hopefully they too will approach and take advantage of this opportunity you've given us." With that he retires to report to his sodales how it went. "It shouldn't be too hard going forward," he said with a sigh of relief. "I was the most likely to mess it up and it went well."
Gerard looks around at his sodales. "Are we all going to visit him? I think it's for the best. In any case, I think I should - I will go last."
"Lutra has. Can we do any less? In any case, we will learn something, about sins and heresy. Perhaps in ourselves!" Leaf smiles at this. "I will follow"
As you knock and enter the room, brother Rainier is faced away from you in a chair. "Have you come to confess your sins?"
"I have, Brother. Thank you for bearing this burden, it cannot be easy"
"Forgive me, for I have sinned. "
"And how long has it been since your last confession?"
"A lifetime ago. But it must have been in the journey, perhaps in Le Puy, a Moon past. My feet will eventually forgive me. Or they may not. They can be..difficult" Leaf looks pointedly at the Brother's feet.
(Leaf has just joined Bentalone and journeyed during Winter 1197 to get here)
"And what have you to confess?"
"I have had less than Apt thoughts. I have not performed the most Apt deeds. I have not yet found my place in here." looks around, encompassing Bentalone "I have not solved my Master's riddle"
" How have your thoughts and deeds been less than apt?"
"My thoughts sometimes turn to lust when I consider the beauty of some lass. Lust is no the problem, though, Brother! It is that it leads to anger and resentment. To a lack of clarity. This anger is a part of myself I must scourge, destroy within me. Perhaps as the years pass I will achieve it. Have you found it to be this way, in your Orders?"
Thoughtfully.
"As for less than Apt deeds: by omission, so many! This Winter past was harsh for man and beast. On my journey here, I did not share as much food as I could have with the many that were starving, I could seldom console the dying, or render aid to the ill, or reconcile old feuds. Sometimes all one can do is witness."
"I see, do you not consider Lust to be a sin then?"
"Ha! Is it not our nature to sin? Is this not why we share our burden with you?"
"A young man will sin many times, by thought, action, or omission, in the future, in the coming months. In the next hour, Brother! But perhaps he may eventually learn wisdom, Indeed, Or is that pride?"
" So when you say that lust is not the problem, are you saying that sin is not the problem, or that lust is not a sin?"
"This is a most unusual Confession, Brother! "
"Lust a most ubiquitous sin. And I a common sinner; but no more, no less than my fellow Man."
Hesitating, with a sheepish smile
"Mayhap more, as my loins have not yet cooled at my age!
Again, is it not our Nature to sin? If Lust tempts me, but does not overcome me, is that not commendable?"
"So you believe that lust is a sin only if acted upon, and that to not act is reason for pride?"