Чума
Part IV
Whoinfactcouldassertthataneternityofdelightcouldcompensateforaninstantofhumansuffering?SurelynotaChristian,whoseMasterhadenduredpaininhislimbsandinhissoul.No,whenfacedwiththesufferingofachildthepriestwouldremainwithhisbacktothewall,loyaltothepainfuldisjunctionsymbolizedbythecross.Andhewouldsaywithoutfeartothosewhowerelisteningtohimonthatday:"Mybrethren,themomenthascome.Onemustbelieveeverythingordenyeverything.Andwhoamongyouwoulddaretodenyeverything?"
Rieuxhadhardlytimetothinkthatthepriestwasgettingclosetoheresybeforehewasalreadyspeakingagain,forcefully,toassertthatthisinjunction,thispuredemand,wasthebenefitoftheChristian.Itwasalsohisvirtue.Thepriestknewthattherewassomethingextremeaboutthevirtuehewasgoingtospeakaboutwhichwouldshockmanyminds,usedtoamoretraditionalandindulgentmorality.ButreligioninatimeofplaguecouldnotbethereligionofeverydayandifGodcouldacceptandevenwishthatthesoulshouldrestinhappiertimes,Hewantedittobeexcessivewhentherewasanexcessofunhappiness.Today,GodwasdoingHiscreaturesthefavourofputtingtheminsuchamisfortunethattheywereobligedtorediscoverandtakeonthemselvesthegreatestvirtue,whichwasthatofAllorNothing.
AsecularwriterinthelastcenturyclaimedtohaverevealedthesecretoftheChurchwhenhestatedthattherewasnosuchthingasPurgatory.
