Поющие в терновнике

           Voicelesslyheprayed,afeeling,anextensionofwhatlayallthroughhim,thoughtslikebeads,dayslikebeads.Lord,IamtrulyThine.ForThymanyblessingsIthankThee.ForthegreatCardinal,hishelp,hisdeepfriendship,hisunfailinglove.ForRomeandthechancetobeatThyheart,tohavelainprostratebeforeTheeinThineownbasilica,tohavefelttherockofThyChurchwithinme.Thouhastblessedmeabovemyworth;whatcanIdoforThee,toshowmyappreciation?Ihavenotsufferedenough.Mylifehasbeenonelong,absolutejoysinceIbeganinThyservice.Imustsuffer,andThouWhosufferedwillknowthat.ItisonlythroughsufferingthatImayriseabovemyself,understandTheebetter.Forthatiswhatthislifeis:thepassagetowardunderstandingThymystery.PlungeThyspearintomybreast,buryittheresodeeplyIamneverabletowithdrawit!Makemesuffer…ForTheeIforsakeallothers,evenmymotherandmysisterandtheCardinal.Thoualoneartmypain,myjoy.AbasemeandIshallsingThybelovedName.Destroyme,andIshallrejoice.IloveThee.OnlyThee…

           Hehadcometothelittlebeachwherehelikedtoswim,ayellowcrescentbetweenbeetlingcliffs,andstoodforamomentlookingacrosstheMediterraneantowhatmustbeLibya,farbelowthedarkhorizon.Thenheleapedlightlydownthestepstothesand,kickedoffhissneakers,pickedthemup,andtrodthroughthesoftlyyieldingcontourstothespotwhereheusuallydroppedshoes,shirt,outershorts.