“Without some deep mystery in His nature, as yet unknown to me, I cannot fully apprehend that wonderful doctrine of man’s purchase.”
“Fabiola,” responded Miriam, “more learned teachers than I should undertake the instruction of one so gifted and so acute. But will you believe me if I attempt to give you some explanation?”
“Miriam,” replied Fabiola, with strong emphasis, “ONE WHO IS READY TO DIE FOR ANOTHER, WILL CERTAINLY NOT DECEIVE HIM.”
“And now,” rejoined the patient, smiling, “you have again seized a great principle—that of FAITH. I will, therefore, be only the simple narrator of what Jesus Christ, who truly died for us, has taught us. You will believe my word only as that of a faithful witness; you will accept His, as that of an unerring God.”
Fabiola bowed her head, and listened with reverential mind to her, in whom she had long honored a teacher of marvellous wisdom, which she drew from some unknown school; but whom now she almost worshipped as an angel, who could open to her the flood-gates of the eternal ocean, whose waters are the unfathomable Wisdom, overflowing on earth.
Miriam expounded, in the simple terms of Catholic teaching, the sublime doctrine of the Trinity; then after relating the fall of man, unfolded the mystery of the Incarnation, giving, in the very words of St. John, the history of the Eternal Word, till He was made flesh, and dwelt among men. Often was she interrupted by the expressions of admiration or assent which her pupil uttered; never by cavil or doubt. Philosophy had given place to religion, captiousness to docility, incredulity to faith.
But now a sadness seemed to have come over Fabiola’s heart: Miriam read it in her looks, and asked her its cause.
“I hardly dare tell you,” she replied. “But all that you have related to me is so beautiful, so divine, that it seems to me necessarily to end here.
“The Word (what a noble name!), that is, the expression of God’s love, the externation of His wisdom, the evidence of His power, the very breath of His life-giving life, which is Himself, becometh flesh. Who shall furnish it to Him? Shall He take up the cast-off slough of a tainted humanity, or shall a new manhood be created expressly for Him? Shall He take His place in a double genealogy, receiving thus into Himself a twofold tide of corruption; and shall there be any one on earth daring and high enough to call himself His father?”
“No,” softly whispered Miriam; “but there shall be one holy enough, and humble enough, to be worthy to call herself His mother!