GOD'S WILL
The traveling saints.
The two saints continued on their way. At the entrance to a village, they were moved by groans coming from a cottage. They went there immediately, thinking that there must be some pain to relieve. A woman in tears held a small, dying child on her knees. He was frighteningly pale, and moreover shady and despairingly counterfeit.
"What is the matter with your child?" said one of the travelers.
“He suffered cruelly,” she replied, “and he is going to die, the poor little one… Alas! nothing can save him."
“Nothing,” said Saint John, pointing to the sky, "You forget the will of God."
"Oh!" replied the mother, “It’s too late, it’s over."
"If your child came back to life, you would be happy, wouldn't you?... However, it seems to me that it is counterfeit."
"Ah! No matter, if he only lived, I would be happy."
"Well!" said Saint John, touching the child's head with the end of a lead cross which he detached from the wall, "God wants him to live... Farewell my brave woman, do not forget that everything is possible to Him who created you."
Then they left the house... What was this woman's delight when she saw her child's white lips become colorful! She was almost frightened when he slipped off her knees and started running straight into the room. Then she regretted more than ever to see that his eyes were still crooked.
"What a misfortune, she cried, that these good lords who healed the child and who pulled out his bump did not at the same time put his eyes back in place!... But by what means did they straighten? Ah! here is the lead cross... Well, I'm going to do like them, and maybe my son will then have beautiful eyes."
She touched the child's eyes with the cross. Misfortune! The child, having become blind, hit his head against the wall and fell as if dead on the square.
The mother, mad with grief, rushed to the side where the travelers had passed, and, throwing herself at their knees, she confessed to them her fault.
"Rise up", said the saints, "And know how to conform to the will of the Creator."
The poor woman immediately saw her dear child running to meet her. He was straight like you, but his eyes were always crooked, because God, who gives so many graces, wants us to at least know how to moderate our desires.
The Angelus was ringing at the moment in the neighboring village. Our travelers had made a long stopover since the morning. Passing through the hamlet, they saw a house of good appearance whose door was ajar. The excellent smell of oatmeal reminded them that they had not eaten dinner and whetted their appetite. A dozen people were gathered in the house about an engagement. The two saints entered wishing happiness and health to the good Christians who were to be there.
"Thank you", said the farmer... "Because as good Christians we all are and always will be."
“If it pleases God,” murmured Saint Thomas.
"Oh! For that, there is no fear, said a young girl", laughing.
"Saint Peter denied Jesus three times", said the traveler with a sad air... "But that's not what it's about: will you serve us some porridge, if you make some?"
Source: La Volonté de Dieu from the French book Contes et légendes de Basse-Bretagne published in 1891.
Hello, my name is Vincent Celier.
I am writing translations of folk tales that I found in public domain French books, so that people who do not understand French may enjoy them too.
Saint Thomas and Saint John continue to visit various people and help them from their misfortunes.
As the title of the tale implies, the goal is to persuade the listeners that they should always rely on the will of God.
Although we have lived together for fifteen years, Kati and I, we never got married officially.
Next May we will have a small proper wedding.
Yesterday, we went to a store in downtown Vancouver and bought two rings.
These rings are engraved by local First Nations artists.
The engraving on Kati's ring is a Raven, on mine it is a Bear. Those two animals are very important to the First Nations in British Columbia.
-- Vincent Celier