Sayfa 773 / 1118

if, during so many years of pastoral care, you had loved your

flock, (and how could you refrain from loving them?) if you had

reposed in them your affections, your dearest cares, your

greatest delights, you would not have failed in courage: love is

intrepid; if you had loved those who were committed to your

spiritual guardianship, those whom you call children-if you had

really loved them, when you beheld two of them threatened at the

same time with yourself. Ah! certainly, charity would have made

you tremble for them, as the weakness of the flesh made you

tremble for yourself. You would have humbled yourself before God

for the first risings of selfish terror; you would have

considered it a temptation, and have implored strength to resist

it.