Chapter 102 Chapter 100

Bishop Manuel Aringarosa had suffered all kinds of physical suffering, but the burning heat from the bullets in his chest gave him a very strange feeling.It goes deep into the lungs, but it hurts deeply.It makes people feel that this is not physical pain, but almost spiritual suffering. He opened his eyes, trying to see what was in front of him, but the rain fell on his face, blurring his vision.where am iHe felt a pair of strong arms supporting him, and the man hugged his frail body like an old rag doll.His black robe was blown up by the wind. He raised his weak arm, wiped the rain from his face, and finally saw that it was Silas.The huge albino man was staggering along the sidewalk shrouded in rain and fog, and he shouted loudly, hoping that the hospital would hear and come to rescue him.The sound was soul-stirring, like a cry of pain.His red eyes stared firmly into the distance; unstoppable tears flowed down his pale, blood-stained face.

"Son," Bishop Aringarosa said softly, "you are hurt." Silas looked down, his face contorted with agony. "Father, I'm really sorry." He seemed on the verge of being speechless in pain. "Don't you say that, Silas," Bishop Aringarosa replied hastily. "I should be the one to say I'm sorry. It's all my fault." The Master promised me that no one would die; and I also ask you to be completely at his command. "I was too anxious and too scared. We were both deceived." The leader never intended to give us the Holy Grail. Bishop Aringarosa lay in the arms of the man he took in many years ago, and felt that his thoughts were flying back to the past, back to Spain, and back to the place where he worked so hard to get his start - in Oviedo City, he took Silas to build a small Catholic church; later, his mind flew to New York, where he joined the towering Opus Dei Center on Lexington Avenue. Deduce the glory of God.

Five months ago, Bishop Aringarosa received rather discouraging news.His life's work thus came to the brink of danger.He can still recall every detail of that meeting at Castel Gandolfo, and his life was completely changed because of that meeting... He still remembers the news that caused this disaster. That day, Bishop Aringarosa walked into the astronomical library of Castel Gandolfo with his head held high. He expected that countless people would come to greet him, so he eagerly walked forward and patted his back. back, and then doubly praise him for his outstanding service to Christianity in America.

However, to his disappointment, there were only three people who greeted him inside. One is the secretary of the Holy See in the Vatican, he is bloated and gloomy. There are also two senior Italian cardinals, proud of themselves, but pretending to be very pious. The chubby person in charge of the legal affairs of the Holy See shook Bishop Aringarosa's hand, and motioned him to sit on the chair opposite. "Please take a seat and don't be restrained." Bishop Aringarosa sat down in a chair, but he always felt that something was wrong. The secretary spoke again; "Bishop, I'm not very good at chattering about family affairs, so let me directly state the reason for calling you here."

"Then just say it straight." Bishop Aringarosa glanced at the two cardinals. They seemed to be weighing him up, their expressions were reserved but full of expectation. "You should be very aware," the secretary said, "that His Holiness the Pope and others in the Holy See have been very concerned of late about the political implications of Opus Dei's controversial practices." Bishop Aringarosa was so angry that his hair stood on end.He had told this matter to the new pope on countless occasions, but, to his dismay, he thought the new pope was an ardent supporter of democratic reforms in the church. Woolen cloth.

"I assure you," the secretary added quickly, "that His Majesty has no intention of making any changes in the way you are run by the Pope." I don't want anything to change!thought Bishop Aringarosa. "Then what do you mean by calling me here?" The large man sighed and said, "Bishop, I don't know how to say it properly, so I might as well just say it. Two days ago, our secretariat voted down the Vatican's Act against Opus Dei." Bishop Aringarosa suspected that he had heard wrong. "What did you say?" "To put it bluntly, six months from today, the Holy See will no longer consider Opus Dei to be a member of it. Your Church is your own Church, and the Holy See will have nothing to do with you. The Pope has already Agree, and we are already drafting relevant legal documents."

"But—but that's impossible!" "On the contrary, it is quite possible and necessary. His Holiness is deeply disturbed by your aggressive recruitment policy and practice of physical penance." He paused. "Also, he is very unhappy with your women's policy. Frankly, Opus Dei has become a burden and an embarrassment to the Holy See!" Bishop Aringarosa froze. "Embarrassing it?" "It must be strange to you that things have developed to this point?" "But Opus Dei is the only Catholic organization that is growing. We have more than 1,100 priests to date."

"Not bad, but it got us into trouble." Bishop Aringarosa stood up suddenly: "Ask His Majesty the Pope, did Opus Dei embarrass him when he helped the Vatican Bank get out of trouble in 1982?" "For that matter, the Holy See will always be grateful to you." The secretary said calmly: "However, some people still believe that the only reason why you were given priority as a bishop was because of your generous gift in 1982." ." "It's not true." Bishop Aringarosa felt deeply hurt. "Anyway, we do have that intention. We're drafting the terms of our separation, which also includes the repayment of that money. We'll pay the arrears in five instalments."

"Are you trying to send me money?" Aringarosa demanded. "You're paying me so I can walk away quietly? Right now, Opus Dei is the only voice of reason left!" " One of the cardinals looked up. "Excuse me, did you mean reason?" Bishop Aringarosa leaned over the table and raised his voice an octave: "Don't you really know the reason why believers leave the Catholic Church? Just look around you, Archbishop. People have lost respect for it. It used to stick to it." The style of faith has disappeared, and the canon has become a dead letter. Abstinence, confession, communion, baptism, and mass—you pick and choose—choose a few, and leave the rest behind. In the back of the head. Tell me, spiritually, what kind of maze can the Catholic Church teach people?"

"Those are some third-century stereotypes," said another cardinal. "They don't apply to modern Christians. Those rules don't work in today's society." "Really? But it seems to work for Opus Dei!" "Bishop Aringarosa," the secretary said as if making a concluding statement: "Out of respect for the relationship between your organization and the previous Pope, His Majesty will give Opus Dei six months to take the initiative to communicate with Rome. The Holy See breaks ties. I suggest you use your differences with the Holy See to create your own Christian organization."

"I object," Aringarosa declared loudly. "I will confront His Majesty myself." "I'm afraid His Majesty the Pope doesn't want to see you anymore." Bishop Aringarosa stood up: "Forgive him for not daring to dismiss the post of bishop bestowed by the previous pope easily." "I'm sorry," the secretary didn't blink. "What God gives, God takes." Bishop Aringarosa stumbled out, feeling fear and bewilderment in his heart.When he returned to New York, all thoughts were lost, and he stared at the sky in a daze all day long.His heart was filled with sorrow at the thought of the future of Christianity. It was weeks before he got the call that changed everything.The caller, who sounded very French and called himself Pope, a very common title in the prelate, said he knew the Vatican was not planning to give Opus Dei any more support. How did he know?Bishop Aringarosa was puzzled.He had hoped that only a handful of Vatican powerbrokers would know that Opus Dei was about to sever ties with the Vatican, and someone had apparently leaked the news.When it comes to curbing gossip, nowhere else in the world have walls so permeable except those around Vatican City. "I have eyes and ears everywhere," whispered the leader. "Through these eyes and ears I can always get some information. If you will help me, I can find the place where the sacred relic is hidden, which will bring you Huge influence, you will gain enough power to make the Holy See bow down to you; you will also gain enough power to save our faith." He paused slightly: "This is not only beneficial to Opus Dei, but also For all of us." What God has taken...God has given.Bishop Aringarosa seemed to see a ray of hope. "Then tell me, what are your plans." The door of St. Mary's Hospital opened with a creak, and Bishop Aringarosa had already lost consciousness.Exhausted, Silas threw himself on the doorway.He fell to his knees and cried out for help.Everyone in the reception room was dumbfounded at the sight of the half-naked albino cradling a blood-soaked priest. The doctor who had come to help Silas lift the unconscious bishop onto a gurney had a look of dismay on his face as he took Aringarosa's pulse. "He lost a lot of blood and I don't see much hope of survival." Bishop Aringarosa's eyes flickered suddenly, and he regained consciousness for a moment, staring straight at Silas: "Child--" Regret and anger overwhelmed Silas like lightning. "Father, even if I spend my whole life, I will find the person who lied to us and kill him with my own hands." Bishop Aringarosa shook his head, looking very sad, when the people from the hospital came to push him away. "Sylas...if you haven't learned anything from me, please—please read this." He took Silas's hand and squeezed it hard: "Remember, forgiveness is God This is the best gift you can give us." "But the priest—" Bishop Aringarosa closed his eyes and said, "It's time for you to say your prayers, Silas."