Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 58 -
SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE PARTY OF MALE AND FEMALE SERVANTS OF ROME. - A ROMAN-CHINESE MISSIONARY.
1
(Says one of the party): "Dear friend and brother! All of us left earth in the year 1846, after Christ's birth. On earth, we lived in different countries and actually met only here in the spirit world. We were monks of the orders of the Jesuits, Liguorists, Minorites, and Carmelites. We are about eight hundred males; and the two hundred sisters are partly from the order of the Sisters of Charity and partly from the orders of the Teaching Sisters and Ladies of the Sacred Heart.
2
Now, dear friend and brother, you know when we lived on earth and what we were. The rest you can easily imagine: all the foolish things we had to perform for the sake of Rome, which sent us out into the world to do some fishing. And for this dubious honor, we had to give our lives - some in Asia, some in hot Africa and Australia, and others in America. And when we arrived here in the spirit world, expecting to receive the martyr's crown of eternal glory, the real trouble only began.
3
And I tell you that you are the first human being we have met in this desert after actual, or just experienced, trillions of years. Isn't it terrible to receive such a reward for our martyrdom on earth? Men on earth are great asses, but we were the greatest - there is no doubt about that!
4
Of course, we did not believe any of the things we taught with glib tongues, for our only motive was to catch the goldfish for ourselves and for Rome. But, notwithstanding this, we did preach Christ and converted many heathens to Christianity, for which, in the end, we had to suffer tortures. What a reward we received for this, you can see for yourself: indescribable wretchedness in this world.
5
I had to suffer particularly. I was in China where, thanks to my knowledge of the language, I managed to make many a profitable deal. With the aid of a beautiful Chinese woman, I even gained access to the Emperor's court. There, however, the woman, whom, unfortunately, I had taken into my confidence, denounced me to the supreme authority, citing fraud and other evil designs, including high treason.
6
I was seized and placed between two stone slabs, which the Mandarins then started to heat, and I was slowly fried to death. That is surely the most painful death imaginable, and one would think that with such a death one would have atoned for all one's mortal sins - but listen to this: This torture continued even after my death! Yes, I still had to face those two glowing rocks which I have already mentioned to you.
7
That was the reward I reaped so far for all my efforts on earth; what may still follow, I don't know. You have now a good picture of our nature and our fate. In short, we are poor devils whom you are now helping. If there is a God, may He reward you for it!"
8
(Bishop Martin): "Now I know more about you than I wanted to find out. But it is quite all right - we shall still remain good friends. Now, bring me the nuns, so that I may hear under what circumstances they joined you here."