Page 56 of The Forgotten (Echoes from the Past #2)

Prior Jacob finished his mead and hurried from the study, heading straight for the church. He needed to pray on this before he shared this foul knowledge with the other friars. He needed guidance and the light of God’s grace.

Prior Jacob’s head was bent in prayer as he knelt before the altar, speaking to God as if he were an understanding father.

The prior never regarded conversations with the Lord as being one-sided.

What many people failed to understand was that if one stopped talking and truly listened, God provided an answer.

It didn’t always come immediately. Sometimes the answer came in the middle of the night—a rustling whisper in one’s mind—but as clear as a bell.

At other times, the response came as an action or a comment from another person which seemed to directly answer the question Jacob had asked only a short while ago.

“Dear Lord,” Prior Jacob whispered. “It is my duty as the prior of Greyfriars and as a man who has devoted his life to your service to denounce Father Avery, but is it my duty in this case to accuse the child and condemn him? Is it not my holy responsibility to try to offer him protection and salvation? Can his soul be redeemed, or has evil taken root, the devil now in full possession of his soul?”

If that were the case, there would be only one path open to Prior Jacob.

He would have to drive the devil out and purify the priory which was now tainted by association.

Prior Jacob hoped that God, in his mercy and wisdom, would allow him to save Edwin.

He was hardly more than a child, an innocent vessel of evil, and an unwitting product of carnal sin.

Prior Jacob’s head snapped to attention as he heard the slapping of leather against stone as several pairs of feet made their way down the nave toward him.

“Prior,” Friar Gregory cried out. “Prior Jacob, the boy Edwin has had another fit. It’s lasted longer this time. He’s possessed of the evil spirit, and something must be done at once.”

Prior Jacob rose laboriously to his feet. He assumed that Edwin had left for the day and no decision would need to be made tonight, but it was no later than five in the evening, and Edwin was evidently still at the priory .

“Thank you,” he said quietly and crossed himself as he gazed up at the serene countenance of Jesus Christ. Jacob had his answer.

“Where is Edwin now?”

“Father Avery offered to take him home. They left not five minutes ago,” Friar Oswald spat out. He was angry, his face florid with indignation. “We should go in pursuit.”

Prior Jacob raised his hand, palm out, signaling for the friars to calm down.

“We will hold a meeting and decide on the best course of action together. There’s some information I must share with you all.

Friar Owen, please advise the brothers that there will be a meeting after the evening meal tonight.

Father Avery will be in the chapel, taking his turn at Perpetual Adoration, so we will be able to speak freely. I will remain at prayer until then.”

Prior Jacob returned to his cell and sank to his knees in front of the wooden crucifix affixed to the wall.

He would have preferred to remain at the church but knew that he would not be able to pray without interruption, and he needed to marshal his thoughts and give his full attention to the Lord.

This was a serious matter, and even though God seemed to have made his position clear, Prior Jacob still wished to handle this matter with the utmost diligence.

He remained immobile for over an hour, then genuflected and got to his feet.

His knees were sore, and he was stiff with cold, but his conscience was clear.

He knew the way forward and would put his proposal to the friars directly after supper.

Prior Jacob waited until the monks finished their meal then took his place at the pulpit from which the scripture was read before every meal.

He quickly but thoroughly outlined what he’d learned and then waited patiently for the uproar to die down.

Some of the brothers were riled, their faces flushed with anger and disbelief.

They called for drastic measures, which they wished to see carried out immediately.

Others, like Friar William, remained quiet, their eyes downcast. Prior Jacob sympathized with their feelings.

“Brothers,” Prior Jacob called, raising his hands to ask for silence.

“I have prayed on this matter, and I feel that it would be the right thing to turn this matter over to the diocese. The bishop can investigate the allegations and decide on a course of action. As an order of friars, I don’t believe it’s our responsibility to mete out any punishment to Father Avery or try to exorcise the demons that plague young Edwin.

I ask for your support in this decision. ”

Prior Jacob knew there would be dissent among the brothers since some would take a hard line, while others would plead for clemency, but hoped that common sense would prevail.

They were an order of Franciscan friars, not bishops, cardinals, or even priests.

It wasn’t their place to hold a trial and condemn the accused.

And he had no wish, perhaps selfishly, to take responsibility for what happened to father and son.

“And what of the woman?” Friar Gregory cried out. “Is she to avoid punishment for her sorcery? She bewitched a man of the cloth and she belongs in Hell, as the Scriptures clearly tells us.

“Revelation 21:8: ‘But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death,’” he spat out, eyes blazing.

The hall exploded into chaos, friars quoting the scriptures at each other to support their points of view.

Prior Jacob allowed them a few minutes before calling for order.

He expected this kind of reaction to the news, but the vehemence with which some of the friars called for punishment surprised even him.

“Those in favor of turning this matter over to our superiors, raise your hands,” Prior Jacob said, praying that rational thinking would prevail.

“Those in favor of taking action against Father Avery, his woman, and their son, raise your hands.”

Prior Jacob breathed a sigh of relief. The vote was fifteen to eleven in favor of turning the matter over to the diocese.

“And so, it has been decided. I will write an account and deliver it in person to Bishop Harrington. Friar Matthew, I would ask you to write down what you saw, in your own words. The bishop will find it most helpful, I think. Now, let’s all return to our cells.

I believe we can all benefit from a period of quiet prayer and contemplation. ”

The friars filed out of the refectory hall.

Some appeared to be relieved, while others grumbled beneath their breath, dissatisfied with the decision.

They dared not say it out loud, but they thought Prior Jacob weak and ineffective.

Perhaps Prior Jacob’s predecessor would have handled the matter differently, but as far as Jacob knew, he’d never had to tackle anything of this magnitude.

Prior Jacob walked briskly back to his cell, all too conscious of the angry stares boring into his back.

If this was a test of his ability to lead the brothers, then so be it.

He would accept whatever the good Lord, in his infinite wisdom, saw fit to do.