page 65
HERE WE TELL HOW A CERTAIN SACRISTAN HAD GREAT COMFORT OF OUR LADY, BECAUSE OF THESE WORDS : COELI FENESTRA FACTA ES
VERILY, it is a great matter to have Our Lady's friendship, and little need they fear that possess this sovereign grace; for neither man, nor the Enemy in Hell, nor the very Saints that are in Paradise can hurt them, so great a power and subtlety hath the glorious Virgin in her children's help and defence. And that ye may know somewhat of the manner in which she guards us, I will here set in writing the adventure of a certain poor Christian that was sacristan in the church of the Blessed Apostle Saint Peter that is in the city of Rome.
Now amongst the many offices wherewith this sacristan was charged, one devoir he had of great import, namely, to tend and nourish with pure oil the lamps that burned before the altars of the Saints; for these lamps should burn for ever with an unchanging light, being indeed the emblem of the Church's prayers. And because he had a special love for our dear Lady Saint Mary, this sacristan had exceeding care of the
page 66
lamp that was before her altar, and trimmed it very often, and kept it always filled with oil and burning brightly. But one day it chanced that this lamp wanted for oil, so that its light grew dim and was like to be extinguished; and when he saw it he was much vexed, and cast about to see what he might do to replenish it as quickly as he could.
Now the lamp that burned before the shrine of the Blessed Apostle Saint Peter was full of oil even to the brim; and it burned with a great light, exceeding all other in the church. Therefore this sacristan, for that he was old and somewhat slothful, bethought him that he would take a little oil from Saint Peter's lamp, and therefrom replenish that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the which was like to be extinguished. This he did, thinking no harm of it, for he held that even the Prince of the Apostles should find it a pleasant thing and just to give to God's Mother those things of which she stood in need. And not on this day only, but on many others, he fed the lamp of his Lady from out the superfluity of oil which Saint Peter's suppliants offered at his shrine.
Nevertheless, that holy Apostle was greatly vexed at it; for he was of opinion that in this church, wherein his confession was, he stood higher than all other saints, yea, even than the Queen of Angels herself. And he could not endure that the oil of his lamp should be taken in order that a brighter flame might burn before that Lady's shrine. Therefore one night he
page 67
came from Paradise and appeared in vision before that sacristan whiles he slept, and with angry looks he saith to him, "Wherefore, oh sacristan, have you taken the oil from my lamp? Is it for this that my shrine has been given into your keeping?"
Said the sacristan, "Messire Saint Peter, I did but borrow a little that the lamp of Our Lady Saint Mary might be fed."
The Apostle replied, "God's Mother hath much honour in many lands, and many shrines and pilgrimages there are established in her name: but this is my house, wherein my body lies, that is the very Rock on which the Church is built, and here I can in no wise suffer that you do the Lady Mary this courtesy at my expense. Oil has been provided wherewith to light her altar, and this must suffice. Here am I accustomed to be honoured above all other saints, and ill shall it be for them that fail to give me my due. Behold, I keep the key of Heaven, and none can enter in save them to whom I open ; and if you be so hardy to come thither, that have given me less oil that the Blessed Virgin may have more, very surely I shall shut the door in your face."
Then the sacristan awoke, full of dread, and he rose up swiftly and went into the church; and there he made haste to tend the lamp of the Blessed Apostle Saint Peter and show him every courtesy he could. But little hope did he have of it, for he knew him to be a hasty and a vengeful man.
page 68
And when he had done all he might for Saint Peter's lamp, then did he give oil to the one tnat burned before Saint Mary's altar, and, "Ah, dearest Lady," he said, "how dearly have I paid for my love! For the Blessed Apostle Saint Peter is very wrathful because I have dared to prefer your service before his; and since I have earned his enmity, he will not open the door of Heaven to let me in. Alas, Madame, what shall I do? Because of my devotion I am like to be damned, for very surely none shall enter Paradise that have not the goodwill of him that keeps the keys."
But behold, that night as he lay on his bed, Madame Saint Mary came and stood beside that poor sacristan, and spoke comfortable words to him, saying:
" My very dear friend and faithful servant, be joyful and fear not, for none can harm you whiles you have my love. Therefore continue firmly in all that you have aforetime done, honouring me at my altar and tending my lamp before all else. If this you do, greatly shall it profit you; for though the Apostle Saint Peter refuse to open the door of Heaven to let you in, yet is he powerless to keep you from the Celestial City so long as you do call upon my name. Very truly he keeps the keys of the door of Paradise, but so soon as he hath shut it against you, I, of whom my anthem saith, "Coeli fenestra facta es," shall open the window, that thereby you may come in. This will I ever do for my friends that fail not in my service; for
page 69
the door of Heaven is a very narrow gate, and Saint Peter keepeth it exceeding straitly, but the window of my love is very wide." Then was the poor sacristan greatly comforted by the words that the Queen of Heaven had said ; and he rose up full of joy to give her thanks, repeating much devoutly the anthem that was an earnest of her grace. Ever after he tended her lamp before all others, so that it burned day and night with exceeding splendour, the brightest in all that church. No heed did he give to the wrath that the Blessed Apostle Saint Peter might feel at it, that was so greatly jealous for the honour of his shrine; for he knew that all the Saints that are in Paradise, yea, and the very hosts of highest Heaven, are powerless to do hurt to those poor Christians that do serve God's Mother zealously and with love.
