CHAPTER 26 - CHINA
The Abbot did not like to play mind games, although many people stereotyped clinical psychologists as people who did. His Salesian charism called him to be simple, gentle, and not unnecessarily invasive. "Mr. Chang, either you tell me where you received the parchments freely, or I will thank you for your hospitality and make my way back to my friend’s house."
"You are indeed an unusual person, Brother Francis. Most people would raise their voices or storm out of here. You have done neither, although I can see that you are trying to control yourself. Thus, I see you as human and spiritual at the same time. You are teaching me a lot through your deportment. It's time that my deportment became better, not only toward you but toward people in general. I have been a man filled with hate and bitterness, but my encounter with you is somehow inviting me to change. Hatred does not really accomplish anything; I knew that but couldn’t admit it. You helped me do this without any direct preaching, which I truly admire.
"As for the parchments, they have been handed down in our family for four centuries now. A verbal story has been handed down with them also, and you know how that can go. Much like the present printed Bible, stories change over time and may be accurate, inaccurate, or a blend of both."
Brother Francis’ attention was riveted on the words of this enigmatic person. "Please tell me the story."
"Certainly, Brother. I was told that a hermit from the West lived out here in the country. He was a Christian hermit, which was quite unusual for this part of the world. The hermit followed Christ but his spirituality, if that's the proper term for it, was influenced by two people, a woman and a man."
"Who were they?"
"They were from France as I understand it; one was a widow and the other was a bishop. As we previously discussed, in the East we venerate our lineage, be it spiritual or genetic. These two people spawned a lineage of the spirit that I believe you have been living for many years. Their names were Mother Jane de Chantal and Bishop Francis de Sales.”