. . .By banning me from speaking a word for four days, Reverend Mother, except if it were necessary to save someone else's life." Then the Mother Superior asked a question which worried the young Novice. Until now this had been a familiar catechism, where old questions and answers were repeated to reinforce a well-understood position or idea. "Why do you think I chose that punishment?" asked the old lady. "Well, Reverend Mother, er..." Marie was floundering. "It was appropriate, was it not, that you should be punished in a way directly relevant to your sin? A glutton might be put on bread and water, one who speaks out of turn, denied the use of words, and so on. Is that not appropriate, my child?" "Yes, Reverend Mother." "And your sin today? Into what category would it fall?" This was easier, and Marie answered with confidence, "Reverend Mother it was a sin of the flesh." "Correct, and so the mortification of the flesh seems an appropriate punishment, does it not?" "Yes, Re. . . Read More