The Two Tears

A Spirit found himself forced to leave the Earth, which he had been unable to visit, because he came from a very inferior region; but he had asked to undergo a trial, and God had not refused it. Unfortunately, the hope he had cherished upon entering the terrestrial world had not been realized and, his brutish nature having triumphed, each of his days was marked by the most heinous crimes. For a long time, all the guardian Spirits of men had tried to turn him from the path he was following, but, exhausted, they had abandoned the unhappy one to himself, almost fearful of contact with him. Yet everything has an end; sooner or later the crime is discovered, and the repressive justice of men imposes upon the guilty one the penalty of retaliation. This time it was not head for head: it was head for a hundred; and yesterday this Spirit, after having spent half a century on Earth, was about to return to space to be judged by the Supreme Judge, who weighs faults far more inexorably than you yourselves would do.

In vain the guardian Spirits had returned with the condemnation and tried to introduce repentance into that rebellious soul; in vain they had urged his whole family toward him: each would have wished to draw from him a sigh of regret or, at least, a sign; the fatal moment was approaching and nothing softened that inflexible and, so to speak, bestial nature. And yet, a single regret, before leaving life, could have eased the suffering of the unhappy one, condemned by men to lose his life, and by God to incessant remorse, a horrible torture, like the vulture gnawing at the heart that is ceaselessly reborn.

While the Spirits worked without rest to make spring up in him at least the thought of repentance, another Spirit, a charming Spirit, endowed with sublime sensitivity and tenderness, hovered around a very dear head, a head still living, and said to it: “Think of that unhappy one who is going to die; speak to me of him.” When charity is sympathetic, when two Spirits understand each other and become but one, thought is as if electric. Soon the incarnate Spirit said to that messenger of love: “My son, strive to inspire a little remorse in that wretch who is going to die; go, console him!” And thinking thus, understanding all that the unfortunate criminal would have to endure in sufferings for his expiation, a furtive tear escaped from the eyes of him who alone, in that morning hour, awoke thinking of that impure being who within moments would have to render his account. The gentle messenger gathered that beneficent tear in the hollow of his delicate hand and, in swift flight, bore it to the tabernacle that encloses such relics, and thus made his prayer: “Lord, an impious one is going to die; you have condemned him, but you have said: ‘I forgive remorse and grant indulgence to repentance.’ Here is a tear of true charity, which passed from the heart to the eyes of the being I love most in the world. I bring you this tear: it is the ransom of suffering; give me the power to soften the heart of stone of the Spirit who is going to expiate his crimes. – Go, the Master answered him; go, my son, this blessed tear can pay many ransoms.” The sweet child departed; he reached the criminal at the moment of the execution; what he said to him God alone knows; what took place in that misguided being no one understood, but, opening his eyes to the light, he saw unfolding before him a whole terrible past. He, whom the fatal instrument had not shaken; he, whom the condemnation to death had made smile, raised his eyes and a large tear, burning like molten lead, slid from his eyes. At that mute proof, attesting to him that his prayer had been heard, the angel of charity spread over the unhappy one his white wings, gathered that tear, and seemed to say: “Unfortunate one! you will suffer less; I carry away your redemption.”

What a contrast the charity of the Creator can inspire! The most impure of beings, on the lowest rungs of the ladder, and the most chaste angel who, about to enter the world of the elect, at a sign comes to extend his visible protection over this outcast of society! From the height of his mighty tribunal God blessed that moving scene, and we all said, surrounding that child: “Go receive your reward.” The sweet messenger ascended to the heavens, the scalding tear in his hands, and was able to say: “Master, he wept; here is the proof!” — It is well; the Lord answered; preserve this first drop of dew of the hardened heart; let that fruitful tear go to water that Spirit parched by evil; but above all keep the first tear that this child brought to me; let that drop of water become a pure diamond, for it is indeed the spotless pearl of true charity. Recount this example to the peoples and say to them: “Being in solidarity with one another, behold: a tear of love for Humanity and a tear of remorse obtained through prayer; these two tears will be the most precious stones of the vast casket of charity.” Cárita. n [1]

[see Cárita.]