{Dictated in a soft but confident voice;} "In former days, when the people of the Hebrews and all the tribes of Israel were oppressed for their scandalous sins by the grievous tyranny of the Philistines, in order that they might be able to overcome their enemies, as the sacred story declares, they restored their powers of mind and body by the injunction of a fast. For they understood that they had deserved that hard and wretched subjection for their neglect of God's commands, and evil ways, and that it was in vain for them to strive with arms unless they had first withstood their sin. Therefore abstaining from food and drink, they applied the discipline of strict correction to themselves, and in order to conquer their foes, first conquered the allurements of the palate in themselves. And thus it came about that their fierce enemies and cruel taskmasters yielded to them when fasting, whom they had held in subjection when full. And so we too, dearly beloved, who are set in the midst of many oppositions and conflicts, may be cured by a little carefulness, if only we will use the same means. For our case is almost the same as theirs, seeing that, as they were attacked by foes in the flesh so are we chiefly by spiritual enemies. And if we can conquer them by God's grace enabling us to correct our ways, the strength of our bodily enemies also will give way before us, and by our self-amendment we shall weaken those who were rendered formidable to us, not by their own merits but by our shortcomings."
{takes a small breath and switches to writing is a recognizable elegant handwriting;} This is a sermon for Lent time taken from the book I borrowed from the library. I would believe this is an appropriate overture for the period that awaits for every follower of the Church. Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and I attended by myself to this small chapel nearby the castle; a ritual a girl of my age should do with her family. Seeing this privilege was stripped from me recently, it is in the solitude of praying I found comfort.
Your hospitality has been marvelous and concern was touching. Specially yours, Sir Zelman, I am in debt with your charity. All things considered, I am well enough. Regardless of my new-found solace in lonely prayers, I would still like to enlist the company of the faithful who wish to join me.
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