Today I want to tell a story, a true story.
There once was a country priest, we'll call him Don Naive privacy. This priest was moved to a village in the Umbrian countryside to replace the old priest, it is unknown whether a punishment or simply fate. The country was small, and there was much work to do, because he had to handle at least four parishes. There were so many priests are willing to abide by these terms. Perhaps even he was, but he was touched that fate (or punishment) and had no choice. People do not look favorably, as it was attached to the old priest. And he just had to show was different from what was a man full of energy and initiative, a modern man, educated and intelligent. The people of the country, country people, peasants and artisans did not want that. They wanted a simple priest, who spoke of a campaign and not to philosophize about God and the Church. They wanted a priest in charge of real people and their problems. They needed help, spiritual and physical. He, then, young man, who had lived in the luxuries of the curia, he did not know where to begin. The perpetual helped him. And people, evil began to spread rumors. It was said then that his son (illegitimate) of Perpetual was his son. But only God knows if it's true. The poor priest, and misunderstanding between fatigue, slowly began to get sick, relegated to the life that was not for him and that he might not want. With only the comfort of his faith could no longer understand what was right and wrong. Just some lady (in the most affluent, land owners) helped him to remain sane: invited him to lunch on Sundays and holidays, inviting him for tea and spiritual meetings. But the collapse was near. And the poor priest, who became now an elderly man lost his head almost completely. One day the idea became clearer in her mind. There was only one way to escape from the reality that had always been close. Mission. And he asked, pleaded with the Bishop, who found a mission to escape for a few months. The Bishop knew. It was certainly a spiritual choice, was not a desire to help others, but the need to help himself. But Christian charity we know, is that too. And the Bishop said: Go and make good use of what you have learned. And so Don went Naive, full of hope and curiosity. It revived. He went to Brazil, in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. There he saw the poverty and joy. Realized that there was always wrong. He understood that one could be happy with anything. There, he felt alive and loved and appreciated and useful. There may have understood that it was not the priest he wanted to do, but wanted to be useful to others. But it was too late to change course, he could only enjoy that feeling of freedom and peace. He returned to the village, taking with him the sun of the Amazon ... and a woman with a child. That woman was a scandal. All said they had not lost the habit. And maybe no, he had lost. But at that age what did it matter? Maybe he was in love with this woman, but for sure it was platonic love. He was in love with his love of life despite the difficulties he had faced. He was not able to cope with its small daily problems. He had returned to the country with the joy of someone who has everything! Full of enthusiasm as before. He brought the joy Brazil with it: the colors, smells, sounds ... but as usual no one had understood. But undaunted, he tried to educate the ignorant people of the country, who had never seen anything outside of their land. He organized a great festival, one Mass in the mission style, such as those held in the Amazon rainforest. He called the missionaries and he brought his Brazilian friends of the mission. And in the small country church brought the sounds and the heat of the Amazon. With singing and dancing, clapping and foot thanks to the Lord sang "Tu és , Senhor, or meu pastor, nada por isso em minha vida faltará! But once again, people did not understand and was able only to criticize. Shocked by the behavior of this priest, and what was happening in the missions, the increasingly relegated to a corner and left him alone with his projects. He always tried to win over the evil that gripped him. But the rumors, gossip, the malignancy is known, are stronger than everything. Once again it fell to Bishop to decide for him. This time permanently. He took him aside and told him that God had decided that it was his cross, and could not stay among his people, that despite everything he had learned to love. With tears in his eyes, greeted the village, the countryside and its inhabitants, the ladies who had continued to be near him and his friend in Brazil sent home. And with a heavy heart he walked towards an unnamed monastery, where he could finish his years begging God to forgive him. He returned a few times, wrapped in the mystery of her new life. Then never returned, perhaps dead, perhaps it is still there, wonder what was his place in this world and the purpose of his life. Farewell Don Naive, I had pity on you, and, although a child, I loved him.
