Page 130 - a-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man

ises also to the meek that they shall possess the land? Why
was the sacrament of the eucharist instituted under the two
species of bread and wine if Jesus Christ be present body
and blood, soul and divinity, in the bread alone and in the
wine alone? Does a tiny particle of the consecrated bread
contain all the body and blood of Jesus Christ or a part only
of the body and blood? If the wine change into vinegar and
the host crumble into corruption after they have been con-
secrated, is Jesus Christ still present under their species as
God and as man?
—Here he is! Here he is!
A boy from his post at the window had seen the rector
come from the house. All the catechisms were opened and
all heads bent upon them silently. The rector entered and
took his seat on the dais. A gentle kick from the tall boy in
the bench behind urged Stephen to ask a difficult question.
The rector did not ask for a catechism to hear the lesson
from. He clasped his hands on the desk and said:
—The retreat will begin on Wednesday afternoon in
honour of saint Francis Xavier whose feast day is Saturday.
The retreat will go on from Wednesday to Friday. On Fri-
day confession will be heard all the afternoon after beads. If
any boys have special confessors perhaps it will be better for
them not to change. Mass will be on Saturday morning at
nine o’clock and general communion for the whole college.
Saturday will be a free day. But Saturday and Sunday being
free days some boys might be inclined to think that Monday
is a free day also. Beware of making that mistake. I think
you, Lawless, are likely to make that mistake.

130 A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man