Page 197 - a-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man

his ordination by the imposition of hands, his soul would
pass again uncontaminated to the white peace of the altar.
No touch of sin would linger upon the hands with which
he would elevate and break the host; no touch of sin would
linger on his lips in prayer to make him eat and drink dam-
nation to himself not discerning the body of the Lord. He
would hold his secret knowledge and secret power, being as
sinless as the innocent, and he would be a priest for ever ac-
cording to the order of Melchisedec.
—I will offer up my mass tomorrow morning, said the
director, that Almighty God may reveal to you His holy will.
And let you, Stephen, make a novena to your holy patron
saint, the first martyr, who is very powerful with God, that
God may enlighten your mind. But you must be quite sure,
Stephen, that you have a vocation because it would be terri-
ble if you found afterwards that you had none. Once a priest
always a priest, remember. Your catechism tells you that the
sacrament of Holy Orders is one of those which can be re-
ceived only once because it imprints on the soul an indelible
spiritual mark which can never be effaced. It is before you
must weigh well, not after. It is a solemn question, Stephen,
because on it may depend the salvation of your eternal soul.
But we will pray to God together.
He held open the heavy hall door and gave his hand as if
already to a companion in the spiritual life. Stephen passed
out on to the wide platform above the steps and was con-
scious of the caress of mild evening air. Towards Findlater’s
church a quartet of young men were striding along with
linked arms, swaying their heads and stepping to the agile

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