L'Eglise Aristotelicienne Romaine The Roman and Aristotelic Church

[Adelene]

Summer Evening Dinner - Villa Catena


The summer had been unbearably hot for a child from Flanders. But escaping the stifling heat and lethargy of Rome’s foul-smelling alleyways, just a few leagues from the Eternal City, the heat wave was more bearable at Villa Catena, Cardinal de Kermabon’s summer residence. In fact, that day he had the great hall prepared to host a few acquaintances for dinner. The meal was meant to be as simple as possible. They would serve little more than some grilled fish, a suckling pig on a spit, lamb chops, fruit, some poultry, notably stuffed quail, duck glazed with honey—and two or three turkeys. The Cardinal had expressly requested that the meal be unpretentious, his desire being, above all, to meet and get to know a brother in the episcopate better.

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[David de St Bertrand]

David had received an invitation from his friend, Cardinal Adelène. He dressed in attire suitable for a summer dinner. He set out and arrived quite early, and was shown to the dining room.

Upon entering the room, he admired the magnificent décor surrounding the set table. The cardinal’s coat of arms adorned the wall facing him. Through the windows, he could enjoy the view of the Roman countryside. Villa Catena was truly a magnificent place.

With his hands clasped, he awaited his host at the entrance to the reception room.

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+ David de St Bertrand +
Prêtre de l'Eglise Aristotélicienne Romaine
Evêque de Toul
Vice-primat pour les territoires francophones de la primatie du Saint-Empire

[Ferecide]

Ferecide had received an invite from Cardinal De Kermabon for a dinner in Villa Catena, his summer residence. The Archbishop wore a sober but tasteful attire, and reached the Villa accompanied by his loyal secretary, Callicle, who, once they reached the magnificent building, took care of the horses.

Ferecide asked a member of the service staff to annouce his arrival to the Cardinal, and when he was shown the reception room, he immediately smiled in encountering Mgr. David, the bishop of Toul.

Dear brother, it is such a pleasure to share with you this lovely evening. It is nice to break from the routine of the daily commitments.

His eyes as always contemplated the works of art present in the room: this was not the place nor time to sketch in his diary with charcoal, but he was trying to memorize all the masterpieces he could, to draw them when back in Villa Lante. This was his way to remember works of art, even after decades had passed since he had seen them.
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[Adelene]

Old Rosamonde had her hands busy in the kitchen, but her ear was attuned to every sound in the house. When she realized that the first guests had arrived, she rang a little bell in the hallway, the tinkling of which echoed all the way upstairs. This signaled the cardinal to come downstairs; he had become engrossed in reading a few pages sent to him from Paris, written by a certain François Villon, a poet and bandit who had vanished into thin air and had likely ended up at the bottom of a dungeon, his throat slit by a vicious thief during a brawl, or drowned in alcohol, urine, and his own blood.

What a wretched life… the cardinal thought to himself. And as he descended the stairs, a few verses by the French poet ran through his mind:



« Je plains le temps de ma jeunesse,
Où j'ai plus qu'autre gallé jusques à l'entrée de vieillesse ;
Et ne crains plus que de faiblesse.
Car mes beaux jours sont courts et brefs ;
Ils sont passés, je n'y puis rien. »


Upon entering the parlor, the cardinal spread his arms wide toward David before giving him a warm embrace.

My brother, what a pleasure it is to see you again! And to know that you have now been entrusted with a new office… You won’t be able to avoid me anymore, now that you represent the French-speaking dioceses of the Empire and I, for my part, represent the French-speaking Consistory.

Then the cardinal walked over to his Italian counterpart, whom he awkwardly addressed in a language he could only pretend to master.

Mio cario fratellio, bienvenuto aqui. Ti ringrazo por avere acciettato il mio invitato. Soprattuttio in queste perioda che deve esser estremamiente impegniativo per tei... L’insediamentio di uno primate non è maï un evento di poco contio, soprattutto nel contestio che conosciamio.

The cardinal walked over to a console table, picked up a small bell, and rang it. Instantly, servants arrived carrying several carafes.

Here’s some limoncello. We’re still waiting for a certain cardinal friend of ours, who must be on his way. But I’m almost certain the limoncello will make his mount pick up the pace.

The cardinal then turned to a servant and whispered to him:

Any news of my cousin? Has he arrived?

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[Vesperian]

Vesperian had, in fact, arrived some minutes prior, but a priest did not simply arrive somewhere; he first made certain that his robes bore no trace of the road, that his hands were clean, that his composure had not been ruffled by the journey. It was this quiet ritual of self-correction that had delayed him at the threshold, unseen by the servant who now hurried to answer his cousin's question.

He finally entered the parlor.

Forgive my tardiness. I find that I travel considerably better than I arrive.

He inclined his head toward Adelène ; not quite a bow, though close enough to one that it read as deference rather than mere greeting and let his gaze rest on his cousin a moment longer than courtesy strictly required, as if to say that whatever else the room held, this greeting came first.

His eyes drifted, briefly and without lingering, toward the two other men present. He did not approach them yet. He simply stood a half-step behind Adelène, hands folded before him in that stillness that seemed to belong to him as naturally as his robes did, and murmured to his cousin, his head turned toward him :

I believe I am not yet known to your guests, I shall leave the honor of introductions to you, cousin — you have always done it so much better than I.

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[Kalixtus]

Kalixtus stepped down from the carriage that had brought him from his palazzo to the Villa Catena. As the wheels still rattled over the ground, the Cardinal looked around. He had never been here before, and so this invitation was also an opportunity to look about him, to see how his peers lived, what interests they pursued. Houses and gardens were reflections of the inner state of their inhabitants.

The Cardinal’s long, flowing vestments billowed like the blossoms of snow-white chrysanthemums in the cool shade. Across the silken fabric ran a cosmic ornamentation of golden thread, catching the sunlight in flashes like diamonds and inevitably drawing the eye.

The golden pectoral cross was a masterpiece of extraordinary craftsmanship, resting upon his chest like an anchor that tethered him to the world of mortals. But did it?

The Cardinal approached the house, and the sunlight caught his snow-white hair, braided into an elaborate French plait. It seemed to ignite, reflecting the rays he so dearly loved, and for a brief moment the man appeared to glow from within, casting his light upon the world.

He stepped into the shadow of the house, whose doors opened before him, and almost at once his perfume began to spread: orange blossom, vanilla, the scent of ancient books, and Arabian incense. The Cardinal had arrived.

Even if one could not yet see him, anyone who knew him would have understood that his presence could be felt long before his appearance—that his arrival seemed to fill the very air, spreading through it like a drop of milk falling into the darkness of tea, sending pale currents outward until, at last, everything was brightened and made whole.

“Adelene.”

The way Kalixtus spoke the name was like a prayer, and his deep, melodious voice possessed the room as effortlessly as everything else about him seemed to possess it. So he was. And so he would always be.

The smile that appeared upon his lips was almost sacred, and yet it stood in stark contrast to his ice-blue eyes, which remained watchful, curious, and knowing, taking in the world around him like dry paper receiving the stroke of a pen dipped in ink and blood.

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[Adelene]

In response to his cousin’s confidences, Adelène immediately introduced him to the guests, placing one arm around his shoulder.

Allow me to introduce my dear cousin, Vesperian, who has returned to me… who has returned to all of us, since he has just embarked on the path to the priesthood. His commitment is less than a month old…

The cardinal could barely conceal his pride.

My cousin, you have before you the new imperial primate, who has just won the election. But before becoming primate, and thus archbishop of Trier, the see attached to the primatial office, Monsignor Feredice is archbishop of Florence.

Allowing Vesperian to greet him, he continued:

And here is a brother among brothers, a Gregorian whom you have not yet had the opportunity to meet at Seclin Abbey, but whom you will come to know well. David of Sent Bertran, who, though a native of Occitania, happens to be the bishop of Toul, in the Empire. And he has just been appointed vice-primate of the Holy Roman Empire, in charge of the French-speaking dioceses of the Empire.

No sooner had he finished his sentence than a silence froze the scene. It was a silence of a special kind, a musical, fragrant, enchanted silence. A light breeze gently lifted the curtains, as if angels had just entered the room. Everyone turned first to the right, then to the left; some searched the eyes of others for an explanation for this sudden atmosphere. A sense of euphoria seemed to fill the room even as the glasses were barely filled with limoncello…

Adelène didn’t need to hear his name, or the voice that spoke it, to understand. And even before Cardinal Kalixtus stepped into the light, Adelène turned to his cousin and whispered in his ear, with the smile of someone presenting a child with a carefully wrapped Christmas gift:

Ecce homo !

No one opened the door for Kalixtus. It was the world that opened up for him. Kalixtus wasn’t entering a living room. Kalixtus was stepping into the light. And although Adelène had known him for years, the sense of wonder remained intact with every reunion.

One offered the other a brotherly embrace, tender and respectful.

Kalixtus… You’re welcome here. This house is a far cry from any Bavarian palace, but you can stay as long as you like.

Then, once the excitement of their reunion had subsided, Adelène continued with the introductions:

Kalixtus, I won't introduce you to your primate or your neighbor. But here is a face that must still be unfamiliar to you. This is Vesperian, my young cousin.

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[David de St Bertrand]

David was gazing at the surrounding scenery when the Primate of the Holy Empire made his entrance. He smiled at him and replied to his words.

It is always a pleasure to gather for a pleasant moment in the soothing setting of this villa, and in such good company.

Still smiling, he watched the archbishop of Florence, who seemed to be admiring the artworks in the room. At that moment, he heard the sound of a small bell. Their host quickly appeared, and the two men exchanged a warm embrace.

I look forward to working more closely with you, Your Eminence. It will be a pleasure, as always. Thank you again for the dinner invitation.

He stepped back to allow the cardinal to greet the Primate. He caught sight of a man he did not recognize in the entryway. He watched as the stranger entered the room and addressed his cousin, the Primate of France. Upon being introduced to Vesparian, David stepped forward to give him a fraternal embrace.

I am delighted to meet you.

Finally, His Eminence Kalixtus arrived. David bowed respectfully as he entered.
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+ David de St Bertrand +
Prêtre de l'Eglise Aristotélicienne Romaine
Evêque de Toul
Vice-primat pour les territoires francophones de la primatie du Saint-Empire

[Ferecide]

Ferecide appreciated the effort of Cardinal Adelene to greet him in Italic language, but to make him comfortable, he answered in the Lingua Franca of the Church:

Thank you Your Eminence for your warm welcome. It is indeed a busy period following the election, but I rarely decline an invite to dinner, especially when the dinner is held in such a beautiful residence.

Ferecide's smiled sincerely: if there was something he would have never lied about, was his aesthetic judgement. He took a glass of limoncello offered to him and took a sip, letting the taste embrace his soul. Then the Cardinal proceeded to introduce him a man who had just entered the room.

Nice to meet you, Vesperian. It's always a pleasure to meet people just starting out in this path of service; I'm sure your cousin has been and will be a great inspiration for you.



As they spoke, Ferecide felt a well known presence entering the room. Cardinal Kalixtus had arrived, and as always his appearance became the center of attention of the room. The Primate waited for the two Cardinals to greet each other, standing by Mgr. David to greet the Cardinal together afterwards.
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[Kalixtus]

Kalixtus smiled charmingly as Adelene greeted him. During the embrace, he kissed him once on each cheek before looking at him again, his hand resting for a moment upon his chest as their eyes met, and the words between them were refined by the momentum of thoughts moving as one.

"Je considérerais comme un palais n'importe quelle maison dans laquelle tu m'inviterais, Adelene."

He spoke the private sentence in their shared language, and with a smile his gaze shifted to Vesperian, who stood beside his cousin. The Cardinal’s ice-blue eyes travelled slowly along the young man’s features. They looked into the depths of his eyes until it seemed as though he could see all the way to their bottom. He saw the light, the courage, the willingness to walk new paths and prove himself, should he bring his potential to its true flowering.

“Interesting.” That was the first word he addressed to Vesperian.
“I recognize something familiar and something new in you, my son. The path you have chosen is filled with dangers. You would do well to stand beside your mentors.”

Kalixtus’s hand lifted from Adelene’s chest and came to rest upon the young Vesperian’s shoulder.

“But know this: one day you will take the step that leads you to become the one you are meant to be. God reveals Himself in the grace of fulfillment. He reveals Himself in you when you reveal yourself to Him—as Vesperian. Ecce, that is who I am!”

Kalixtus smiled, and his path through the room brought him to Ferecide, the Vice-Primate, but also his own prefect, and thus a man he knew well.

He greeted him with a kiss on each cheek and spoke briefly in his language: "I nostri percorsi e i nostri destini si intrecciano nuovamente in un unico arazzo. C’è forse lo zampino delle Moire?"

Kalixtus knew that the well-read and intellectual Primate was perfectly familiar with the mythology of ancient Greece and would understand the image.

“Let us weave it together.” As he said this, he also turned his gaze toward David, whom he knew only by fleeting acquaintance and whose bow he had acknowledged.
“It is a pleasure to see you up close, David. Our paths cross far too rarely. We must certainly change that. I know we will.”

“The invitation, dear Adelene,” he continued, turning his gaze back to his friend, “was most welcome, and I thank you for it. I took the liberty of bringing a small token of my gratitude. A stem of the most fragrant roses from my garden, as a remembrance of our friendship.”

He smiled. “So the same flowers grow in our gardens, and perhaps, when summer comes into bloom, we shall sit beneath those roses and delight in the same fragrance, remembering the warmth of this day and of those yet to come.”

Kalixtus smiled as his gaze settled upon Adelene, and once again their eyes met. Of course, Kalixtus had not forgotten Adelene’s particular passion for the world of plants. How could he?
Kalixtus never forgot what he considered important.

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[David de St Bertrand]

Listening to Kalixtus's words, David continued:

It is clear that we have much more to build together.
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+ David de St Bertrand +
Prêtre de l'Eglise Aristotélicienne Romaine
Evêque de Toul
Vice-primat pour les territoires francophones de la primatie du Saint-Empire

[Adelene]

Adelène couldn’t hold back his emotion as he received Kalixtus’s gift. To him, a flower was worth all the gold in the world. And if, on top of that, the flower had a story behind it, the gift became extraordinarily precious.

My dear brother, this is the season for taking cuttings, and rest assured that I will do everything necessary to ensure that these roses thrive here. That way, next year, you can come back and smell their fragrance. As for me, these flowers will, for a while, help me forget the distance that separates Rome from Bavaria…

Once all the guests had arrived, the cardinal gave a signal for the servants to enter the ballroom. Several of them pulled out the chairs so that everyone could sit down, and once every backside was comfortably settled upon those plush seats, the servants made sure that every glass was full. Baskets of fruit were also brought in, peaches, apricots, figs, grapes, as well as dried fruit.

Adelène raised his glass to open the gathering.

I am very pleased to have you all at my table. Particularly after the recent events that have somewhat shaken our household. I am thinking of Provence, of course. It was a very near thing that blood should have been spilled… But behold the miracle: instead of blood, we have managed to make wine flow!
Adelène congratulated himself inwardly on the cleverness of the remark.

However, these outbursts that have shaken your assembly, and which resurfaced, in another form, in the tenor of the discussions during the electoral campaign that saw you victorious, Ferecide, seem to me worthy of our closest attention.

Adelène set down his glass and adopted a more solemn posture, clasping his hands together.

The situation in the Empire is not so different from what we know in France. Certainly, we generally enjoy the convenience of communicating in a single language. But our territories, like yours, are highly scattered. Over time, and with the demographic collapse, our assemblies have become hollow institutions, where the main activity is to rejoice whenever we receive an application for a vacant position. And vacant positions, we have legions of them…

He fixed the Imperial Primate with a very serious gaze.

You and I, my brother, are captains of ships taking on water from every side. We give orders to keep our vessels moving forward, but we already know that the ship is sinking. So we try to bail it out. Yet we know the task is futile. The water coming in exceeds our capacity to bail it out.
Many primates have worn themselves out, particularly by believing that they would be able to change things. In truth, a primate wears himself down automatically the moment he imagines himself to be anything other than a secretary whose role is confined to opening and closing elections—elections that will always be filled by default, by bishops who, for the most part, either know nothing about the candidate or simply do not care.
He now turned his gaze toward the table. His voice was becoming increasingly grave.

I do not know, my brother, whether you share my point of view. And your short experience would excuse you for thinking otherwise. But very soon, we will have to face the facts… And answer a fundamental question before our Church disappears… What are we capable of doing to lift our institution, our Church, back up, and save it from ruin? Forgive me for using such strong words, but after years of showing too little resolve, we are all, to some extent, responsible for this collapse. And as for me, my naivety and innocence have played a leading role in my passivity.

Forgive me, Ferecide, for monopolizing the conversation like this. But these concerns are ever-present among the French-speaking clergy, and even beyond. I wanted to share them with you, to understand your own view on the matter, as well as the concerns of your clergy, whom I have also sensed to be somewhat exhausted.

As if to make it clear that he had finished monopolizing the conversation, Adelène picked up his glass and brought it to his lips, taking a gentle sip.

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[Vesperian]

Vesperian had followed the scene with that particular stillness of newcomers who prefer to observe before speaking. Though he had entered the priesthood only recently — though he had known the call of God for a very long time already — he was all the happier to meet those who carried the faith high across the kingdoms and had become standard-bearers for their communities.

At David's embrace, Vesperian returned it warmly. The folds of his priest's robe stretched and were lazily stirred by the movement.

The pleasure is shared, Monsignor. I was told of Toul and of the charge now falling to you. Vice-primate for the French-speaking dioceses of the Empire: that must require as much patience as Latin. A brief smile, barely more than a hint. I imagine it weighs as much as it honors.

Then it was Ferecide who greeted him; he answered with respectful deference:

A great inspiration, indeed, and a model I measure myself against a little more each day, and find myself wanting. But I have no doubt you will all be a source of light in my eyes. Congratulations on your election. He said warmly. That is surely excellent news. I envy the sun you enjoy in Italy, its wonderful buildings, the fruit heavy with warmth. The Lord seems to delight there a little more than elsewhere. He offered a slight smile, the corners of his eyes creasing.

Then came Kalixtus. Vesperian tilted his head to listen as his cousin murmured something to him, and when the cardinal stood before him, he did not step back beneath that gaze which seemed to search for the bottom of things; he simply remained still, letting the silence do its work. When the Cardinal's hand came to rest on his shoulder, he did not flinch. There was only, in his eyes, a brief gleam, like surprise — and beneath that surprise, something more restrained still, which he did not let rise to his face.

Your Eminence, he said at last, you speak of me as though you had already met me somewhere other than this drawing room. I do not know whether I should be troubled or delighted by it — I shall choose the latter, if you will allow me.

A silence, as he listened. He found it interesting that among all the words one might use to describe this path within the priesthood, His Eminence had chosen "dangerous." The young priest wondered for a moment as he studied the fair-haired man before him.

You say that the path I have chosen is strewn with dangers, and that I would do well to stay close to my mentors. I intend to, Your Eminence.

A pause, just long enough to be noticed — and suddenly the servants were already there, filling cups and glasses. The wine flowed, and in that room, full but not crowded, it was good to be alive. The gentle warmth of the fading summer honored them all with its rays. Some were already taking their seats, while Vesperian remained standing a moment longer as a servant asked him about his preferences for drink, all the while lending an attentive ear to what Adelène was saying.

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[Ferecide]

Ferecide smiled as Cardinal Kalixtus spoke to him, and answered in italian:

Speriamo di rendere questo arazzo un pezzo d'arte... e se c'è lo zampino delle Moire speriamo di essere ancora in mano alla prima o la seconda, che per la terza c'è sempre tempo.


Ferecide then listened carefully to the words of Cardinal De Kermabon, took another sip of limoncello, then answered with a faint smile.

Your Eminence, I understand your feeling about the Church's situation in our Primacies, but first of all, and I speak principally for our Primacy, since it is the one I know best, I wouldn't define it a sinking ship. More of ship in the middle of a storm, and we both know, that the Church is a ship that has overcome many storms before, some milder, some very aggressive. I don't mean to say that things are ok as they are, but when you speak of exhausted clergy I must dissent: just in the past weeks, I have seen in one of the quietest months of the year, many clerics share their thoughts, their opinions and participate to the discussions we had both in the Episcopal Assembly and the linguistic Synods: is it enough? No. But it symbolizes an energy that if reignited correctly can bring new life to our assemblear institutions. Returning to the metaphor we used before, I have never seen any ship get out of a storm only through the shipmasters efforts; on the contrary, I have seen many ships saved by a collective effort of all the sailors. I firmly believe that as the Prophets have taught us, through Faith and Reason, we can change the tide.

Ferecide took a second to wet his lips with some water, then continued speaking

We all know what are some of the greatest challenges ahead of us, but I know for a fact that there are many bishops that work tirelessly to overcome locally most of them, and as their new Primate, it is my duty and my honor to support them in these efforts, while guiding the Episcopal Assembly to do the same on larger scale. Yes, we have different situations in the different linguistic areas, and that is why I have entrusted Vice Primates who know their linguistic area well, and at the same time, demonstrated energy to take on this role and gathered the support of their own brothers in the linguistic area, just like Brother David. Now, will we make it out of the storm? I believe we will, through hard work, participation and collaboration.


Ferecide then looked at Vesperian as he spoke

You are wise to learn something from your cousin and other expert servants of the church; from me... Try not to learn the art of spending way to much money in works of art and fine wines.

With a faint laugh tried to break the formality

Yes, italic territories are beautiful, but so are many others, many of which are in the french speaking territories. But if you ever want to come visit Florence, just let me know and a wing of the Archepiscopal Palace will be ready to host you.
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[Adelene]

Wiping the corner of his lips with a silk cloth, the French cardinal continued:

You are right, Ferecide, to emphasize the strength represented by the members of the clergy. When I spoke of their fatigue, what I really intended was to draw attention to the scale of their commitment and dedication, which demand a considerable investment of both time and energy. That is the very essence of the priesthood. But when all that expended energy fails to produce results commensurate with the efforts made, it inevitably leads to exhaustion and discouragement.

Demographic decline alone cannot explain the dwindling of our ranks. We possess a strong, courageous, and devoted body of men and women. What we lack, however, is direction. That is why I referred to these episcopal assemblies, which devote most of their time to appointments and votes, often without those making the decisions truly knowing the candidates. As for the other discussions, they frequently concern the difficulties bishops face in making themselves heard, communicating effectively, and, quite simply, carrying out their mission to the fullest.

I was very pleased to witness, the other day, a particularly fruitful exchange between Bishops Branwyn and David and the Cardinal of Sabran. They were raising a fundamental question, an issue that will be decisive for the future of our Church. It led me to believe that there is still room for hope of renewal.

The cardinal picked up a peach and, deftly wielding his knife, cut off a wedge, speared it on the tip of the blade, and brought it to his mouth.

I shall speak to you frankly. Passivity and inertia wind their way through Rome like the Tiber and the Aniene. And, like those two rivers, they rise and fall, their levels and currents constantly changing. Today, however, the waters are exceptionally high. So high, in fact, that the safety of Rome itself ought to be regarded with the utmost vigilance. For you know as well as I do the devastation a flood can cause when it is neither anticipated nor contained.

Forgive me these metaphors. They have the advantage of sparing us the need to name those responsible. For we all bear some responsibility for this situation: those who allow the waters to rise without acting, and those who have the power to contain them yet choose not to.

I believe, particularly after speaking with Kalixtus, that you are a man capable of holding back those waters. More than that, I believe you are capable of accomplishing far more than you imagine at present.

You speak of the great challenges that await you in your Primacy. What do you have in mind? I confess, you have aroused my curiosity. And, more than that, I find myself genuinely excited by the prospect of what might come.

He turned toward Kalixtus.

Is it not exhilarating, my brother, to hear people speak of challenges, when, for some time now, the ordinary course of things has been for certain men to shrink from them?

As he said this, he raised an empty goblet, and a servant promptly came to fill it. There was no need for him to ask; every servant knew the cardinal’s habits. No meal without Tuscan wine, or, failing that, a wine from the slopes of Bordeaux’s Right Bank.

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