Chapter I: The Hand of God


« In the beginning there was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God »

The Gospel according to John, St James Bible

 

 

 

Anno Domini 1534

 

The countryside around Geneva is often described as God's own country. Lake Geneva, situated among towering Alpine peaks, also provides the source of the Rhone, one of France's major rivers. The town of Pouilly is about ten miles northwest of Geneva. Most of the lands around Pouilly were given to the Benedectine order in the 15th century. The monks prospered from cultivating the fertile lands and established an immense abbey that protected the town.

 

Hubert Villon was a Benedectine monk; and when he was ordained as a priest in Pouilly, his life-long ambition had been realized. Few had expected him to amount to much. Yet, fate twisted to his benefit, when his predecessor had unexpectedly passed away.

 

Hubert's faith in God was more than personal. To his mother on her death bed, he had promised a life in God's service. And with his father's passing, Hubert became the head of the family. For a number of years, he had looked after his younger brothers. However, the brothers were made of a different cloth. Where Hubert was an introvert, who took everything to heart, his younger brothers were worldy and pragmatic. It had caused Hubert some pain that his brothers were more successful than him, and that the roles had been reversed.

 

He therefore felt some vindication in his sudden increase in social standing. Despite the misgivings of others, he always felt that he was destined for greater things.

 

One morning, not yet two years into his service, Hubert was doing his daily inspection of the church grounds. As he headed to the crypt, he noticed strange markings on the archway over the staircase. At first, he was outraged that someone, presumably children, had left graffiti on this sacred place. On second thought, he realized that was rather unlikely; since he was the only person to have the key. Then, however, he dropped to his knees. For there was a faint, yet unmistakable message etched in stone. It read:

 

« Protèges ton troupeau de l'invasion bernoise en 1536 - Foy et éternity »

 

« Protect your flock from the Bernese raid in 1536 -   Faith and eternity »

 

God had spoken to him.

 

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  • Chapter II

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    © Credit for the art work goes to my children Emile and Winnie. All rights of this work are protected.