THE SCENE: Why do bad things happen to good people? This story seems to suggest that the answer is sometimes “psychopathic angels”. [Warning: Some people may find this passage disturbing.]
THE TEXT: There formerly lived a hermit, who in a remote cave passed night and day in the service of God. At no great distance from his cell a shepherd tended his flock. It happened that this person one day fell into a deep sleep, and in the meantime a robber, perceiving his carelessness, carried off his sheep. When the keeper awoke and discovered the theft, he began to swear in good set terms that he had lost his sheep; and where they were conveyed was totally beyond his knowledge. Now, the lord of the flock, when he heard this, was filled with rage, and commanded him to be put to death. This gave great umbrage to the hermit before mentioned, “Oh Heaven,” said he to himself, “seest thou this deed? The innocent suffers for the guilty: why permittest thou such things? If thus injustice triumph, why do I remain here? I will again enter the world, and do as other men do.”
With these feelings he quitted his hermitage, and returned into the world ; but God willed not that he should be lost: an angel in the form of a man was commissioned to join him; Accordingly, crossing the hermit’s path, he thus accosted him — “My friend, where are you going?” “I go,” said the other, “to the city before us.” “I will accompany you,” replied the angel; “I am a messenger from heaven, and come to be the associate of your way.”
They walked on together towards the city. When they had entered, they entreated for the love of God harbourage during the night at the house of a certain knight, who received them with cheerfulness, and entertained them with much magnificence. The knight had an only son lying in the cradle whom he exceedingly loved. After supper, their bed-chamber was sumptuously decorated; and the angel retired with the hermit to rest. But about the middle of the night the former got up and strangled the sleeping infant. The hermit, horror-struck at what he witnessed, said within himself, “Never can this be an angel of God : the good knight gave him everything that was necessary; he had but this poor innocent, and this strange companion of mine has strangled him.” Yet he was afraid to reprove him.
In the morning both arose and went forward to another city, in which they were honourably entertained at the house of one of the inhabitants. This person possessed a superb golden cup which he highly valued; and which, during the night, the angel purloined. The hermit thought, “Verily, this is one of the lost angels; our host has treated us well, and yet he has robbed him.” But still he held his peace, for his apprehension was extreme.
On the morrow they continued their journey; and as they walked they came to a certain river, over which a bridge was thrown; they ascended the bridge, and about mid-way a poor man met them. “My friend,” said the angel to him, “show us the way to yonder city.” The pilgrim turned, and pointed with his finger to the road they were to take; but as he turned, the angel seized him by the shoulders, and precipitated him into the stream below. At this the terrors of the hermit were again aroused — “It is the devil,” exclaimed he internally — “it is the devil, and no good angel! What evil had the poor man done that he should be drowned?” He would now have gladly departed alone; but was afraid to give utterance to the thoughts of his heart. About the hour of vespers they reached a city, in which they again sought shelter for the night; but the master of the house to whom they applied sharply refused it. ” For the love of Heaven,” said the angel, “afford us a shelter, lest we fall a prey to the wolves and other wild beasts.” The man pointed to a stye — ” That,” said he, “is inhabited by pigs; if it please you to lie there, you may — but to no other place will I admit you.” “If we can do no better,” returned the angel, “we must accept your ungracious offer.” They did so; and in the morning the angel, calling their host, said, “My friend, I give you this cup;” and he presented to him the stolen goblet. The hermit, more and more astonished at what he saw, said to himself, “Now I am certain this is the devil. The good man who received us with all kindness he despoiled, and gives the plunder to this fellow who refused us a lodging.” Turning to the angel, he exclaimed, ” I will travel with you no longer. I commend you to God.”
“Dear friend,” answered the angel, “first hear me, and then go thy way. When thou wert in thy hermitage, the owner of the flock unjustly put to death his servant. True it is he died innocently, but he had formerly done deeds for which he deserved to die. God allowed him to be slain, to enable him to escape the future consequences of those former sins of which he had not repented. But the guilty man who stole the sheep will suffer eternally, while the owner of the flock will repair, by alms and good works, that which he ignorantly committed. As for the son of the hospitable knight, whom I strangled in the cradle, know that before the boy was born he performed numerous works of charity and mercy, but afterwards grew parsimonious and covetous, in order to enrich the child, of which he was inordinately fond. This was the cause of its death; and now its distressed parent again is become a devout Christian. Then, for the cup which I purloined from him who received us so kindly, know that before the cup was made, there was not a more abstemious person in the world; but afterwards he took such pleasure in it, and drank from it so often, that he was intoxicated twice or thrice during the day. I took away the cup, and he has turned to his former sobriety. Again, I cast the pilgrim into the river; and know that he whom I drowned was a good Christian, but had he proceeded much farther, he would have fallen into a mortal sin. Now he is saved, and reigns in celestial glory. Then, that I bestowed the cup upon the inhospitable citizen, know nothing is done without reason. He suffered us to occupy the swinehouse, and I gave him a valuable consideration. But he will hereafter reign in hell. Put a guard, therefore, on thy lips, and detract not from the Almighty. For He knoweth all things.” The hermit, hearing this, fell at the feet of the angel and entreated pardon. He returned to his hermitage, and became a good and pious Christian.
– Gesta Romanorum, 13th Century AD
[Image Credit: The angel of death striking a door during the plague of Rome by Jules-Elie Delaunay]
