TradCatKnight: The Knight of the Costrel

Long did he live in this error, and because he had a dread of the penance he should receive should he change his course and feared to face the mocking of his worldly friends, he neither made a confession nor left his bad ways.
 

Therefore, on a certain Good Friday, this friend met the knight and told him straight out that his ill doings were greatly displeasing to God and Our Lady. 

“My sire,” he said, “Easter Day comes, when every Catholic man should put himself in a state of grace so that he may have God’s mercy. For on this Friday, Christ did suffer shame and pain upon the Tree of the Cross to save His people and rebuke the Enemy in Hell. For before His Crucifixion all were damned. And He won for us so great freedom that none can now be damned who goes to confession and repents. 

“Therefore, each one must seek his soul’s health in this Sacrament, both as a sign of our thankfulness that this day He did the penance of the world, and because our reason bids us to do so. Verily, he is but foolish who neglects it. “ 

Then he entreated the knight to go talk to the hermit who was living in the mountain, who was a good and discreet man of holy life who would confess him and make him healthy of soul. 

A mysterious change of heart 

Now the knight, who had so long been stubborn, was strangely moved by these words and felt great apprehension about his state of soul. Therefore, he answered meekly, saying, ” I will go quickly, for indeed I see that I have held myself toward my Redeemer in an unknightly manner, and have repaid His bounty by discourtesy. And now I feel the load of my sins heavy upon me, which I will confess to this holy hermit.”

Then, did the knight speak to him a long while confessing his sins, for indeed there was much to be told. And the hermit, who was expert in the cleansing of souls, knew well how to search and question him, so that presently he was acquainted with the whole of the matter. 

And when all was told and confessed, he said to the knight very gladly: “Fair brother, rejoice, for that you shall be cleansed of your sins, and know that soon the love of God shall be engrafted in you, by the grace of the holy penance you will have to bear.” 

Now these words troubled the knight greatly, for he was of those that would have God’s mercies while living softly and giving nought for that which he had got. Therefore, he said to the hermit : 

“Alas, my father, in the matter of this penance, I know not how it may be. For I can in no wise bear a great one, nor set myself to fasting or mortification of the flesh, since I was bred softly, and love only to eat delicacies. All know it is my custom so to do. Therefore, because I live in the world, where all observe me, I must have a penance I can do at my ease; for great austerities will but cast me down quickly and throw me back into sin.” 

“Do not fear,” answered the hermit, “you shall have so light a penance that none could refuse it.” 

Said the knight, “This is indeed what I request.” 

Then, the hermit said: “Mark well my words, for herein shall be proof of your contrition. You shall take this costrel which here you see, and shall go down to the stream that is below, and there you must fill it with water to the brim. And when that you have done so and brought it me again, you shall be quit of all your sins. But take heed that you sin not again.” 

A vow and a quest 

“So will I do,” said the knight, exceedingly joyous for this light penance. And he took the costrel, which was a vessel made in the fashion of a small flask, and ran quickly to the stream, and seated himself upon the bank. Then he dipped that flask into the stream to fill it. But the water, which was flowing swiftly, turned aside when it came near, and the flask remained empty.
 

At first he was exceeding angry, imagining that there was witchcraft involved. But presently it came to his mind that it was but the vileness of his own soul that tormented him thus. For, the water, that was pure, fled from before him, making it impossible for him to do his penance. 

Thinking this, he became greatly alarmed, realizing his evil state, and he swore and promised that he would set out in pilgrimage and not return to that hermit till his flask was filled and his penance accomplished so that he might have absolution for his sins. 

And so with heavy heart he departed from that place, filled with doubts that he might ever accomplish this quest, for now he knew that God loved him not because there was no good thing in him. And leaving his wife and his estate, this great lord set out as a solitary penitent through the world, and whenever he came to a spring, or to any running water, there did he stop to dip his costrel therein.