I recalled his thoughts to the piety of his
childhood and of his beloved mother. "Yes," he said, "in order
not to offend my mother I would not die without the
sacraments, but for my part I do not regard them in the sense
that you desire. I understand the blessing of confession in so
far as it is the unburdening of a heavy heart into a friendly
hand, but not as a sacrament. I am ready to confess to you if
you wish it, because I love you, not because I hold it
necessary." Enough: a crowd of anti-religious speeches filled
me with terror and care for this elect soul, and I feared
nothing more than to be called to be his confessor.
Several months passed with similar conversations, so painful
to me, the priest and the sincere friend. Yet I clung to the
conviction that the grace of God would obtain the victory over
this rebellious soul, even if I knew not how. After all my
exertions, prayer remained my only refuge.
On the evening of October 12 I had with my brethren retired to
pray for a change in Chopin's mind, when I was summoned by
orders of the physician, in fear that he would not live
through the night.
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