sanctus_cineris | ✞[ II. ]✞ Station of the Cross (Reply)

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.†

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.†

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord .†

✞

[ † ] A groan of metal screeching on wood as something rather heavy is dragged through the church doors, heated water sloshing precariously against the iron-coated sides. His cassock remained draped over the front pew while he hefted the filled tub up against his barrel-sized chest, white dress-shirt sleeves uncuffed and rolled up to his shoulders. Diagonal soot streaks smudged the end of his nose and his scarred cheek from his earlier efforts of building a fire pit outside to heat the water for its intended use, spectacles slightly fogged from the steam. Takes a moment to adjust the weight to his center before he trod forward, burden and all, making his way slowly down the aisle to avoid spilling any of the hollowed metal's contents.

He's slightly out of breath and sweat trickles down his bronzed brow, but he continues onward towards the altar regardless, reciting in an unwavering baritone in celebration of the date though he was alone. [ † ]

Keep ae...calm ahn sober mind. Above all, ne'er let yer love fer one another grow insincere, fer lo'e covers o'er manieh ae sin. Welcome each other entae yer houses withou' grumblin'. Each yin o ye 'as received ae special Grace; therefer', like guid stewards responsible fer all o' thae differen' graces o' God, put yerselves at thae services o' others. Ef ye bae ae speaker, speak en words thaet coom frem God; Ef ye bae ae helper, help as though e'erieh action was doon at 'Is Order, sae thaet en everythin', He may receive thae Glory through Jesus Chris', since tae Him all Glorieh ahn Power belong. Amen.

[ † ] At last when he reached a newly scrubbed stone baptistry he heaves a small sigh and tips the galvanized basin onto its side, managing to succeed in his endeavour with an earnest enthusiasm. A satisfied smile settles into place as he stands with both hands on his hips to admire his handiwork, lost for a time in the effect of the lit candles lining the edges and the wine placed strategically in front, with the bath salts and soaps he'd managed to scrounge up from doing trade with city residents.
Now there was only one thing to do . . .

A sad flicker in his weary eyes as he glances towards the door that had been barred to him for the past week, the smile slowly fading. [ † ]