st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

JOHN MANSOUR. 29
emperor himself. Let the caliph look to his Chris
tian subjects, when such were the proposals they were
capable of making. On receipt of this, John was
summoned at once to the presence of the Mahometan
ruler, and the letter shown him. He admitted the
similarity of the writing, but indignantly denied the
authorship of it. His denial, and his appeal for a
respite in which to prove his innocence, were alike
vain. The sentence was given that his offending
right hand should be chopped off. This was done ;
and that same hand such is the writer s childish
antithesis
which was lately dipped in ink in defence
of the truth, was now dipped in blood. When even
ing came, the pain of the wound being intolerable,
John ventured to petition the caliph for the restitu
tion of the amputated member, that it might receive
burial, instead of being left hanging up in the market
place. Such rites of interment might bring him the
relief they did to Archytas. The desired request was
granted, and the hand sent back. Then John, pros
trating himself before an image of the Virgin in his
private chapel, poured out his soul in supplication,
praying that the hand which he placed against his
mutilated arm might grow again to the limb from
which it had been severed. He falls asleep, worn
out with pain and weariness, and in a dream beholds
the Holy Virgin signifying that his prayer
is heard.
The vision comes true. On starting up he finds his
hand to be indeed restored whole as the other. The
news of this miracle soon reaches the ears of the caliph.
John is again summoned to his presence, and strictly
questioned. His enemies try in vain to explain it