The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER XXX 146
Ibarra stood in one corner while Maria Clara knelt near the high altar in a space which the curate had had the
courtesy to order the sacristans to clear for her. Capitan Tiago, in a frock coat, sat on one of the benches
provided for the authorities, which caused the children who did not know him to take him for another
gobernadorcillo and to be wary about getting near him.
At last the alcalde with his staff arrived, proceeding from the sacristy and taking their seats in magnificent
chairs placed on strips of carpet. The alcalde wore a full-dress uniform and displayed the cordon of Carlos III,
with four or five other decorations. The people did not recognize him.
"Abá!" exclaimed a rustic. "A civil-guard dressed as a comedian!"
"Fool!" rejoined a bystander, nudging him with his elbow. "It's the Prince Villardo that we saw at the show
last night!"
So the alcalde went up several degrees in the popular estimation by becoming an enchanted prince, a
vanquisher of giants.
When the mass began, those who were seated arose and those who had been asleep were awakened by the
ringing of the bells and the sonorous voices of the singers. Padre Salvi, in spite of his gravity, wore a look of
deep satisfaction, since there were serving him as deacon and subdeacon none less than two Augustinians.
Each one, as it came his turn, sang well, in a more or less nasal tone and with unintelligible articulation,
except the officiating priest himself, whose voice trembled somewhat, even getting out of tune at times, to the
great wonder of those who knew him. Still he moved about with precision and elegance while he recited the
Dominus vobiscum unctuously, dropping his head a little to the side and gazing toward heaven. Seeing him
receive the smoke from the incense one would have said that Galen was right in averring the passage of
smoke in the nasal canals to the head through a screen of ethmoids, since he straightened himself, threw his
head back, and moved toward the middle of the altar with such pompousness and gravity that Capitan Tiago
found him more majestic than the Chinese comedian of the night before, even though the latter had been
dressed as an emperor, paint-bedaubed, with beribboned sword, stiff beard like a horse's mane, and high-soled
slippers. "Undoubtedly," so his thoughts ran, "a single curate of ours has more majesty than all the emperors."
At length came the expected moment, that of hearing Padre Damaso. The three priests seated themselves in
their chairs in an edifying attitude, as the worthy correspondent would say, the alcalde and other persons of
place and position following their example. The music ceased.
The sudden transition from noise to silence awoke our aged Sister Puté, who was already snoring under cover
of the music. Like Segismundo, [87] or like the cook in the story of the Sleeping Beauty, the first thing that
she did upon awaking was to whack her granddaughter on the neck, as the child had also fallen asleep. The
latter screamed, but soon consoled herself at the sight of a woman who was beating her breast with contrition
and enthusiasm. All tried to place themselves comfortably, those who had no benches squatting down on the
floor or on their heels.
Padre Damaso passed through the congregation preceded by two sacristans and followed by another friar
carrying a massive volume. He disappeared as he went up the winding staircase, but his round head soon
reappeared, then his fat neck, followed immediately by his body. Coughing slightly, he looked about him with
assurance. He noticed Ibarra and with a special wink gave to understand that he would not overlook that youth
in his prayers. Then he turned a look of satisfaction upon Padre Sibyla and another of disdain upon Padre
Martin, the preacher of the previous day. This inspection concluded, he turned cautiously and said, "Attention,
brother!" to his companion, who opened the massive volume.
But the sermon deserves a separate chapter. A young man who was then learning stenography and who
idolizes great orators, took it down; thanks to this fact, we can here present a selection from the sacred oratory