The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
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CHAPTER XVIII 87<br />
me also. I never resort to blows, only sometimes a pinch, or a whack on the head."<br />
"I'm going to do as you do!" "I'll do the same!" "And I!" exclaimed the women.<br />
"But suppose the plate is only broken into two or three pieces, then you earn very few," observed the obstinate<br />
Rufa.<br />
"Abá!" answered old Sipa. "I make them recite the prayers anyhow. <strong>The</strong>n I glue the pieces together again and<br />
so lose nothing."<br />
Sister Rufa had no more objections left.<br />
"Allow me to ask about a doubt of mine," said young Juana timidly. "You ladies understand so well these<br />
matters of heaven, purgatory, and hell, while I confess that I'm ignorant. Often I find in the novenas and other<br />
books this direction: three paternosters, three Ave Marias, and three Gloria Patris--"<br />
"Yes, well?"<br />
"Now I want to know how they should be recited: whether three paternosters in succession, three Ave Marias<br />
in succession, and three Gloria Patris in succession; or a paternoster, an Ave Maria, and a Gloria Patri<br />
together, three times?"<br />
"This way: a paternoster three times--"<br />
"Pardon me, Sister Sipa," interrupted Rufa, "they must be recited in the other way. You mustn't mix up males<br />
and females. <strong>The</strong> paternosters are males, the Ave Marias are females, and the Gloria Patris are the children."<br />
"Eh? Excuse me, Sister Rufa: paternoster, Ave Maria, and Gloria are like rice, meat, and sauce--a mouthful<br />
for the saints--"<br />
"You're wrong! You'll see, for you who pray that way will never get what you ask for."<br />
"And you who pray the other way won't get anything from your novenas," replied old Sipa.<br />
"Who won't?" asked Rufa, rising. "A short time ago I lost a little pig, I prayed to St. Anthony and found it, and<br />
then I sold it for a good price. Abá!"<br />
"Yes? <strong>The</strong>n that's why one of your neighbors was saying that you sold a pig of hers."<br />
"Who? <strong>The</strong> shameless one! Perhaps I'm like you--"<br />
Here the expert had to interfere to restore peace, for no one was thinking any more about paternosters--the talk<br />
was all about pigs. "Come, come, there mustn't be any quarrel over a pig, Sisters! <strong>The</strong> Holy Scriptures give us<br />
an example to follow. <strong>The</strong> heretics and Protestants didn't quarrel with Our Lord for driving into the water a<br />
herd of swine that belonged to them, and we that are Christians and besides, Brethren of the Holy Rosary,<br />
shall we have hard words on account of a little pig! What would our rivals, the Tertiary Brethren, say?"<br />
All became silent before such wisdom, at the same time fearing what the Tertiary Brethren might say. <strong>The</strong><br />
expert, well satisfied with such acquiescence, changed his tone and continued: "Soon the curate will send for<br />
us. We must tell him which preacher we've chosen of the three that he suggested yesterday, whether Padre<br />
Damaso, Padre Martin, or the coadjutor. I don't know whether the Tertiary Brethren have yet made any<br />
choice, so we must decide."