WhoistherewhodoesnotknowthatthesacramentsofGod’sblessingspertainingtotheChurchareparticularlyascribedtotheoperationofdivinegrace，bywhichismeanttheHolySpirit？ForsoothwearebornagainofwaterandoftheHolySpiritinbaptism，andthusfromtheverybeginningisthebodymade，asitwere，aspecialtempleofGod。Inthesuccessivesacraments，moreover，theseven—foldgraceoftheSpiritisadded，wherebythissametempleofGodismadebeautifulandisconsecrated。Whatwonderisit，then，iftothatPersontoWhomtheapostleassignedaspiritualtempleweshoulddedicateamaterialone？OrtowhatPersoncanachurchbemorerightlysaidtobelongthantoHimtoWhomalltheblessingswhichthechurchadministersareparticularlyascribed？Itwasnot，however，withthethoughtofdedicatingmyoratorytoonePersonthatIfirstcalledittheParaclete，butforthereasonIhavealreadytold，thatinthisspotIfoundconsolation。Nonetheless，evenifIhaddoneitforthereasonattributedtome，thedeparturefromtheusualcustomwouldhavebeeninnowayillogical。CHAPTERXIIOFTHEPERSECUTIONDIRECTEDAGAINSTHIMBYSUNDRYNEWENEMIESOR，ASITWEREAPOSTLES
ANDsoIdweltinthisplace，mybodyindeedhiddenaway，butmyfamespreadingthroughoutthewholeworld，tillitsechoreverberatedmightily——echo，thatfancyofthepoet’s，whichhassogreatavoice，andnoughtbeside。Myformerrivals，seeingthattheythemselveswerenowpowerlesstodomehurt，stirredupagainstmecertainnewapostlesinwhomtheworldputgreatfaith。Oneofthese（NorbertofPrémontré）tookprideinhispositionascanonofaregularorder;theother（BernardofClairvaux）madeithisboastthathebadrevivedthetruemonasticlife。
Thesetworanhitherandyonpreachingandshamelesslyslanderingmeineverywaytheycould，sothatintimetheysucceededindrawingdownonmyheadthescornofmanyamongthosehavingauthority，amongboththeclergyandthelaity。Theyspreadabroadsuchsinisterreportsofmyfaithaswellasofmylifethattheyturnedevenmybestfriendsagainstme，andthosewhostillretainedsomethingoftheirformerregardformewerefaintodisguiseitineverypossiblewaybyreasonoftheirfearofthesetwomen。
GodismywitnessthatwhensoeverIlearnedoftheconveningofanewassemblageoftheclergy，Ibelievedthatitwasdonefortheexpresspurposeofmycondemnation。Stunnedbythisfearlikeonesmittenwithathunderbolt，Idailyexpectedtobedraggedbeforetheircouncilsorassembliesasahereticoroneguiltyofimpiety。ThoughIseemtocompareafleawithalion，oranantwithanelephant，inverytruthmyrivalspersecutedmenolessbitterlythanthehereticsofoldhoundedSt。Athanasius。Often，Godknows，IsanksodeepindespairthatIwasreadytoleavetheworldofChristendomandgoforthamongtheheathen，payingthemastipulatedtributeinorderthatImightlivequietlyaChristianlifeamongtheenemiesofChrist。Itseemedtomethatsuchpeoplemightindeedbekindlydisposedtowardme，particularlyastheywoulddoubtlesssuspectmeofbeingnogoodChristian，imputingmyflighttosomecrimeIhadcommitted，andwouldthereforebelievethatImightperhapsbewonovertotheirformofworship。CHAPTERXIIIOFTHEABBEYTOWHICHHEWASCALLEDANDOFTHEPERSECUTIONHEHAD
FROMHISSONSTHATISTOSAYTHEMONKSANDFROMTHELORDOFTHELAND