Small fires glowed and beamed all around the building, warmly inviting us down. As we drifted closer, we could see that the flames were coming from torches stuck in the snow around the monastery’s courtyard. We were evidently expected.
We touched down in the icy crust of the courtyard’s snow. Boom! A huge door opened and Columba rushed out. He was dressed in his usual monk’s habit, including sandals—he was always impervious to the elements!
Greeting us with bear hugs, he led us toward the double doors. We all looked up and saw the stone carving framing the top of the doors, Locus Iste A Deo Factus Est.
“How’s your Latin, Joe?” said Laurence.
“I’ll gladly translate if you like.” said Columba. “But we must first get you inside and out of those damp clothes. Warm fires await.”
He shepherded us through the doors and into Brigid’s open arms.
“Welcome! “ she said. “Welcome. Oh, Hannah, I’m so especially pleased to see you.” They hugged for a few moments. “And who’s this young lady?”
Tiffany was all ears and eyes, looking around and taking in the blackened stone surroundings, walk-in fireplaces, and a huge kitchen bustling with several monks and giving off wonderful smells.
“Oh, um, hi. I’m Tiffany.”
Brigid smiled. “Of course, the cupid with the mission. Welcome, dear. We’ll do all we can to help.”
Tiffany began pulling off her hat, parka, and goggles. Hannah did the same.
“Girls,” Brigid said, “let me show you to your room, where you can rest and wash up before supper.”
They followed her through a winding hall and up the curved stone staircase.
Columba helped us get out of our wet parkas. “Coffee? Ale?”
“Yes, to both,” Joe said.
Laurence patted Columba’s shoulder. “You don’t know how pleased we are to be here, my friend.”
“Yes, yes. We knew you were coming, we just didn’t know when. So glad the others have departed.”
We stopped walking. “Others?” I said. “Other cupids. . .cherubs?”
“Two boys, Malcolm and Christopher, er, Chris. Left yesterday morning.”
“On their mission, I suppose?” Laurence said.
“Yes, yes, very good lads, nice to have them and their parents here. And relieved they made it, we understand that others have set out and were forced to turn around.”
“Columba,” Joe said, “could you do us a great favor and not tell our girls about their visit, at least not tonight?”
Columba looked at Joe, then at Laurence and me.
I nodded. “They’re very competitive.”
He stroked his beard for a few seconds. “I see. Well, they’re young, I suppose, and have much to learn. Yes, of course, but I’ll need to warn my brothers and sister. Ah, and Brigid is with the cupids now. It could slip out.”
“Yes, of course.” I said. “Perhaps we’re overreacting. We’re just tired.”
“Perfectly understandable. And I gather your journey was not without incident. You must rest and rejuvenate while you are here.”
We followed him into the kitchen. “You remember Aidan, Cuthbert?”
“How could we forget them?” Laurence and I hugged them.
“And this is Joe.” I said. “My husband.”
“Welcome. Welcome, brothers and sister,” Aidan said.
“Yes, so wonderful to meet you, Joe, and to have you two return,” Cuthbert said. “And under much improved circumstances, I hope.”
“Ah, yes.” Joe said. “I seem to remember the last time Laurence and Claire were here, things were not as happy.”
I nodded. Though I still wondered what Tiffany might have in store for her.
A short, squatty monk backed his way into the kitchen, carrying a full tray of ales, glasses and bread.
“And this is Brother Juniper.” Columba said. “But you probably knew that. He was away when you were last here.”
Joe and I exchanged smiles.
“So good to meet you, Juniper.” Laurence said. “I’m Laurence. Claire and Joe.” We nodded.
After we were all settled into our enormously comfortable bedrooms, each with a deep feather bed and a roaring fireplace, we gathered in the living area in front of a large, walk-in fire. We were all dressed in simple, homespun, dry clothing that Brigid and Cuthbert had thoughtfully laid out for us. I loved the camel roped sandals and was wondering if I could possibly take them with me as a souvenir, when Joe spoke.
“This place was made by God.” he said.
“Yes, indeed.” Juniper answered. Everyone laughed.
“He’s translating the Latin above our door, brother.” Columba said.
Juniper blushed. “Oh, of course, of course. More ale anyone?”
Joe held out his tankard. “Yes, please.”
Laurence set his mug down on the table beside him. “I’m completely satiated. But Aidan tells me there’s a supper yet to come, so I think we should pace ourselves.”
“Moderation in all things?” Joe said.
“From what Aidan has told me, I’m not sure that would apply to Juniper’s sweets.” Laurence said.
“The tarts.” Juniper said. “Excuse me, I must feed the oven fires.”
When the squatty monk had left the room, Cuthbert leaned forward toward Laurence. “You have done us a great service, my brother. By mentioning the tarts, you’ve assured us of a sweet treat. “
Aidan took a sip of ale. “Many a time, we have finished our meal, greatly anticipating a berry tart, and learned only too late that our dear Juniper had failed to bake any.”
We all laughed. “So, thank you, dear ones.” Brigid said.
As I watched Hannah and Tiffany join in the laughter, I realized I was so grateful to be here again with these wonderful saints. Gathered around a roaring fire, our backs leaning against the warmed stones of the fireplace wall, listening to the soft, easy conversation, enjoying home-brewed ale. And with fresh-baked tarts to look forward to. It was all the comforts the sixth century could provide. I wasn’t sure what the mission would be like, but this moment was restful and pleasant. It was indeed good to be in a place that was made by God.
The next morning it seemed we all slept in. I sheepishly noted the time was eight o’clock when I made it down to the kitchen. Cuthbert and Aidan were sitting at the huge oak trestle table. They were so engaged that at first, they didn’t see me.
“No, brother, I’m certain we’re meant to help the cupids as much as we can,” said Cuthbert. “Why else would they be coming here?”
“Not as much as we can, my friend,” Aidan said. “I’m also certain that if you ask Columba, he’ll confirm my thinking.”
They looked up at me at the same time, and Aidan blushed. “My dear Claire, we’re not talking about your cupids.”
“Yes, of course, we’re happy you’re here. We’re just reviewing the nature of our obligation.” Cuthbert said as he held out a chair for me. “May I serve you coffee?”
“Oh, yes, please.” I slipped in beside him and stretched out my right hand to Aidan. He immediately clasped it between his palms as Cuthbert poured me a cup.
“Dearest one, you know how we feel about you and Hannah. And Laurence, Joe and Tiffany.” Aidan said.
I laughed and released my hand so I could grip the large mug in front of me. “And we feel the same for all of you. We consider you our special friends and are honored to be here.”
Laurence and Joe walked in as if on cue. “Amen.” Laurence said.
“Especially if there’s coffee.” Joe said and everyone chuckled.
Joe and Laurence settled in, and Juniper brought us a basket of hot, fresh rolls and a wooden trencher of creamy butter, then dashed off to check on some meat that was browning for the pies that would be part of lunch.
We sat eating in companionable silence for a while—I noticed that Aidan dipped his buttered roll in his coffee. Then I said, “I don’t think I’d worry about the monastery being overrun with teenagers. I don’t think they’ll all come at once. And if you’re worried about hospitality, you’ve always got your cloud.”
“That’s not quite the problem we’re facing,” Aidan said.
“It’s how much help we should provide,” Cuthbert said.
Laurence put down his coffee. “Are you talking about withholding help?”
“I’m not,” Cuthbert said, “but my friend here maintains that we might, with the best of intentions, undermine the hardships that the Cupids have to face. For instance, you told us last night that you were nearly sucked in by the South West Gate. I’m in favor of posting a guard.”
I thought of the dark draw that the Gate had exerted. An unsuspecting traveler, especially a cupid alone, would have found it irresistible. I stared at Aidan. “Why wouldn’t you post a guard? You know what the South West Gate is.”
“And yet,” he said gently, “entering that gate was exactly what you and Hannah needed to do. You could not have grown, otherwise.”
“But we were prepared. You know that. You helped prepare us.”
“And yet,” Laurence said slowly, “we weren’t prepared for that flight up here. Remember how our wings iced up? We barely made it.”
“Wait a second,” Joe said, “Are you saying people can get hurt in Heaven? Or killed? What does that even mean? We’re already dead.”
“How are your hands?” Cuthbert said.
“They’re healed up fine, thank—Oh, I see.” Joe thought a moment. “Yeah, all right, that was stupid of me. But no harm done, right?” He held up his healthy hand. “I mean, yeah, I can see how Jamie got a chance to help me, and that was better for him. And I learned my lesson. But I wasn’t really at risk, was I?”
“Our Lord does not play-act,” Cuthbert said. “The risk is always real. Harm has been done in the past, despite our best efforts. Harm could have been done in your case—and in Claire’s and Hannah’s.”
“And would have, if we hadn’t done everything we could to prevent it,” Aidan said.
“But we cannot take the risk away,” Cuthbert said.
I was still thinking about the South West Gate and what it had been like. “Are you saying a cherub might get sucked in . . . there?” Aidan looked at Cuthbert.
He sat back and sighed. “I know, Claire. Far better minds than mine—Anselm, Meister Eckhart, Aquinas—have struggled to understand this. It is my interpretation of their thinking that they eventually all agreed that, ultimately, we are destined to live in a state of pure love, where love pours out of us toward all, freely and without resistance. But that blessed state is meaningless unless you choose to grow into it. And we cannot make that choice until we fully understand what it means. Until we do, we often need adversity to inspire us to compassion, to spur us to grow.”
“And the right to make choices must also mean the right to make bad choices,” Aidan said. “With all that, I agree. But we have the choice to stand back and allow it to happen. Or not. That’s the difference between us.”
“It is a hard question,” Cuthbert said.
Just then, Tiffany and Hannah appeared, and we all decided to shelve the deeper theological discussion for the moment.
“Good morning, girls.” said Laurence. “So good of you to join us.”
“Why?” Hannah was mature enough to recognize sarcasm. “Is it late? Gee, sorry.”
“Guess we were tired.” Tiffany said with a shrug.
“Please do not be concerned.” Aidan said. “We’re all on different timetables here. We were up for lauds, so this is practically midday for us. Now, Brigid and Juniper are finishing the cleaning in the chapel that they wanted to do today. And Columba is probably outside chopping wood, his usual occupation.”
“Outside?” Tiffany said. “Could we go? I’d never seen snow like this before yesterday.”
“That would be fun.” Hannah said. “I didn’t see the grounds the last time I was here.”
“Of course, have breakfast and then we’ll go.” Aidan said. “Columba can give you a tour.”
Brigid returned in time to make special blueberry pancakes for the girls. She had berries left over, so she added a bit of sugar to them and melted the mix to form a special syrup. Aidan blended large chunks of cacao, butter, maple syrup, vanilla bean and other interesting ingredients, and heated the results with milk so the cupids could have hot chocolate. Everything looked and smelled amazing, but I was still full from my own, delightfully simple breakfast.
So, fortified with a big breakfast and warm outdoor gear, the girls followed Aidan through a massive back foyer that was connected to the kitchen. I noticed a stone wood rack in the foyer and realized that Columba’s work was filling it.
“If you start to get too cold, please come in.” I said. “Columba’s used to these temperatures. You’re not.”
But they were already out the door. A gust of wind blew fresh snow on the foyer’s stones. Brigid leaned against the door to shut it.
“They’ll be fine,” she said with a laugh. “Columba will show them all his favorite places.”
Joe poured himself another cup of coffee. “Maybe I’ll join them and make snow angels.”
“Snow angels?” Cuthbert said.
“I’m a bit foggy on this, also.” Laurence said.
“I know!” Juniper appeared from the back of the kitchen.
“Well, please enlighten us, brother,” Cuthbert said.
Juniper clasped his hands together, almost as if in prayer. “I believe one lies on one’s back and swings arms back and forth, like so.” With this, he had released his hands and dropped to the floor on his back, lifting his arms up from the floor and then down. He swung his legs a bit to the side, to form the lower part of the angel.
I struggled to keep a straight face.
“Yes and no,” Joe said. “Place your arms like this.” Joe pulled Juniper’s arms to his side. “Now, keep them glued to the floor and push them up and down to shoulder height, like this.” He knelt down and pulled the monk’s arms up. “Then slide your legs in and out, like so.” He gently tugged Juniper’s feet back and forth.
“Ah.” said Juniper, clearly pleased that he now had the correct motion.
“So, when one is lying in the snow, an indention is made by the limbs,” Cuthbert said.
“Like wings,” Aidan said. “Hence, the snow angel.”
Several “ahs” followed this.
Juniper shot up and clapped. “Perfect, let’s all go make some!”
Brigid laughed. “You go play in the snow, brother. I want to stay warm and dry.”
“Ah, yes, there’s that.”
“I’ll go with you.” Joe said.
This seemed to please Juniper immensely as a broad smile overtook his face. They were dressed for the cold and out the door within ten minutes.
Columba came in and stomped his boots on the stones. “Just wanted to warm up a bit before I take the wee ones to the north side.”
“Do be careful, it gets thin out there.” Aidan said.
“Thin?” I said.
“The cloud surface, the air, everything seems to vanish quickly.” Columba warmed his hands in front of the roaring, walk-in kitchen fire. Since he was taller than six feet, he had to stoop a bit to lean in under its blackened ceiling. “Hard to explain.” He pulled his mittens back on and turned to the door. “I’m off then, we’ll be back within an hour.”
“Very good.” said Brigid.
As he went out, Joe and Juniper came in.
“Whew!” said Joe. “It’s cold out there, especially when you’re on the ground.”
Juniper patted him on the back. “But we did it, brother,
we made the angels.”
Joe laughed. “Yes. Claire, it was like being a kid again.”
Juniper put the kettle on. “How about some tea?”
Joe pulled off his boots. “Perfect.”
We sat around the kitchen table and sipped a strong black tea.
“How many cupids will you have?” I said.
“Not sure,” Brigid said. “Columba thinks perhaps twenty.”
I pictured the amount of worry twenty cupids on twelfth-year missions might cause. “We appreciate your hospitality, but we’ll be going as soon as Columba gives us the word.”
Brigid smiled. “He has a gift for the little cupid. We wrapped it last night. I’m sure he’ll present it to her tonight.”
“She’ll be excited, believe me.” Joe said.
“Yes, this journey has been such an adventure.” I said. “She always wondered about the monastery after hearing Hannah speak of it so many times.”
“And we’re so pleased she could come.” Aidan said. “Now they both will have memories.”
“Sure.” Laurence said.
I could hear his skepticism. And he had a point. I couldn’t believe that our trip up here, with one slight brush with the South West Gate, was everything Tiffany needed to mature.
The door opened and Columba came in. “They’re by the wood shed, playing a brief game of hide and seek. Didn’t get to the farthermost areas of the north space. Too risky. I told them five more minutes at most.”
“Columba, how cold do you think it is outside?” Joe said.
“Colder than in here.” Columba answered to our smiles.
“I’ve read your temperatures sometimes reach into the negatives, below zero Farenheit.” Laurence said.
Columba had now shed all his outer clothing and was pouring a cup of tea. “Yes, it’s true, but today is relatively mild. If I understand your temperature scale correctly, I believe we’re at about 20 degrees, give or take a wee degree.”
“I knew it was cold out there.” Joe said.
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