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2. When, therefore, my mother had at one time as was her custom
in Africa brought to the oratories built in the memory of the saints
certain cakes, and bread, and wine, and was forbidden by the
door-keeper, so soon as she learnt that it was the bishop who had
forbidden it, she so piously and obediently acceded to it, that I
myself marvelled how readily she could bring herself to accuse her own
custom, rather than question his prohibition. For wine-bibbing did
not take possession of her spirit, nor did the love of wine stimulate
her to hatred of the truth, as it doth too many, both male and
female, who nauseate at a song of sobriety, as men well drunk at a
draught of water. But she, when she had brought her basket with the
festive meats, of which she would taste herself first and give the rest
away, would never allow herself more than one little cup of wine,
diluted according to her own temperate palate, which, out of
courtesy, she would taste. And if there were many oratories of
departed saints that ought to be honoured in the same Way, she still
carried round with her the selfsame cup, to be used every' where; and
this, which was not only very much watered, but was also very tepid
with carrying about, she would distribute by small sips to those
around; for she sought their devotion, not pleasure. As soon,
therefore, as she found this custom to be forbidden by that famous
preacher and most pious prelate, even to those who would use it with
moderation, lest thereby an occasion of excess might be given to such
as were drunken, and because these, so to say, festivals in honour of
the dead were very. like unto the superstition of the Gentiles, she
most willingly abstained from it. And in lieu of a basket filled with
fruits of the earth, she had learned to bring to the oratories of the
martyrs a heart full of more purified petitions, and to give all that
she could to the poor; that so the communion of the Lord's body might
be rightly celebrated there, where, after the example of His
passion, the martyrs had been sacrificed and crowned. But yet it
seems to me, O Lord my God, and thus my heart thinks of it in thy
sight, that my mother perhaps would not so easily have given way to the
relinquishment of this custom had it been forbidden by another whom she
loved not as Ambrose, whom, out of regard for my salvation, she
loved most dearly; and he loved her truly, on account of her most
religious conversation, whereby, in good works so "fervent m
spirit," s she frequented the church; so that he would often, when
he saw me, burst forth into her praises, congratulating me that I had
such a mother little knowing what a son she had in me, who was in
doubt as to all these things, and did not imagine the way of life could
be found out.
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