May 2, 1968
Your P.L. is coming back!
What an avalanche of telegrams! And it’s not over: here’s one
more [Satprem reads Mother a telegram in which P. L. announces
a mysterious "new fact" and implores to be allowed to stay with
his friend J. for "grave reasons"].
Then let him stay with her! He suddenly got scared stiff over there. It’s true that their occult power is very great and one has to be very strong to resist it. And he got scared stiff. That’s what made him sick. My own feeling is that the other fellow, this Monsignor R., wanted to get rid of him…. Seriously, I think he smelled something fishy and said, “He’d better leave.”
He doesn’t have the strength, obviously.
No, he doesn’t.
But you know, he’s really a victim: when he was seven, his
mother sent him to a friars’ convert in Spain … till the age of
eighteen!
Poor man!
In Spain! You know, that inexorable Christianity … From
seven to eighteen – it’s dreadful!
No, he’s a very nice man, but vitally not strong enough. But if he lived in a convent for so many years, then I understand….
(Mother remains concentrated
for a long time)
I don’t think it’s the end of this affair.
(long silence)
J. is troubled because he demands a lot of attention.
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Who had thought of him for the post of cardinal?
I don’t know, but it was expected.
It was expected…. It must have been a political affair, because … In fact, I think it’s generally a political affair.
Oh, yes, it’s nothing but politics.
… Because he’s much too passionate for the job. Was it to be for now or later?
I don’t know.
I am asking you because that may be the “new fact” he’s referring to. Maybe a decision has been made…. As for me, I had a strong impression that the other fellow [Msgr. R.] wanted to get rid of him for some reason or other. We’ll see.
* * *
(Then Mother goes into a long contemplation
which will last till the end.)
I keep having an impression of something IMPORTANT that has begun…. But it will go on for a very long time, probably. It will take a very long time.
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