Good writing! I think it must be hard to get into the head of a man a thousand years hence. But then the anxieties there seem familiar, as if passed down through the centuries—now altered somewhat in form but still recognizable.
"With what strength he had, he had taken the relic, a patinaed old tooth of St Apollonia yanked out in her martyrdom, and had touched it to every wound, then collapsed. The priest had administered the Last Unction and led the house in prayer..."
I'm engaged by the story and fascinated by sections that describe historical rituals I had never known about. Last Rights and the existence of sacred relics - I'm familiar with. But until I read this chapter - I never knew anything about St. Apollonia or how some sacred relics were used. I thought people just held onto them during prayer.
I'm sad about what happened to Saint Apollonia.
It's interesting when Tibald reflects on his near death experience he says:
“I saw nothing...Thick, black emptiness.”
And I want to believe Saint Apollonia would be there...in the room...right then..because her relic is in the room.
And, in this chapter, I'm wondering if Saint Apollonia saw nothing at the end, too.
Thanks so much. The truth is, I can never get into to the head of the 11th Century man. Presentism is always there unfortunately. Which is why it's really not a historical novel. Everything is a pastiche no matter how hard we try.
Good writing! I think it must be hard to get into the head of a man a thousand years hence. But then the anxieties there seem familiar, as if passed down through the centuries—now altered somewhat in form but still recognizable.
"With what strength he had, he had taken the relic, a patinaed old tooth of St Apollonia yanked out in her martyrdom, and had touched it to every wound, then collapsed. The priest had administered the Last Unction and led the house in prayer..."
I'm engaged by the story and fascinated by sections that describe historical rituals I had never known about. Last Rights and the existence of sacred relics - I'm familiar with. But until I read this chapter - I never knew anything about St. Apollonia or how some sacred relics were used. I thought people just held onto them during prayer.
I'm sad about what happened to Saint Apollonia.
It's interesting when Tibald reflects on his near death experience he says:
“I saw nothing...Thick, black emptiness.”
And I want to believe Saint Apollonia would be there...in the room...right then..because her relic is in the room.
And, in this chapter, I'm wondering if Saint Apollonia saw nothing at the end, too.
Thanks so much. The truth is, I can never get into to the head of the 11th Century man. Presentism is always there unfortunately. Which is why it's really not a historical novel. Everything is a pastiche no matter how hard we try.