Read Online Solomon's Throne by Jennings Wright - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennings Wright
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But I believe he would follow the Great Commission should the Church cease to exist. If Dionysius made this letter known to those who oppose him, and if he threatens to make the letter public should they continue to oppose him… Well, those men know that he serves God first, and the Church second. It is why they oppose him so strongly. I think they will have to support him, albeit through gritted teeth.”
Camillus pondered. His brother was ten years older, and had amassed wealth against all odds by buying and selling goods brought to Rome from the far reaches of the Empire. He had friends in the upper echelons of Roman society, and consequently a much better understanding of politics than the young priest had. And if there was one thing that Camillus had learned during his time under the thumb of Bishop Iraneus, it was that the Church was rife with politics.
“If it doesn’t work, you have lost nothing,” Anthony said. “But I believe it will. I believe this letter has come down to us from Paul himself for just such a time.”
Camillus nodded, and rolled up the scroll. “I will seek a meeting with Dionysius when I return. We can but try.” Anthony smiled, satisfied, and poured them both more of the rich red wine that had been made from his own vineyard.
It took five weeks for Camillus to attain an audience with the Bishop of Rome, and he spent the entire night prior to the designated time praying in his rooms. Dionysius received him graciously, one man of the cloth to the other, and the younger man relaxed at once. After the opening pleasantries, he came straight to the point, and handed the scroll to the bishop. With raised eyebrows, Dionysius opened the letter and read. When he was finished he looked up in dismay.
“And what do you propose to do with this letter, young man? Have you come to threaten me?” He sounded disappointed more than angry, and Camillus put his hands up defensively.
“No, sir! No! Let me explain,” he said, and went on to lay out all that Anthony had said to him, including his own role as the secretary to Iraneaus. When he had finished, he clasped his hands tightly in front of him and said, “If you choose to do nothing with the letter, I will return it to my brother and say nothing. I have no desire to hurt the Church, nor you, your grace. It is to protect her that I have come to you with this.”
Dionysius sat in a chair at his desk, deep in thought. “Please leave this with me. I will pray and reach a decision within a fortnight. I only ask that you fast and pray until you hear from me, that I might do the Lord’s will in this matter.” He nodded gravely at Camillus, who bowed and quickly left the room.
When Camillus next appeared before the Bishop of Rome, he felt like a condemned man facing the scourge. He had been fasting and praying diligently for two months, having had no word from Dionysius in that time, and was quite sure that he would be punished for stirring up a hornet’s nest. The time had not been all bad, as Iraneaus had left, alone, for what he deemed “a necessary tour of the outlying regions”. In other words, he had gone to shore up support for his upcoming effort to depose the Pope.
Dionysius was sitting at a small table in his simply appointed office. He had a meal spread out before him, and a place was set opposite. He waved Camillus to sit.
“Good morning, young man. I trust you are well?” Dionysius said with a small smile.
Detecting no anger in the man, Camillus nodded. “Yes, sir, thank you. And you?”
Dionysius smiled wider. “I am quite well, thanks to you.” At Camillus’ confusion, he continued, “Two weeks ago, I sent an invitation to Bishop Iraneaus and his supporters to gather here for a meeting. At that meeting, I read to them your letter…” He watched Camillus closely. The priest leaned forward in his chair. He had not seen Iraneaus for over a month, and had not heard a whisper of gossip about this gathering. Dionysius
Camillus pondered. His brother was ten years older, and had amassed wealth against all odds by buying and selling goods brought to Rome from the far reaches of the Empire. He had friends in the upper echelons of Roman society, and consequently a much better understanding of politics than the young priest had. And if there was one thing that Camillus had learned during his time under the thumb of Bishop Iraneus, it was that the Church was rife with politics.
“If it doesn’t work, you have lost nothing,” Anthony said. “But I believe it will. I believe this letter has come down to us from Paul himself for just such a time.”
Camillus nodded, and rolled up the scroll. “I will seek a meeting with Dionysius when I return. We can but try.” Anthony smiled, satisfied, and poured them both more of the rich red wine that had been made from his own vineyard.
It took five weeks for Camillus to attain an audience with the Bishop of Rome, and he spent the entire night prior to the designated time praying in his rooms. Dionysius received him graciously, one man of the cloth to the other, and the younger man relaxed at once. After the opening pleasantries, he came straight to the point, and handed the scroll to the bishop. With raised eyebrows, Dionysius opened the letter and read. When he was finished he looked up in dismay.
“And what do you propose to do with this letter, young man? Have you come to threaten me?” He sounded disappointed more than angry, and Camillus put his hands up defensively.
“No, sir! No! Let me explain,” he said, and went on to lay out all that Anthony had said to him, including his own role as the secretary to Iraneaus. When he had finished, he clasped his hands tightly in front of him and said, “If you choose to do nothing with the letter, I will return it to my brother and say nothing. I have no desire to hurt the Church, nor you, your grace. It is to protect her that I have come to you with this.”
Dionysius sat in a chair at his desk, deep in thought. “Please leave this with me. I will pray and reach a decision within a fortnight. I only ask that you fast and pray until you hear from me, that I might do the Lord’s will in this matter.” He nodded gravely at Camillus, who bowed and quickly left the room.
When Camillus next appeared before the Bishop of Rome, he felt like a condemned man facing the scourge. He had been fasting and praying diligently for two months, having had no word from Dionysius in that time, and was quite sure that he would be punished for stirring up a hornet’s nest. The time had not been all bad, as Iraneaus had left, alone, for what he deemed “a necessary tour of the outlying regions”. In other words, he had gone to shore up support for his upcoming effort to depose the Pope.
Dionysius was sitting at a small table in his simply appointed office. He had a meal spread out before him, and a place was set opposite. He waved Camillus to sit.
“Good morning, young man. I trust you are well?” Dionysius said with a small smile.
Detecting no anger in the man, Camillus nodded. “Yes, sir, thank you. And you?”
Dionysius smiled wider. “I am quite well, thanks to you.” At Camillus’ confusion, he continued, “Two weeks ago, I sent an invitation to Bishop Iraneaus and his supporters to gather here for a meeting. At that meeting, I read to them your letter…” He watched Camillus closely. The priest leaned forward in his chair. He had not seen Iraneaus for over a month, and had not heard a whisper of gossip about this gathering. Dionysius
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