Chapter 50: The Qualifications of a Priest

The construction speed of the new church was not slow.

Although the main labor force consisted of the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled, they were all devout believers.

After receiving the Commandment · Toward Life, their physical conditions gradually improved.

The Commandment · Toward Life could not restore them to the vigor of youth, but it alleviated their ailments, preventing age and physical decline from hindering the construction progress.

At the same time, Corleon distributed the Sacrament to them.

The Sacrament, after being enlightened, had purifying and satiating effects.

Though subtle, within these few days, it was enough to rejuvenate their spirits.

According to Cicero’s words:

‘Originally, in their condition, it might have taken two months to complete the construction.

But with their current state, it should be finished within a month.’

‘Of course, if more refugees were willing to help with the construction, it might be completed even faster.’

The lord issued an order allowing refugees to live in the village.

For this month, they would not be captured.

Thus, the refugees who had been hiding in the wild all came out.

Some might have fled from other territories.

Some might have offended the powerful in the village and could only live outside.

Some might simply be former bandits who had laid down their weapons.

Some of them heard that the church offered free Sacraments, so they came to the church, begging for a bite to eat.

Then they were recruited by Cicero to build the sanctuary.

Three silver coins every three days, meals included, and provided with burlap to sleep on.

These were very enticing conditions for them.

As for whether they were the devout believers Corleon spoke of.

At least when they ate the Sacrament, they all claimed to be.

Of course, after just one day of work, they truly became believers.

The church distributed free Sacraments twice daily.

Working even earned them silver coins.

The compassionate priest occasionally granted them rest days.

Moreover, during their work, they could clearly feel their bodies becoming stronger and healthier.

‘The Lord loves the world.

He wants the devout poor, the sick, and the disabled to build the sanctuary.

They should listen to the Lord’s gospel, be satiated, healed, and survive.

This is also the Blessing the Lord bestows upon them.’

These words from Monk Cicero resonated with them.

They personally experienced the Blessing.

Therefore, they became even more devout.

Every day, when they received the Sacrament, they would ask Priest Corleon to lead them in prayer.

They were illiterate and did not understand the meaning of prayer.

But from Corleon’s actions, they learned that prayer was a way to speak to the Lord and receive His attention.

They wanted to thank the Lord.

Thank the Lord for the gospel He bestowed.

What a merciful Lord this was.

Some bandits who had killed people even secretly approached Corleon to confess, begging for the Lord’s forgiveness, hoping to enter the Heavenly Kingdom after death—a place without war, without sickness, only happiness.

Thus, their work speed increased.

They hoped to build the Lord’s sanctuary with their own hands, letting the Lord feel their devotion.

Corleon knew that the foundation of faith among the lower-class people had been established.

Those who truly experienced the gospel would spread it further.

The only regret for Corleon was that other villages kept a tight grip on their people, treating them as private property, not allowing labor to flow freely.

However, Corleon observed those refugees.

After experiencing the Lord’s gospel during their work, they became healthy and strong.

These were high-quality refugees most welcomed by those villages.

Perhaps the training of priests needed to keep up.

Corleon thought of the promise given by the lord.

However, priests were not like monks, who could be called monks after baptism.

His basic requirement for priests was sufficient devotion.

Beyond devotion, they needed to understand and interpret the Holy Scriptures, which required literacy.

In this era, the number of literate people in the York Territory might not even reach three hundred.

Corleon understood the power of faith.

The words a priest spoke to believers could make a person better or worse.

Corleon was not afraid of priests offending the powerful, but he did not want any devout believer to go astray due to an unqualified priest.

After some thought, Corleon looked at Cicero.

He was enthusiastically directing the believers in bricklaying.

Cicero was literate.

Through their interactions, Corleon could feel that he had a correct understanding of the Holy Scriptures.

However, his father had said he only hoped Cicero would become a monk.

Moreover, Cicero’s personality and aspirations were not suited to the solitude of monastic life.

He preferred to design and build more magnificent structures.

Corleon imagined that when believers came to the church seeking a priest for prayer, the church’s priest, along with subordinate monks, had gone to the construction site to move bricks…

Corleon gave up.

Better to wait until Yara invited scholars and see how they enlightened others.

If possible, in the future, priests could also enlighten children.

At that time, not only would literacy rates improve, but there would also be genuine connections with some of the powerful.

After dinner, Corleon led the believers in prayer outside the church.

After the believers dispersed, Corleon brought Cicero, Agamemnon, and Ando into the church.

“Priest, I seek your counsel,” Agamemnon said eagerly.

“The Lord loves the world, and as His servants, we should also love people.”

“But our love for people requires worldly money and materials, just like building the sanctuary for the Lord.”

“These days, we have already spent eighty-seven gold coins. I calculated that by the time the sanctuary is completed, the total expenditure will reach over two hundred gold coins.”

“Currently, we have sufficient reserves. But what should we do when our gold reserves are depleted? How can we continue to practice the Lord’s teaching of loving people?”

“The church has no land; we cannot produce. When our gold reserves are exhausted, how can we maintain this love?”

“You have said that believers, after receiving the Lord’s teachings and protection, will be grateful to the Lord and offer to Him, which pleases the Lord.”

“Wiping the Lord’s Throne and offering money to the Lord are both expressions of people’s gratitude.”

“The Lord will not be displeased by wiping the Throne, nor will He be pleased by monetary offerings.”

“However, from my current observations, most of our believers are poor. They have no extra money to express gratitude; they can only wipe the Lord’s Throne.”

“I do not intend to exclude them, but when the church runs out of money, how can we fulfill our duty of loving people?”

Corleon said, “The Lord will not let His servants suffer poverty.”

“We baptize people and bestow Blessings upon them.”

“We help the dead with burial and guide them towards the Heavenly Kingdom.”

“These are all ways of conveying the Lord’s gospel to believers.”

“But these are also labors we perform personally.”

“We will not charge the poor; this is our expression of love.”

“We can charge the wealthy; this is the reward for our labor.”

Corleon was very satisfied with Agamemnon.

This was the evening lesson after prayer, where the priest answered the monks’ questions.

However, apart from the first day when Ando managed to ask a question, he pretended to understand everything in subsequent lessons.

As for Cicero, after asking questions for three consecutive days, he could no longer come up with any; his mind was entirely focused on how to build the sanctuary well.

Only Agamemnon made Corleon very satisfied.

He would think, observe daily with the content of the Holy Scriptures, then reflect.

If he couldn’t fully understand, he would ask during the evening lesson.

More importantly, he developed faith through such practical thinking.

Perhaps it was also because he personally witnessed the changes in these believers.

Corleon discovered this when Agamemnon’s Commandment · Toward Life was activated.

This trait was what Corleon hoped for in a priest candidate.

Understanding the essence of the world’s operations, then using these essences to interpret the Holy Scriptures, without losing faith because of it.

Unfortunately, Agamemnon was still young, and he had to inherit the Adams Family.

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