She did inquire about him, but she did not know the proper place to inquire.
"Only the other day Stepanida Ilyinishna- she's a rich merchant's wife- said to me, 'You go, Prohorovna, and put your son's name down for prayer in the church, and pray for the peace of his soul as though he were dead.
His soul will be troubled,' she said, 'and he will write you a letter.'
And Stepanida Ilyinishna told me it was a certain thing which had been many times tried.
Only I am in doubt.... Oh, you light of ours! is it true or false, and would it be right?"
"Don't think of it.
It's shameful to ask the question.
How is it possible to pray for the peace of a living soul? And his own mother too!
It's a great sin, akin to sorcery. Only for your ignorance it is forgiven you.
Better pray to the Queen of Heaven, our swift defence and help, for his good health, and that she may forgive you for your error.
And another thing I will tell you, Prohorovna. Either he will soon come back to you, your son, or he will be sure to send a letter.
Go, and henceforward be in peace.
Your son is alive, I tell you."
"Dear Father, God reward you, our benefactor, who prays for all of us and for our sins!"
But the elder had already noticed in the crowd two glowing eyes fixed upon him. An exhausted, consumptive-looking, though young peasant woman was gazing at him in silence.
Her eyes besought him, but she seemed afraid to approach.
"What is it, my child?"
"Absolve my soul, Father," she articulated softly, and slowly sank on her knees and bowed down at his feet. "I have sinned, Father. I am afraid of my sin."
The elder sat down on the lower step. The woman crept closer to him, still on her knees.
"I am a widow these three years," she began in a half-whisper, with a sort of shudder. "I had a hard life with my husband. He was an old man. He used to beat me cruelly.
He lay ill; I thought looking at him, if he were to get well, if he were to get up again, what then?
And then the thought came to me-"
"Stay!" said the elder, and he put his ear close to her lips.
The woman went on in a low whisper, so that it was almost impossible to catch anything.
She had soon done.
"Three years ago?" asked the elder.
"Three years.
At first I didn't think about it, but now I've begun to be ill, and the thought never leaves me."
"Have you come from far?"
"Over three hundred miles away."
"Have you told it in confession?"
"I have confessed it. Twice I have confessed it."
"Have you been admitted to Communion?"
"Yes.
I am afraid. I am afraid to die."
"Fear nothing and never be afraid; and don't fret.
If only your penitence fail not, God will forgive all.
There is no sin, and there can be no sin on all the earth, which the Lord will not forgive to the truly repentant!
Man cannot commit a sin so great as to exhaust the infinite love of God.
Can there be a sin which could exceed the love of God?
Think only of repentance, continual repentance, but dismiss fear altogether.
Believe that God loves you as you cannot conceive; that He loves you with your sin, in your sin.
It has been said of old that over one repentant sinner there is more joy in heaven than over ten righteous men.
Go, and fear not.
Be not bitter against men. Be not angry if you are wronged.
Forgive the dead man in your heart what wrong he did you. Be reconciled with him in truth.
If you are penitent, you love.
And if you love you are of God. All things are atoned for, all things are saved by love.
If I, a sinner, even as you are, am tender with you and have pity on you, how much more will God.
Love is such a priceless treasure that you can redeem the whole world by it, and expiate not only your own sins but the sins of others."