The Last Confession - Softcover

West, Morris L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1902881443 ISBN 13: 9781902881447

Publisher: Toby Pr, 2003

Synopsis

Bruno was that perilous thing, a free spirit, and suffered death for his right to certain concepts. I knew from conversations with Morris that Giordano Bruno was a soul mate, someone with whose life history Morris identified, even though Morris possessed a somewhat less strident temperament than Broads. Failed priest, as Morris has Bruno declare in this tale, fugitive monk, magus with a box of conjuring tricks, boaster, prevaricator, would be torchbearer trudging through his own darkness, garrulous in dialogue, viperous in debate.

About this title

About the Author:

MORRIS WEST was born in Melbourne in 1916. He was a member of the Christian Brothers but left the order after 12 years. Around the time of the publication of his first novel in 1945, he worked in Melbourne radio but left Australia in 1955 to further his career as a writer. During his time away from Australia he lived in Austria, Italy, England and the USA. He returned to Australia in 1980. He wrote over thirty novels, many plays and several of his novels were adapted for film. Morris West died in 1999, while working at his desk.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

The Last Confession

Nevertheless, I am sure of today’s date because the Notary announced it when I was brought before the Congregation of the Office of the Holy Roman and Universal Inquisition.

They make an impressive assembly: nine Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Cardinals, six high and reverend clerics—religious and regular— and, of course, the Notary, meticulous recorder of the proceedings, which today are minuted under the heading: Visitation of Those Incarcerated in the Holy Roman Office. I am only one of the prisoners; but today they tell me I am the sole object of my lords’ attentions.

First I am required to identify myself. God! How many times have I done this? How many notaries have recorded it in how many documents? My family name is Bruno. I was born in 1548 in the city of Nola, in the kingdom of Naples. My father’s name was Giovanni. My mother’s name was Fraulisa. My baptismal name is Filippo. However, I am characterised in all documents by my name in religion, Giordano. I am an ordained priest, a monk in the Order of Friar Preachers, a Master in sacred theology. Each of these titles is authentic.

Each provides a separate noose to hang me. I no longer practise my ministry, therefore I am accused for my ‘loose and licentious life’. I have fled my order, therefore I am an ‘apostate monk.’ I am accused of perverting the Divine science of theology into outright heresy. For that, they can have me executed.

Today the man who addresses me on behalf of the Inquisitors is the Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, a Jesuit said to stand high in favour with the Pontiff. Unlike some of his colleagues, he is mild-mannered and courteous though I am too old in prison life to trust him too far.

What he tells me is very simple. He and his colleagues have finished their enquiries into my life, my writings and my opinions. There will be no more interrogations . Immediately after Christmas the Congregation will make its decision. When next I am summoned it will be to hear the verdict.

I feel a sudden anger rising in me. What in God’s name have I been doing all these years in prison but thinking and rethinking, testing one argument against another—even when my mind was fuddled with fever, my body racked with rheumatic pains? I manage to control myself and answer firmly but with respect. I have no wish and I feel no obligation to reconsider any matter. I have answered all the questions that have been put to me over months and years. I do not understand what is now expected of me.

About this edition

• Publisher: Toby Pr
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1902881443
• ISBN 13: 9781902881447
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192