“Dear Sisters,” said Constance of Plauen, looking like a queen in the bright light of the stained-glass window. “We are graced today by the visit of the Reverend Oswald of Langenreuth, Canon of Mainz, a close associate of our archdiocese’s good shepherd, the Reverend Konrad of Daun. Having been invited, the canon will share his teachings with us. These teachings, I emphasise, concern certain secular matters, hence are mainly directed at the maidens who are temporarily residing here, as well as the sorores and converses who will not endure here and will return to the world. But I believe this knowledge won’t do any harm either to those of us who have taken our vows, since knowledge can never do any harm and there is never too much of it. Amen.”

Canon Oswald of Langenreuth stepped forward.

“We are imperfect,” he began after a pregnant pause and a dramatic wringing of the hands. “We are weak! Prone to temptation. All of us, regardless of age, intelligence and sex. Nonetheless, mark ye well, Sisters, that womenfolk are much more, infinitely more at risk of temptation. For insofar as the Creator made man imperfect, He made woman the most imperfect creature among the beasts. Having granted her the ability to produce life, at the same time He left her at the behest of desire and lecherousness. Left her at the mercy of suffering. For the wise Albertus Magnus said: Lecherousness and desire are as afflictions, whoever they seize will suffer…”

“I should say,” murmured Weronika.

“… and will be powerless. Great strength is needed to resist desire. But what is woman? Woman is weak! She has no soul and her body is powerless against desire, is prey to it. Even in marriage there is no escape from lust. How can one resist it when one must be obedient and subservient to one’s husband? According to the letter of the Bible? The Book of Genesis says: Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord, teaches Paul in his letter to the Ephesians.

“How then, you ask, is one to be?” continued the canon. “What to do? Submit and sin carnally? Or resist one’s husband and sin by disobedience? Know you, dear Sisters, that this dilemma has a solution, and it is owing to the teachings of the great Doctors of our Church and learned theologians.