Mael, has, in his blind zeal, created great theological difficulties for
the Holy Spirit and introduced disorder into the economy of mysteries."

"He is an old blunderer," cried St. Adjutor of Alsace, shrugging his
shoulders.

But the Lord cast a reproachful look on Adjutor.

"Allow me to speak," said he; "the holy Mael has not intuitive knowledge
like you, my blessed ones. He does not see me. He is an old man burdened
by infirmities; he is half deaf and three parts blind. You are
too severe on him. However, I recognise that the situation is an
embarrassing one."

"Luckily it is but a passing disorder," said St. Irenaeus. "The penguins
are baptized, but their eggs are not, and the evil will stop with the
present generation."

"Do not speak thus, Irenaeus my son," said the Lord. "There are
exceptions to the laws that men of science lay down on the earth because
they are imperfect and have not an exact application to nature. But
the laws that I establish are perfect and suffer no exception. We must
decide the fate of the baptized penguins without violating any divine
law, and in a manner conformable to the decalogue as well as to the
commandments of my Church."

"Lord," said St. Gregory Nazianzen, "give them an immortal soul."

"Alas! Lord, what would they do with it," sighed Lactantius. "They
have not tuneful voices to sing your praises. They would not be able to
celebrate your mysteries."

"Without doubt," said St. Augustine, "they would not observe the divine
law."

"They could not," said the Lord.

"They could not," continued St. Augustine. "And if, Lord, in your
wisdom, you pour an immortal soul into them, they will burn eternally
in hell in virtue of your adorable decrees. Thus will the transcendent
order, that this old Welshman has disturbed, be re-established."

"You propose a correct solution to me, son of Monica," said the Lord,
"and one that accords with my wisdom. But it does not satisfy my mercy.
And, although in my essence I am immutable, the longer I endure, the
more I incline to mildness. This change of character is evident to
anyone who reads my two Testaments."

As the discussion continued without much light being thrown upon the
matter and as the blessed showed a disposition to keep repeating the
same thing, it was decided to consult St. Catherine of Alexandria. This
is what was usually done in such cases. St. Catherine while on earth had
confounded fifty very learned doctors. She knew