There is a series of delightful mystery stories and novels about a 12th-century Benedictine monk, Caedfael. Brother Caedfael is the herbalist for his monastery in Shrewsbury…and he also is a detective. There is PBS series based upon several of this series, starring Derek Jacobi. There are eighteen books in this fictional series written by Ellis Peters. In one scene Brother Caedfael and a young brother, Mark, come upon someone who has been murdered:
“Mark stood quiet and still, staring down in undismayed compassion. “I wonder had he wife and children,” he said at last. Caedfael marked the first focus of one fledgling priest’s concern, and approved it. Christ’s first instinct might have been much the same. Not: “Unshriven, and in peril!” not even: “When did he last confess and find absolution?” but: “Who will care for his little ones?”
The speculation about the victim’s soul is interesting, sounding like care but not needed as only God knows. I think it does show forth a hypocritical piety. True piety is in the fledgling priest’s question, “Who will care for his little ones?” Caedfael and Mark carry through with this concern in the story…Lent is about the Lord’s free gift of forgiveness for us sinners. Fasting and praying are good… and this scene from this story shows us again the importance of almsgiving, caring for those in sorrow and pain in “undismayed compassion”. The Lord calls us to be resolute in His compassion.
Concordia and Koinonia 
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