Penguin Island · Chapter
II: The Apostolical Vocation of Saint Maël explained
Saint Maël, now nearly 98, returns to the Abbey of Yvern to resolve a schism over the Easter calendar and the scandal of nuns from the island of Gad.
What happens
Saint Maël, now nearly 98, returns to the Abbey of Yvern to resolve a schism over the Easter calendar and the scandal of nuns from the island of Gad. He corrects the calendar, sends the nuns back with dignity, and exhorts his monks to chastity. Later, while walking on a beach, he discovers a stone trough floating like a boat, which he takes as a sign from God to evangelize the pagans. He sails to the island of Hoedic, preaches the Gospel, baptizes the inhabitants, and then continues to evangelize sixty islands of Morbihan. He eventually lands at a Roman house where he converts Marcus Combabus, Valeria Moerens, and their household, recognizing a statue of the Virgin Mary among their pagan idols.
Themes in this chapter
Satire of Religion
The chapter humorously depicts Saint Maël's struggle with lust at age 98 and the absurdity of monks being distracted by nuns, while also parodying hagiographic miracles like floating stone troughs.
Human Folly and Vanity
The monks' schism over the Easter calendar and the nuns' scandal illustrate human pettiness and folly, which Saint Maël must correct.
Characters to notice
- Saint Maël
Returns to Yvern to restore order, then embarks on a missionary journey in a stone trough, evangelizing and baptizing pagans.
- Brother Marbodius
Abbot Budoc (identified as Brother Marbodius) reports the monastery's disorders to Saint Maël and restores his ashen staff.
- Virgil
Quoted by Saint Maël as having foretold the Virgin Mary in Sibylline verses.
- St. Catherine of Alexandria
Referenced indirectly through the mention of St. Bridget's rule and the nuns of Gad.
Key passages
“For woman is a cleverly constructed snare by which we are taken even before we suspect the trap.”
Women are like cunning traps that catch us before we even realize we're in danger.
Saint Maël warns the monks about the temptations of women, reflecting the theme of chastity.
“When present I avoid thee, but when away I find thee.”
I avoid you when you're near, but when you're gone, I long for you.
Saint Maël quotes a poet to illustrate the paradoxical nature of carnal desire.
“Let us respect in them the daughters of Bridget and the betrothed of the Lord. Let us beware lest we imitate the Pharisees who affect to despise sinners.”
We should honor these women as brides of Christ and not act like the Pharisees who look down on sinners.
Saint Maël instructs the monks to treat the fallen nuns with compassion rather than contempt.