Joan says some of these new doctrine priests go further than Father Wycliffe himself, and even cast doubt on Purgatory and the worship [this word then merely meant "honour"] of our Lady. Ah me! if they can prove from God's Word that Purgatory is not, I would chant many thanksgivings thereon! All these years, when I knew not if my lost love were dead or alive, have I thought with dread of that awful land of darkness and sorrow: yet not knowing, I could have no masses sung for him; and had I been so able, I could never have told for whom they were, but only have asked for them for my father and mother and all Christian souls, and have offered mine own communion with intention thereto. Ay, and many a time--dare I confess it?--I have offered the same with that intent, if he should be to God commanded [dead]--knowing that God knew, and humbly trusting in His mercy if I did ill. But for the worship of our Lady, that is passing strange, specially to me that am religious woman. For we were always taught what a blessing it was that we had a woman to whom we might carry our griefs and sorrows, seeing God is a man, and not so like to enter into a woman's feelings. But these priests say--I am almost afraid to write it--this is dishonouring Christ who died for us, and who therefore must needs be full of tenderness for them for whom He died, and cannot need man nor woman--not even His own mother--to stand betwixt them and Him. O my Lord, have I been all these years dishonouring Thee, and setting up another, even though it be Thy blessed mother, between Thee and me? Yet surely He regardeth her honour full diligently! Said He not to Saint John, "Behold thy mother?"--and doth not that Apostle represent the whole Church, who are thereby commanded to regard her, each righteous man, as his own very mother? [This is the teaching of the Church of Rome.] I remember the blessed Hermit of Hampole scarcely makes mention of her: it is all Christ in his book. And if it be so--of which Joan ensures me--in the Word of God, whereof she hath read books that I have missed--verily, I know not what to think. Lord, Thou wist what is error! Save me therefrom. Thou wist what is truth: guide me therein!