But, at last, Christ will come, and then your gain shall be great." He was silent, praying for his disciples, sighing in the prescience of much suffering to come to them from many enemies of many kinds.

Then he pronounced the last words: "Later, give me your prayers; now, your kiss." The disciples, with one voice, begged him to bless them.

He sought to avoid this, saying he did not feel himself worthy.
"I am only the poor blind man, whose eyes Christ has opened with clay." Don Clemente did not appear to have heard.

He knelt down saying, "Bless me, also!" With humble obedience Benedetto laid his hand on Don Clemente's head, said the words of the ritual benediction, and kissed him.

He did the same with all the others, one by one.