He wishes to leave him perfectly free to fulfil his religious mission.

Mayda himself often goes into the garden to talk of religion with his under-gardener.

To please him Benedetto has abandoned the diet he observed at Jenne, where he ate nothing but bread and herbs, and drank only water; he now eats meat and drinks wine.
To please Benedetto, the Professor distributes these things in large quantities among the sick of the district.

Many people laugh at Benedetto and insult him, but the populace venerates him as did the people of Jenne in the beginning.

His deeds of charity to the soul are even greater than his deeds of charity to the body.