He hesitated, being young and gay, to enter the Church.

But the archbishop of that easy time, two hundred years ago, told him the Church was strong enough to bear a few light priests, and that he would be set free from many ecclesiastical duties if, by assiduity in society and with women, he strengthened the social weight of the Church.

In that way, making his madrigals and confessing fine ladies, he lived for four years.

This is an admirable sketch of a type of Church society of that date, indeed, of any date in any Church; it is by no means confined to Rome.
On this worldly, careless, indifferent, pleasure-seeking soul Pompilia, in her trouble and the pity of it, rises like a pure star seen through mist that opens at intervals to show her excelling brightness; and in a moment, at the first glimpse of her in the theatre, the false man drops away; his soul breaks up, stands clear, and claims its divine birth.

He is born again, and then transfigured.