Alice McDermot. ninth hour (№ 435353)

All mortals are drawn to decline, said Sister Illuminata, which means to pain, to suffering. She added that the devil is always trying to convince people that they are not angels, but just animals. That's why nothing turns a person into a howling beast like pain. Nothing wears out the soul like sickness. Nothing is more discouraging than the stench. Nothing drags us down like mud.