WEBVTT - Saint Homobonus: Episode Three

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<v Speaker 1>Cremona, Italy, 1162 AD.

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<v Speaker 1>8 years have passed since his father's death. Homobonus remembers

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<v Speaker 1>the two solemn promises he made to serve the poor

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<v Speaker 1>through his business and to marry a woman who loved

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<v Speaker 1>him for himself, not for his wealth.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, married to the beautiful Isabella, can Homobonus find a

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<v Speaker 1>way to serve the poor and save his marriage?

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<v Speaker 2>The Saints, Adventures of faith and courage. Saint Homobonus. Episode 3,

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<v Speaker 2>the father of the poor. Listen to all the episodes

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<v Speaker 2>and discover new shows at the Saintspodcast.com.

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<v Speaker 2>Would you like something else for breakfast, Master Homobonus? No, Leonardo,

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<v Speaker 2>thank you.

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<v Speaker 2>Could you please ask Darrio to prepare my horse? I

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<v Speaker 2>want to be at the cathedral before morning mass. Yes,

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<v Speaker 2>Master Homobonus.

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<v Speaker 2>Master, forgive me if I'm being disrespectful, but do you

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<v Speaker 2>know if the nobles have approved the new tax law?

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, it has been approved. Oh.

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<v Speaker 2>We must prepare for the upcoming riots in that case.

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<v Speaker 2>That's exactly why I want to be at the cathedral

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<v Speaker 2>before morning mass.

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<v Speaker 2>Only our Lord can protect us.

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<v Speaker 2>Now make sure your horse is ready, master.

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<v Speaker 2>Homobonus, we need to talk. Good morning, my love. I'm

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<v Speaker 2>not sure it's a good morning. What's the matter? I've

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<v Speaker 2>just received word that you've offered our summer villa to

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<v Speaker 2>be used as a hospital for the poor. We barely

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<v Speaker 2>go there, my dear, and Doctor Giovanni needs the space

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<v Speaker 2>to tend those suffering in the countryside. But I was

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<v Speaker 2>planning to host a banquet for the Merchants Guild there

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<v Speaker 2>next month.

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<v Speaker 2>I imagine you had your heart set on the event.

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<v Speaker 2>More than that. This was an opportunity for you. The

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<v Speaker 2>guilt isn't just a gathering of merchants. It controls trade

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<v Speaker 2>in the city. If they accept you as a member,

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<v Speaker 2>it means protection, influence, and access to the best markets.

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<v Speaker 2>It could secure our future. What am I to tell

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<v Speaker 2>them now? They'll make me a member of the guild

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<v Speaker 2>when the time is right. God will open doors, Isabella.

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<v Speaker 2>First, you refuse to replace our outdated carriage because, and

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<v Speaker 2>I quote, it still works, Isabella, and let's not forget

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<v Speaker 2>how you practically gave away those silk shipments to that

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<v Speaker 2>widow and her daughters at half their worth, my dear,

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<v Speaker 2>that widow's husband was a loyal customer for 20 years

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<v Speaker 2>before God called him home. It was the right thing

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<v Speaker 2>to do.

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<v Speaker 2>I understand charity Homobonus. It's good to help others, but

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<v Speaker 2>not at the expense of our own comfort and standing.

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<v Speaker 2>It's one thing to give alms, it's another to reduce

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<v Speaker 2>ourselves to beggary.

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<v Speaker 2>When we give to others, we receive God's mercy and blessings.

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<v Speaker 2>That yields the best spiritual interest.

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<v Speaker 2>Donors benefit from giving as much or more than the recipients.

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<v Speaker 2>If God truly rewards such generosity.

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<v Speaker 2>Then why has he not blessed us with children?

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<v Speaker 2>7 years, Homobonus, 7 years of marriage, and still our

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<v Speaker 2>home lacks the sound of little feet.

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<v Speaker 2>God will give us children at the right time.

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<v Speaker 2>And what if that time never comes? What then Homobonus?

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<v Speaker 2>Will your excessive generosity have been worth it?

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<v Speaker 2>Lord, I come before you today with a heavy heart.

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<v Speaker 2>The tensions in our city between the merchants and the nobles.

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<v Speaker 2>They threatened to erupt into violence once more. I pray

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<v Speaker 2>for your protection for all the people of Cremona.

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<v Speaker 2>I also pray for guidance in my business.

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<v Speaker 2>That I may use it wisely to honor your will

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<v Speaker 2>and to help those in need, as my father taught me.

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<v Speaker 2>And

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<v Speaker 2>I pray for wisdom and patience in my marriage.

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<v Speaker 2>Isabella and I

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<v Speaker 2>We see the world

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<v Speaker 2>Differently

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<v Speaker 2>I struggle to understand her.

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<v Speaker 2>I fear I'm failing to be the husband she deserves.

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<v Speaker 2>Show me how to bridge the divide between my wife's

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<v Speaker 2>expectations and my duty to serve you through serving the poor.

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<v Speaker 2>And if it be your will

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<v Speaker 2>Bless us with a child.

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<v Speaker 2>Guide me, Lord.

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<v Speaker 2>To be a good husband

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<v Speaker 2>And a steward of those around me.

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<v Speaker 2>Hey, stop that boy. Hold there, young man. Please let

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<v Speaker 2>me go. Return what you have taken. There's the little thief. Gods,

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<v Speaker 2>County Rossi, please allow me to handle this.

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<v Speaker 2>You know this boy. I know that theft is often

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<v Speaker 2>born of desperation, not evil.

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<v Speaker 2>Child, what's your name? Menakus. Why did you steal from

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<v Speaker 2>the Count Menakus?

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<v Speaker 2>My, my sisters, they haven't eaten since yesterday. I, I

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<v Speaker 2>take care of them since Mother died. Father never came

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<v Speaker 2>back from the crusades. Oh, what a poor boy. Counter Rossi,

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<v Speaker 2>would you accept compensation for what was taken and perhaps

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<v Speaker 2>show mercy to one so young.

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<v Speaker 2>What are you suggesting?

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<v Speaker 2>Menakus, give back what you took.

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<v Speaker 2>Now apologize to the count. I, I am sorry.

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<v Speaker 2>Count Errosi, in gratitude for your mercy, allow me to give

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<v Speaker 2>one of our finest silks for a new cloak. I'll

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<v Speaker 2>ensure we send it to your house. Very well, but

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<v Speaker 2>keep that boy away from me.

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<v Speaker 2>Now Menakas.

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<v Speaker 2>How many sisters do you have? 2. Elena is 8

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<v Speaker 2>and Maria is 6. And where do you live? In

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<v Speaker 2>the old Tanner's district, sir, and the abandoned workshop.

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<v Speaker 2>Would you like honest work?

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<v Speaker 2>I need help in my shop, tending customers, running errands,

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<v Speaker 2>keeping things tidy.

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<v Speaker 2>You, you trust me after what I just did?

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<v Speaker 2>God offers us all second chances, Menakas.

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<v Speaker 2>Sometimes we just need someone to believe in us first.

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<v Speaker 2>Come.

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<v Speaker 2>Let's talk to your sisters.

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<v Speaker 2>They can stay with Sister Agnes at the monastery while

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<v Speaker 2>you work. Thank you. I, I won't disappoint you.

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<v Speaker 2>I know you want Menakas.

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<v Speaker 2>I know you won't.

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<v Speaker 2>They

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<v Speaker 2>In the globe

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<v Speaker 2>Welcome senora. May I help you? Isabella? What a pleasant surprise.

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<v Speaker 2>I need to speak to you in private.

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<v Speaker 2>Of course, come this way.

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<v Speaker 2>What's the matter? Homobonus, there are rumors in the market.

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<v Speaker 2>They say you've hired a thief to work in our shop. Ah,

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<v Speaker 2>you mean Menakas? Yes, he's been quite helpful these past days. Oh,

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<v Speaker 2>so it's true. Have you lost your mind? That boy

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<v Speaker 2>will rob us blind. He's already proven himself trustworthy. Just yesterday,

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<v Speaker 2>he returned a nobleman's overpayment without hesitation. Ah.

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<v Speaker 2>One good deed doesn't embrace what he is. You can't

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<v Speaker 2>trust a thief. The boy needs a chance to be

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<v Speaker 2>something different. He has two young sisters. They were starving.

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<v Speaker 2>My cousin Enrico warned me about this. He said, your

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<v Speaker 2>excessive charity would be your undoing. First, the poor, then widows,

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<v Speaker 2>now thieves. People will take advantage of your kind heart, Homobonus.

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<v Speaker 2>I prefer to believe in the best in people, Isabella.

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<v Speaker 2>Even those who have made mistakes.

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<v Speaker 2>You're a good man, Homobonus, too good, perhaps.

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<v Speaker 2>I pray your generosity won't be our ruin.

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<v Speaker 2>Master Homobonus, yes, Menakas.

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<v Speaker 2>I've been thinking other silk and wool merchants charge much

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<v Speaker 2>more than we do if we raised our prices just

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<v Speaker 2>a little. Go on, we could make twice the profit.

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<v Speaker 2>Everyone else does it. The nobles would hardly notice.

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<v Speaker 2>Come with me, Menakas.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to show you something. Where are we going?

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<v Speaker 2>To the market?

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<v Speaker 2>We need bread

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<v Speaker 2>Why did we purchase so many loaves?

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<v Speaker 2>You'll see.

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<v Speaker 2>The beggar's corner. Here's bread for all. Come. Thank you.

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<v Speaker 2>Did you know about Saint Martin of Tours, Menakas? No, sir.

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<v Speaker 2>He was a Roman soldier.

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<v Speaker 2>One cold winter day he saw a beggar freezing by

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<v Speaker 2>the city gates.

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<v Speaker 2>Without hesitation he drew his sword.

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<v Speaker 2>Cut his own cloak in half and gave it to

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<v Speaker 2>the beggar. Half his cloak, yes.

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<v Speaker 2>That night he had a dream. Christ appeared to him

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<v Speaker 2>wearing that same half cloak, saying Martin clothed me with

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<v Speaker 2>this garment.

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<v Speaker 2>My father taught me something important about business.

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<v Speaker 2>Would you like to know what it was? Yes, master.

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<v Speaker 2>He said, no prophet is worth hurting our relationship with God.

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<v Speaker 2>Business, honest business can bring people together.

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<v Speaker 2>Something that we need in Cremona. But don't we need

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<v Speaker 2>profit to survive? The fair profit, yes.

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<v Speaker 2>But not at the expense of others' suffering. We can

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<v Speaker 2>share what we have and recognize that every customer, every supplier,

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<v Speaker 2>every partner is our brother or sister in Christ.

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<v Speaker 2>That's how businesses help to build a better community.

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<v Speaker 2>And when we help others, especially the poor,

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<v Speaker 2>We are loving Christ.

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<v Speaker 2>What you do unto these least ones, you do unto me. Remember?

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<v Speaker 2>You know what the nuns at the monastery call you master?

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<v Speaker 2>What's that? Father of the poor. Hands down. We have

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<v Speaker 2>had enough. You low born mungus. Look, you nobles bleed

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<v Speaker 2>us dry. How dare you speak to us that way, Master,

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<v Speaker 2>we should go. Go back to the shopman offices now.

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<v Speaker 2>Help me, help me.

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<v Speaker 2>Merchants forget your place.

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<v Speaker 2>Now stop in God's name. Stop. See how the nobles

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<v Speaker 2>treat us Homobonus. We have to fight them, brothers. We

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<v Speaker 2>are all children of God. Put your swords down, Homobonus.

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<v Speaker 2>You dare interfere, Enrico, please think of the innocent people.

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<v Speaker 2>Move aside now, or my sword will forget you are

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<v Speaker 2>my cousin's husband. I will not move.

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<v Speaker 2>Then you've made your choice.

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<v Speaker 2>This is Peter Atkinson from the Merry Bakers. Tune in

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<v Speaker 2>to episode 4, The Wise Merchant, to hear the next

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<v Speaker 2>installment of Saint Homobonus. Listen to all the episodes and

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<v Speaker 2>discover new shows at the saints podcast.com.

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<v Speaker 1>The Mary Bakers is the entertainment division of Relevant Radio.