Frustration

I read "A Corner of the Veil" by Laurence Cosse with much frustration. The story begins with a religious order priest opening his mail.  One frequent writer was always sending him proofs of the existence of God. And the good priest patiently answered all the letters.  

One letter from the frequent writer left the priest trembling.  This time, again, the letter gave proof of God's existence.  However, this time the proof wasn't arithmetical, physical, esthetical, or astronomical.  It was irrefutable!  

But the reader isn't told what the proof is.

Whatever it was, left the priest trembling and the urge to prostrate himself on the floor.  He was joyous.  He needed to tell someone.  He called his friend and told him.  

We still don't know the proof.

The two men go to their superior.  He won't even look at the letter, but promises the priests that he will ask the advice of others.

The reader is getting frustrated.

Everyone who reads it hesitates to spread the proof due to speculation of the ramifications.  One civil authority quits his job and speaks of a mystical existence.  One of the priests becomes a hermit; another a monk.

What!  What is affecting everyone so dramatically?

The letter travels up the ecclesiastical ranks and shakes everyone.  But no wants to make it public.

Why?  What is this proof?

Finally, the letter makes it to the Vatican, not the pope, himself, don't be silly.  He's the Vicar of Christ.  One of the pope's secretaries, handles it.  And he decides to suppress it and extracts promises of secrecy from everyone.

We never know what the proof was.

The novel ends with the postscript:

What is a pontifical secret?

A piece of information the Holy Father must not learn under any circumstances.

                                                                            Vatican Chronicle, Summer 1995