Christus Nos Liberavit — Les Misérables

What is this history of Fantine? It is society purchasing a slave. From whom? From misery. From hunger, cold, isolation, destitution. A dolorous bargain. A soul for a morsel of bread. Misery offers; society accepts. The sacred law of Jesus Christ governs our civilisation, but it does not yet permeate it. It is said that slavery has disappeared from European civilisation. This is a mistake. It still exists; but it weighs only upon the woman, and it is called prostitution. It weighs upon grace, weakness, beauty, maternity. This is not one of the least of man's disgraces.

Nothing is left to Fantine of what she had formerly been. She has become marble in becoming mire. Whoever touches her feels cold. She passes; she endures you; she ignores you. She is the severe and dishonoured figure. Life and the social order have said their last word for her. She is resigned, with that resignation which resembles indifference, as death resembles sleep. She no longer avoids anything. She is a sponge that is soaked.

At least, she believes it to be so. But it is an error to imagine that fate can be exhausted, and that one has reached the bottom of anything whatever. What are all these fates, driven on pell-mell? Whither are they going? He who knows that sees the whole of the shadow. He is alone. His name is God.