8. The angel mass over the Balmenstein

A place above Eisten is called Balme. The Balmenmann and his wife once lived in an alcove-like cave under a rocky outcrop - the Balmustein. Because the Balmenmann only came to Kippel for mass on the highest feast days, the prior had him summoned. The man arrived at the rectory on time and bowed reverently before the reverend prior. He ordered him to take off his weathered hat. As the Balmenmann could not find a free nail in the parish parlour, he simply hung the hat on a ray of sunlight shining through the window into the room. The prior was amazed and, after a long conversation, recognised something strange about this man. He bade him farewell without the planned reproach about his infrequent visits to the church, and was happy to be invited to make a return visit up to the Balme.

The prior ate the meagre meal with a good appetite and then lay down for a nap. In the middle of his midday nap, the Balme couple returned from their mass, dressed up for Sunday and beaming with happiness. Once again, the priest could only marvel and shake his aged head uncomprehendingly.

After the actual Sunday meal, the Balmenmann took the spiritual master aside and said: "Come, Reverend, I want to take you to mass!" The prior gladly agreed, and they both climbed up through the forest to "Bliejendu". In the middle of a clearing there is a large, flat stone. They walked up to it and stood on it.

The Balmenmann said to the priest: "Stand on your right foot and look over my left shoulder! - What do you see now?" "For God's sake, it's heaven!" stammered the prior, enraptured. His eyes opened wide and greedily drank in the heavenly splendour.

After far too short a time, the Balmenmann ordered: "Now stand on your left foot and look over my right shoulder!" The priest did the same. "What can you see?" asked the balmy man. "Hell no!" - stuttered the priest after a while, "I can see hell!" In his terror, he opened his eyes even wider and his face reflected the horror and horror of this terrible place.

Then he stepped down from the stone, spontaneously folded his hands in prayer and, with a serious face, made the sign of the cross over himself and the place. The two men returned to the Balme in silence. In the hut, the priest bid a friendly farewell to the woman and the lovely children and wistfully squeezed their hands, as if he would have preferred to stay up here. The Balmenmann accompanied the clergyman as far as Eisten. As he said goodbye, the prior said: "Yes, truly, you are good and pious people up here, I was able to experience that today. Thank you for everything." The prior shook the Balmenmann's hand and then walked down the valley towards Kippel with long strides, deep in thought.

The Goori says: "If you don't go to church regularly, you're not necessarily a bad Christian ...