In this chapter, Lucretius recounts the story of his encounter with the ghost of the Virgin Mary. He tells his father about the power of darkness, the powers of the Holy Ghost, and the fate that he was chosen to face. He also tells him about his meeting with the father of the order of St. Vertinez, known as the "Michael's sword" . He explains that the order's leader, father piestro, disappeared, and that they sent their men to investigate. When he failed to return to the Vatican, the order sent its men to look for him in the southwest U.S., where they found him and the other men dead. The order learned that the ways of the heretics were worse than those of the survivors, and they sent more men to find him. He asks his father what he is about to ask him, and he tells him that he is ready for the test of faith that stands before him. The real test of his faith, he says, comes from the outside, not from inside. He says that the dangers to faith are greater than the dangers of faith. He and his father are about halfway between St. Baldall's and the place where they are carrying all of their stuff. Lucretian says that he knows he must leave the desert, but that he must stay away from the followers of the holy ghost.