That if gold ruste, what shal iren do?

Of all the characters that we meet in "The General Prologue," I most liked the "povre Persoun," or poor parson. Out of all the characters, the poor parson seemed the most familiar to me; I think this is because, unlike knights or squires or summoners, the role of a parson is one that still exists in various forms and is, therefore, one that we generally recognize. It is interesting (and I wonder if Chaucer intended this) that the description of the poor parson follows the "Wyf," who lacks charity and commitment to others, and precedes (by several pages, as we didn't read all the way through) the summoner and pardoner, both of whom are vulgar and deceitful. I like that it is broken up this way, and - whether intended or not - emphasizes the parson's admirable qualities and, in turn, the others' unfavorable qualities.

The parson, though poor himself, gives what little income he has to his poor parishioners; his parish is so large and some live far, but he makes visits to all - regardless of weather, illness, or distance; and, most importantly, he strives to be an example of the gospel that he teaches. And he is an example - he doesn't just preach the gospel and act nice, but truly lives his life as Christ did in poverty and as an unyielding figure: the poor parson doesn't run "to London unto Seynte Poules" to take the easy, comfortable positions available to him as a member of the clergy, nor does he scorn sinful men, but rather, he "drawen folk to heven by fairnesse" and leads by example.

My favorite line from this passage is "That if gold ruste, what shal iren do?" The parson, an earthly representative for Christ, is "gold," the bright, desirable, holy character, the shining example of man - and admonishes other clergy members to not be corrupt, to not "rust." I couldn't help but think that it is fitting that we should be reading about the poor parson the week that Pope Francis is to visit the United States. Pope Francis, among many changes he has made in the Vatican, is well-known for his attention to corruption  and abuse within the Vatican and within the Catholic Church as a whole. I think there is some of this poor parson's gold that shines in Pope Francis, and I think it is something to which people are drawn.