In the dream, St Peter asked Father Ignatius directly, ‘Have you done a good job of looking after Our Lord’s lambs and sheep?’
“What a challenge!” thought Father Ignatius, “St Peter himself asking me if I was a good priest!”
Jack lived a few yards down the road from St Vincent Church, just the other side of the Convent.
One Friday evening he was waiting outside the Fish and Chips Shop just opposite the church when Father Ignatius joined the queue.
“How are you keeping Jack?” he asked, “you look really miserable right now … just like a mile of bad road, I should say!”
“Hello Father …” mumbled Jack under his breath, “it’s a long story!”
“You’d better tell me about it … let’s move away from this queue …”
The two men left the queue and walked a few paces away from the shop.
“It’s this friend of mine …” Jack said hesitantly, “he’s over seventy years old, lives in Brintown, and he’s not too well. I think he’s dying. I spoke to the lady friend he lives with and she said the doctor is not holding much hope. I’ll go and see him tomorrow as I’m not working this weekend … I hope I get there in time …”
“I’ll pray for him Jack. I notice you said lady friend … is he not married then?”
“Oh … that’s another long story Father.” said Jack, “Many years ago, when he was thirty or so, he met this lady and fell in love with her. She was divorced and his priest would not marry them. In fact he argued the matter with the priest and the priest excommunicated him.
“I think he probably excommunicated her as well … I don’t know.
“Anyway, they’ve lived together ever since … that’s about forty years. I don’t know if they ever got married in the Civil Court.
“But the man kept faithful to the ban imposed on him. He didn’t move to another church and take Communion there, even though they moved town several times. In fact I believe he never set foot in another church ever since that day!”
“We’d better go and see them then …” said the priest.
“What now … it’s five o’clock. It will take us two hours to get to Brintown!”
“The sooner we start the better,” replied Father Ignatius, “you go to my office and phone them from there. I’ll get the car ready!”
Moments later Father Ignatius was driving up the highway as fast as the speed limit allowed.
They arrived just after 7:30 that evening. Father Ignatius went to see the old man in his bedroom whilst Jack stayed with the old lady in the front room.
They could hear talk, and sometimes laughter from the bedroom. The priest stayed there for a while. He heard the old man’s Confession and gave him Holy Communion. Then they chatted away about the past … the old man had spent some time in Italy, not far from where Father Ignatius studied for the priesthood, so they talked about Italy and all the places they visited whilst there.
Eventually the priest came out and asked Jack to go and stay with the old man.
He heard the old lady’s Confession and gave her Holy Communion.
Father Ignatius and Jack set off back home at about 10:45 that evening. In the car, on the way to St Vincent, Jack said, “Thank you Father … being with you is like being with Jesus!”
“Don’t ever say that,” replied the priest, “no one can possibly be like Jesus!”
The old man died three days later.
The old lady also died a few months after that.
(Based on a true story).
I've been thinking about this story, today, Victor, and wondering about justice and mercy. It's all so high above us. Could we ever completely understand it, do you think?
ReplyDeleteIn the end, what stood out for me was how wonderful it was for the couple to receive the sacraments before they died. The fact that the Church never stops seeking reconciliation seems deeply meaningful and a testimony to the Church's supernatural nature. Many people are very critical of the Church when a conflict like this happens but, still, the Church continues to offer sacrifices in the hope of reconciliation. It seems that our human natures would be less likely to persevere and may even retaliate - especially in cases of possible persecution or condemnation.
We're all so completely dependent upon God's mercy - thank the Lord that the Church doesn't give up on us!
Thank you for another thought-provoking post, Victor.
God bless:-)
Hi Vicky,
ReplyDeleteThis post is based on a true story. I knew the couple very well and they were well into their seventies when this happened. The man was very ill and neither had been to church for ages. It was a chance conversation with a priest from another area miles away that started things. The priest suddenly decided to get in his car and drive for miles to reach them. He got there and the rest is like in my post. He heard their confessions and gave them Communion.
They were a very nice and kind couple. Their only sin was to love each other. I don't know the details of the original excommunication; but I know the man was excommunicated because at first he wanted to marry her (she was divorced) and the priest refused. Somehow this led to the excommunication. They never married but lived together for over 40 years. They had both been previously Catholic.
As in my story; he died shortly afterwards followed by her. May they rest in peace. The priest is also now dead; and no doubt partying with them in Heaven.
God bless you Vicky.
powerful in the telling and the message
ReplyDeleteThank you Melanie. The story is powerful thanks to God and a priest (in the real-life story) who knew he had an opportunity to bring the sheep back home, and did so.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
What a great friend the old man had. Someone who cared for the state of his soul and brought a priest. Father Ignatius is perfect for this sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteYes Barbara, the individual I'm talking about just mentioned his fears to the priest, and the priest decided there and then to drive miles to reach the old couple. They arrived late at night at the couple's house and the priest gave both of them Communion.
ReplyDeleteThe priest, a wonderful man, is now sadly dead, as are the old couple.
I base my Fr Ignatius stories on a number of priests like him whom I have known.
God bless.