Tell it as it is

Miss Lemon had invited Father Ignatius to sit in at Catechism class for the seven year olds at Junior School. He duly obliged and after the youngsters greeted him warmly and sang a welcoming song for him, Miss Lemon managed to settle them down and start her class.

She was talking about the sanctity of marriage and how important the family unit is in today’s society.

“When a man and a woman love each other very much,” she said, “they decide to get married and they have a wedding. Jesus went to a wedding a long time ago. Father Ignatius will read you the story later. How many of you have been to a wedding?”

A few children raised their hands and they talked all at once relating their experiences.

“Good … OK settle down,” she continued gently, “now when a man and a woman get married in church there is a priest there to bless the marriage … and the man and woman are given rings to wear on this finger here … Did you see that happen … Those of you who have been to a wedding?”

One or two of them said they’d seen this when they attended a relative’s wedding.

“The wedding rings are a symbol of the people’s love for one another,” continued Miss Lemon patiently, “and they normally wear the ring all their lives. It shows to everyone that they are married.

“So … can anyone tell me how you tell a man and a woman are married?”

A young boy raised his hand and said, “They yell at the same kids!”

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