Chapter 8- Father and Son

---As Parochial Vicar of St Josephs Catholic Church and nearing 80 years of age Father Pat seldom heard what he considered a good confession anymore. ---During the Spanish American war Father Pat had heard some of the most heart wrenching last words of dying soldiers on both sides. He had been Chaplin for the American army, but the Spanish opposition happened to be fervently Catholic, and he often heard “Padre…Por favor…” or “Father…please…” beckoning him close to hear the dying words of a blood-soaked soldier in his last moments on the battlefield. --- Father Pat heard all the things a man hid from the world until death came to find him. He heard about infidelity, and abuse both given and received. Stories about theft and lies and the willful schemes of men. Lament over rapes and murders. He would have been downcast at the tales had he not remembered that it was redemption they sought. It was their repentance and their hope of heaven that drove them to cry his name, “Padre…Father…” Boys all of them. --- He gave last rights to both sides; his faith knew not the boarders of war. All were Gods children and he doled out absolution to all who asked for it. Repentance reflected the sacred rhythm of life, the great cycle of pride and humility, the refining of a soul that drew him to the priesthood. Father Pat loved a good confession, he seldom heard one, but he always prayed. ---The bell of St. Josephs Catholic Church in Seattle rang Twelve noon, Monday. Normally Reconciliation wasn’t heard until Wednesday. It gave people proper time to sully their pure hearts after Sunday’s offering. ---Joseph Lavery was the only one there that afternoon, he had requested it. He had called Father Sunday night and wanted to meet right then but Father Pat had said he served four Masses that day and had a headache. But truth be told he had already eaten a steak dinner at Callahan’s and seen his way through the better part of a bottle of red wine a nice family had given him last Christmas. He was listening to a ballgame on the radio when Joseph called. ---It would have to wait till Monday. ---By noon, Joseph had already been there an hour to pray a rosary. Typically, his confessions were quite drab; impure thoughts, half-truths, and late bills; that sort of thing. But today did not disappoint, Father Pat loved hearing about the family arguments. Their squabbles were his entertainment. It reminded him of his upbringing with three brother of his own. Josephs tale did not dissapoint, he had never actually struck Daniel. Father Pat was swept away and for a few blessed moments, forgot himself. ---From between the veil between Father Pat jumped to his feet during Josephs confession and swung his fist like he was watching a boxing match and cried out, “Heeyo! Right in the jabber!” It certainly wasn't like Joseph to strike someone, let alone his brother and Father Pat couldn't help but be swept away. ---Joseph exhaled in frustration from behind the veil. “He didn’t deserve it…well he did. But I know how he struggles in his faith, and I don’t think I brought him any closer to Christ with what I did.” ---“Admonish the sinner I say, Joe! Besides your brothers been a dirty no gooder at times…can’t say I blame you.” Father Pat sensed there was more. He could smell the reluctance on Joseph, he was holding back, he always held back. That was the thing about people who confessed their scruples like Joe. They confessed everything and nothing. Father knew there was more, just how much was a mystery. Still, he invited, “Is there anything else?” ---Joseph hesitated and thought about Daniels commitment to the Gatt Brothers and what trouble they were in. But he couldn’t say any of that to Father Pat. He had never confessed to Father about selling booze, first because he didn’t think it was wrong and second because he wanted to protect Father Pat. It was one thing to confess a sin to a Priest if you had an intention of changing but what Joseph was doing was considered crime and he did not want to make Father Pat an accessory. ---Father Pat sat in the silence and let the spirit move. ---Joseph remembered what Daniel had said about family and the rage that it ignited inside him. A lump rose in hi his throat. He rolled his neck to stretch it out, breathed hard and swallowed it back. “That’s all today, Father.” Joseph sat stoically, holding himself back from saying more. ---Father Pat raised his eyebrows. He enjoyed Josephs confession today, but it was not the one he had hoped for. “Well, you’ve got to make things right with him. Tell him you’re sorry. Move on with it. Brothers shouldn’t quarrel.” Father leaned into the screen between them. ---It wasn’t that simple Joseph leaned into Fathers niceties, “He’s deciding things for the business without me!” ---Father Pat leaned back, “Is he deciding without you or are you deciding without him?” ---“I’m ten years older! I’m in charge of more! I know better!” Joseph’s protest sounded petty the closer he got to losing control. ---Father Pat continued, “Who are you to take away your brother’s freedom Joseph?” ---Joseph, almost insolent now, “Father you don’t even know…” ---“But it sounds like you do! You know better than Daniel you know better than me. Joseph, some men insist to learn by consequence. Who are you to take that from him?” ---“But what if it leads him too far down the wrong path? What if he hurts others?” Joseph wore the anguished face of a prophet. ---Father Pat reminded, “Then the lord will be here for him to make a right turning.” And with that the penance was given. “Three hail Mary’s and an our Father…but both of us know you’ll say the whole Rosary.” ---There was a stillness between the two of them. ---Father Pat made the sign of the cross over Joseph as he left to do his penance. Father Pat stayed behind alone in the confessional. He gave thanks for the confession that Joseph gave and prayed that what ever he was holding back would be brouht to light in Gods prescious time. ---