|
|
Post by Prince on Jul 24, 2007 2:28:42 GMT -5
Front and center. You'll be able to see everything, but some people believe the closer to the front, the closer to God.
|
|
|
|
Post by vain on Mar 25, 2009 17:29:25 GMT -5
Vain ran into a narrow back alley and stopped. She heard the sound of steps from two police officers and their so called orders to eachother. Vain stood close to the wall as they ran past the alley. She looked down on the piece of bread she held in her right hand. She wasn't really a thief, she actually hadn't stolen anything before. It had been a spontaneous act to give the police something to do.
She went down the street before she heard the annoying sound from the police whistle. She started running again, and soon spotted the church of Queens. It could probably provide a hideout , if only for a few moments. Vain quickly ran into the church and smote again the door. She leaned against the door and soon heard the the two police officers outside, but their voices quickly disappeared. She gave a sigh of relief and turned around as she heard sobbing from the front row.
She took a few steps closer and then stopped beside the bench, turning her gaze to the girl. "What'cha cryin' 'bout, kid?" She asked, trying to sound as kind as possible, but Vain had never been the most compassionated girl.
|
|
|
|
Post by Antoinette Dubois on Aug 21, 2009 16:01:32 GMT -5
New Day Antoinette walked into the church and crossed herself before entering a pew. Today she was dressed in a nice, modest gown and was wearing gloves and carrying a parasol. It was still to sunny out for her complexion she couldn't risk burning it was entirely to unbecoming. Antoinette took out her rosary beads and began to pray silently. She had come today to make confession but she wanted to say some prayers first. Antoinette wasn't familiar enough with the church to know where the confessional was so she was hoping that since she was currently the only occupant that one of the priests may come and speak with her when she was done praying. |
|
|
|
Post by Father Mulcahy on Aug 21, 2009 20:01:33 GMT -5
Father Mulcahy, who was partially obscured behind the pulpit as he leafed through his Bible, watched as a lovely young woman entered the church and took a seat in the first pew. She carefully folded her parasol, and pulled out a rosary to begin praying. Mulcahy closed his Bible and set it aside, sensing that his services would be needed in a moment.
He approached her quietly and took a seat in the pew behind her, a little ways down the row to give her privacy while she prayed. Prayer was, of course, a very personal things, a time for a little one-on-one time with the Alpha and Omega Himself, and Mulcahy would never dream of interrupting someone while praying.
When she lifted her head and lowered her rosary again, he spoke up.
"Good afternoon and God's blessings to you, my dear. May I help you with something particular, or are you just here to pay service to the House of God today?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Antoinette Dubois on Aug 24, 2009 13:55:39 GMT -5
As Antoinette finished her prayers she felt someone behind her and she turned her head to look when he started talking. She'd been deeply troubled lately because she'd received word that her father was courting a woman who wasn't much older than her. Of course then she'd been thinking quite evil thoughts of her father and she thought it was time she made her penance. "Is there somewhere we can speak in private father, I'd like to confess my sins."
|
|
|
|
Post by Father Mulcahy on Aug 25, 2009 23:34:35 GMT -5
"Of course, right this way." Father Mulcahy rose from the pew and held his arm out to her, indicating she should walk with him. He led her through the ambulatory between the sanctuary and the chapel, where a pair of tall wooden structures largely resembling cabinets stood. "We're in the process of relocating the confessional booths at the moment. Unfortunately, we Fathers can't seem to come to a decision as to where to place them now," he said with a genial smile, pulling back to curtain to reveal the penitent's side of the unit. "I fear some of our potentials penitents step inside the nave, don't see our confessionals, and leave, thinking we don't offer confessional services." He frowned for a moment at the thought of members of his congregation leaving his church unfulfilled. The confessionals belonged in the vestibule, darn it! "Yes, my dear, just step inside and we can get started," he said, shaking his head a bit, coming back to himself. "Sign of the Cross when you're ready, please," he added before stepping into the priest's compartment. ((Btw, if you're not or weren't raised Catholic, I found this page hugely helpful in understanding how confession is done.)) |
|
|
|
Post by Antoinette Dubois on Aug 26, 2009 13:23:59 GMT -5
Antoinette smiled as she took Father Mulcahy's arm and followed him to the confessional. "Yes, I can see how that would be troublesome. Thank you for approaching me." Antoinette would have been greatly disappointed she hadn't been able to receive pennance today. As she stepped inside the confessional she tucked her rosary beads into her purse and knelt down, giving the sign of the cross.
"Forgive me Father, for I have sinned it has been a month since my last confession." Antoinette paused for a moment gathering her thoughts about exactly what she wanted to say to him. She didn't want to come as selfish because of how she felt towards her father dating someone but she also wanted to confess what she'd been feeling.
(I remember that much but I haven't been to confession since the 8th grade so if you wouldn't mind PM'ing me or just posting that site here I would so appreciate it!)
|
|
|
|
Post by Father Mulcahy on Aug 26, 2009 18:31:14 GMT -5
Hearing the reluctance in her silence, Father Mulcahy gently urged her, "There's no sin you could have committed that God would deny forgiveness. 'To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins,' so says Acts 10:43. The remission of sins. Not the remission of most sins, or the remission of sins unless... All sins, period."
|
|
|
|
Post by Antoinette Dubois on Sept 6, 2009 18:56:44 GMT -5
Taking a deep breath, Antoinette pushed her hair back before pressing on. "My father has begun dating a woman...and I feel incredible resentment towards it." Antoinette gave him minimal details but prepared herself for him asking her for more information. That's what all priests did, it's why she had so hated coming to confession growing up. She didn't like to divulge her secrets but she was no fool, if you lied in confession your soul would be damned to spend eternity in the pits of hell.
|
|
|
|
Post by Father Mulcahy on Sept 9, 2009 13:45:28 GMT -5
Father Mulcahy hadn't been a priest for as long as the other Fathers at Grace, but even he recognized the tentative way the girl presented her words carefully: she was searching for the best way to phrase her confession truthfully without making herself look too bad, Mulcahy would be willing to place money on it. (Money that would, of course, find a home in the church's collection plate afterward.)
But he couldn't very well offer absolution for a half-told confession, could he?
"What makes you feel so resentful, dear?" he prodded gently. "Has she given you legitimate cause to feel such a way, or are you interpreting something about her character that you feel you're not pleased with?" He paused, thoughtfully, before adding, "Or is it something else altogether?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Antoinette Dubois on Sept 10, 2009 9:45:28 GMT -5
Antoinette bit back a sigh at his questions, she'd known they were coming. She answered quietly as though afraid someone else might hear. "Well Father it's more that he hid it from me and that she's not much older than I am. My mother meant a lot to me and I feel like her name is being defamed by this tryst." It was the truth and it hit her where it hurt to have to say that. She swalled a sob and tried to blink back her tears.
Although she may act like a spoiled brat she had feelings of her own and her father was betraying everything their family stood for by participating in such wickedness. Antoinette knew this girl was only with her father for his money. That much was plainly obvious. Antoinette loved her father but she knew she didn't get her good looks from him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Father Mulcahy on Sept 10, 2009 20:26:16 GMT -5
Mulcahy sat back, taking in the girl's words and reflecting on them for a moment. He could hear the emotion in her voice when she spoke of her mother, could understand how her father's actions might cause her to feel betrayed.
"Resentment of your father and his affairs isn't a mortal sin," he said encouragingly, by way of filling the silence they'd lapsed into, "but it could be a serious offense. Honoring your father and mother is a big one. It made the top ten, you know." He deliberated another moment before continuing. "Is this woman your father's first courtship since your mother's passing... er, how long ago?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Antoinette Dubois on Sept 13, 2009 14:48:21 GMT -5
Antoinette stayed quiet a moment taking in the Fathers words and she immediately felt guilty. She'd always loved her father and he had doted on her incessantly. How could she hold this against him? But then again she didn't want this harlot to take her father away from her. She didn't want him to love her more than he loved his own daughter. "The first I'm aware of and she passed a little over eight years ago." Antoinette bowed her head in shame. How could she fault the man who had treated her like a princess for her entire life? Did she expect him to remain celibate until death? She just never expected to have to share his love with a stranger.
|
|
|
|
Post by Father Mulcahy on Sept 14, 2009 0:50:26 GMT -5
"Oh my," Father Mulcahy sighed. Through the carvings in the confessional wall, he could see the girl lower her head in shame. "I can see you care very much for your father, and I'm sure you only want the best for him. But eight years is a very respectable wait before assuming a new partner in life."
He paused for a minute, considering his words carefully. He was certain the girl thought she was only doing what was best for her father, and her family's name. He'd have to be very careful of how he steered her, lest she start moving in exactly the opposite direction.
"I'm sure no one could possibly imagine your father's new courtship as a replacement for your mother. It took your father eight years to find someone whom he could even consider allowing to take your mother's former position as lady of the house; it's very plain to see that your mother was a very special person, to him as well as to you, who could never be replaced in either of your eyes.
"If your father's future happiness is so important to you, try to put yourself in his place. You're a very lovely young lady, and I imagine you have your own suitors. If you should choose to marry one of them, what would your father do? He had your mother to care for him while you were young, and then you were there to look after him after her passing. If you were to marry and start your own household with your husband, your father would be left alone.
"A girl can't show this much devotion to her father without her father having been devoted to her as well. I'm sure he cares very much about your opinions, but he also needs to know that his daughter--his only daughter, perhaps?--will support him in his decisions. You could be right about this woman he's courting, but you could also be wrong. Your father may have some measure of appeal to women that you, as his daughter, don't see--rightfully so, might I add. If everything goes well, he would want his daughter to be there with him; he wouldn't be able to enjoy life without you. And if things don't turn out so well, he'll need you more than ever. God created Man before Woman, but only because he saw how useless Man was on his own. Fathers, brothers, sons, husbands... They can all become useless without the love and support of their mothers, sisters, daughters and wives."
|
|
(c)Red
