Hail Mary Pass
When I was a child I could never recall my sins for the
weekly Confessional so I would make them up as I went along,
changing them slightly week to week for variation.
One Saturday I suppose I went a little overboard on my
elaboration, so for penance the priest gave me the full twelve Stations of the Cross (three Our Fathers, three Hail Mary's, three Glory Be's recited at each station),and he waited in the front pew until I was done.
After that each Saturday he got the same old confession, (a couple lies, a couple disrespects, a couple thefts of my sister's candy), and I got the same old penance, three Hail Mary's.
I guess you could call it Judith's "Hail Mary Pass.”
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Author's Note
Confessional Tales
From a book of tales in the works on growing up Catholic.
Other stories by Judith A. Lawrence
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Judith, I can relate to this.
I also made up sins I never commited. So much for hail Marys.
Good story, compelling narrative voice, intriguing character, graphically detailed, clever title. I like your book of tales idea.
I always held back in confessions and the priest would suggest things that he was sure I was doing. Looking back now, I see that in a different light.
A world I was never privy too, though my husband, a UU minister, is still in recovery.
Like the straightforward voice, the slight sardonic humor. Peace...
I remember trying like hell to figure out just what was enough sinning to confess that would be believable and what would put Father Ryan over the edge. It's hard to be serious about one's sins at nine or ten. Like. *
Love it. Forgive my suggestions: Cut the last line and the word "Pass" in the title. *
Thank you all for the interesting comments. It appears most of us have stories on growing up Catholic.
A couple friends asked what is a "Hail Mary Pass"?
A "Hail Mary Pass" expression was made famous when it was used to describe the game-winning touchdown pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson in a NFL 1975-76 divisional playoff game. Afterwards, it was reported that Staubach said, "I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary."
Always loved that story! Hail Mary's cover a wide territory.:-)
Yes, the 'Hail Mary Pass' title seems essential to the story's impact.
J Mykell,
Thanks. So glad you agree.
Though I'm not Catholic, this has a familiar feel to it. * (PS, I always used to be so envious of Catholics--you had Mary, and everything was so colorful, even your hell. Protestant hell is very drab by comparison, which is probably why it IS hell.)