I’m in church. I
start reciting the Rosary in Latin and a
man approaches me.
He says:
-
If
I were you I’d steer clear of that.
Looking at him,
I ask:
-
And
who are you?
-
A
priest.
-
A
priest?
-
And
why aren’t you dressed like a priest?
-
Oh
we don’t bother with that anymore. We have to be approachable…
-
And
you can’t be approachable dressed like a priest?
-
You
like joking eh?
-
I’m
not joking!
-
Anyway,
I hope you weren’t saying the Rosary against the immigrants - like they did in Poland…
-
Actually
I was praying it for the souls in Purgatory…
-
Purgatory?
-
Yes,
why?
-
Are
you sure it exists?
-
What?
-
Purgatory.
-
Of
course I am!
-
I
wouldn’t be so sure about that…
-
In
what sense?
-
Medieval baggage …God as Judge, punishment and all
that. Not very merciful. Who are we to judge? And anyway, why in Latin?
-
Because
I like it…
-
And
why do you like it?
-
Because
it makes me feel closer to God…
-
Mmm…
-
What
is it now?
-
I
wouldn’t be too sure about that…
-
Of
what?
-
That
Latin makes you closer to God…
-
But
it’s not Latin in itself…it’s because Latin is the language of the sacred.
-
Sacred?
-
Yes!
-
Mmm…
-
Now
what?
-
I
wouldn’t be too sure about that…
-
Of
what?
-
What
you say about the sacred…
-
That
is?
-
The
sacred – is an old idea…There ‘s no need any more to be in a specific place or
express yourself in a specific way…
-
Well,
OK then. Can I get on with reciting the Rosary?
-
Go
ahead, go ahead..for what it’s…
-
What
else now?
-
Are
you sure?
-
Of
what?
-
Of
the words you are saying.
-
Certainly
I’m sure!
-
Even
when you say the Our Father?
-
Of
course!
-
Mmm…
-
What?
-
There
were no tape-recorders at the time… How can you be so sure?
-
Listen,
I just want to get on with saying my Rosary!
-
Anyway…if
I were you…
-
What?
-
I’d
say it sotto voce…
-
Why?
-
They
might think you’re Polish!
-
Please
– will you just leave me in peace!
-
Peace?
-
Yes,
peace, thank you!
-
Mmm….
-
Now
what?
-
A
true Christian is always restless…
-
Look
friend, I don’t have much time and I’d like to finish…
-
Ah
time! Don’t you know that it’s above space?
-
What
are you saying?
-
It’s
not me that says it…
-
Alright,
whatever! I would now like to finish my Rosary!
-
In
Latin?
-
Yes!
I already told you that!
-
You
know, I wouldn’t like…
-
What?
-
…them to take you for a traditionalist… along with being Polish…
-
Look,
I don’t care! They can think what they like!
-
Whatever
makes you happy…
-
Sure,
it makes me happy…
-
Even
if…
-
What?
-
For
the sake of parrhesia….
-
What?
-
I
should report you - because you are a
traditionalist…
-
What
in heaven’s name are you saying?
-
Anyway,
I’ll be merciful…
-
Uh?
-
And
I’ll give you a piece of advice: better not kneel down.
-
And
why not?
-
A
Pharisee does the kneeling bit…you know - the hypocrite…you know…
-
Come
on!
-
Eh!
The precepts….
-
What
precepts? I’m kneeling because I want to! It’s devotion!
-
Devotionalism,
I’d say…
-
Give
me a break!
-
Anyway
lower your voice! Don’t give scandal…
-
Oh
this is rich! I’d give scandal…would I now?
-
With
these practices of the past, in the meantime everything is changing all around.
Pay attention to the signs of the
times! You need discernment!
-
Ok
then you go ahead and discern! In the meantime I’m saying the Rosary…
-
And
with this you think you have everything in order - right?
-
I
don’t think I’ve got everything in order! I just feel better!
-
Oh
yes, with that sour face!
-
How
dare you!
-
Joyful,
we must be joyful! Instead you prophets
of doom…
-
You
are a prophet of doom!
-
Ah
there you have it! The typical aggressiveness of the traditionalist!
-
I’m
not agressive1 I’m just tired of your nonsense!
-
Ah
– there you have it – hardness of heart!
-
You’re
nuts!
-
Don’t
you know that a Christian is a missionary of mercy?
-
Why
don’t you just go away!
-
A
man of joy! That’s what a Christian is! Not intolerant and – a a fundamentalist!
-
I’m
not intolerant! And I’m fundamentalist in the sense that I take to heart fundamental
things! And I just want to get on with
saying my Rosary! Alright?
-
It’s
clear. Here we have no discernment…
-
You
are too, too much…
-
…
and you are a self-satisfied Christian …
-
What
are you talking about?
-
Yes,
a self-satisfied Christian - closed,
rigorist…
-
I’m
not a closed person! I become one though, faced with people like you!
-
Right,
right. You want to give the impression that you are all such great believers –
but you only think of yourselves – whited sepulchers!
-
Lord
help me!
-
What?
-
I’m
praying to the Lord to help me, to give me strength and hold me back from….
-
From
doing what?
-
From
sending you to …..THAT PLACE!!!
The man then
smiles and winks at me.
-
Bravo!
You’ve passed the exam!
-
What?
I don’t understand…
-
You
passed the test I gave you. Every so often we do this.
-
We?
-
Yes,
we of the F.E.S.
-
F.E.S.?
-
The
Faith Evaluation Service. We ask
questions and evaluate. Now you can continue praying. Forgive me for disturbing
you.
I don’t know how to respond. I’m speechless. I just whisper:
-
Good.
Thank you.
The man is smiling. His face now appears luminous to
me. He says:
-
Ah!
I almost forgot – here is my business card.
And he hands me a card with a small image: Michael the Archangel – Defender of the Faith.
With a whopping great sword!
I turn to thank him. But he has vanished into thin air.
Aldo
Maria Valli
Translation: Francesca Romana
Source: http://www.aldomariavalli.it/category/blog/
