Just When You Think They Don’t Get It

There are days as a mom when you feel as if you’re talking to brick walls. Nothing seems to be sinking ino their think little skulls and you prepare yourself for a lifetime of seeing your children on visitors’ day at the prson because….conscience formation? What’s that? Then there are moments like yesterday….

We got to the church for the children’s Mass about an hour early. Who knew that small town people don’t get to Mass on Christmas an hour early, they show up on time? Wierd. Anyway, as we pulled into the parking lot #2 said, “I need to go to Confession. Do you think the priest is hearing Confessions before Mass, because I need to go.” As a mom, all I wanted to do was ask ‘Why? What have you been doing?’ but I was also so proud of him for knowing he needed to go.

We went into the church and all we found were three nuns practicing the music. I told #2 to go ask about Confession. I even coached him on what to say. He walked up beside the youngest nun and waited patiently until she was done with her song.

“Excuse me sister, but is the priest going to be doing Confession before Mass?”

“No. He only hears them on Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:00.”

“Oh. Well what about the people who can’t make it then?”

She just gave him a queer look and apologized. We waited in the pew, certain that Father would have to appear sooner or later.

About 15 minutes later, he came to check on his choir and make sure things were just so for Mass, and my guy walked up to him and said, “Excuse me, Father, but can you hear my Confession?”

The priest glanced at his watch and looked torn between being thrilled to be asked by a child and being annoyed to have his schedule interrupted.

“Please, Father,” my son repeated. “I’m in a state of sin, and need to go to Confession or I can’t go to Communion. Please.”

Father’s face softened and he took my small son back to the sacristy where he heard his Confession. Ten minutes later my son floated out of the back room, clean as a whistle and ready to celebrate his Savior’s birth.