Bless Us Father Read Online Free PDF Page A

not to rush things now. Don’t you think?”
    Mary Margaret nodded, staring down at her plate and pushing the remaining food around with her fork. Her appetite was gone, but she knew she’d better finish it anyway. There are starving children in China, her mother always said, so it’s a sin to waste food you’ve dished up on your plate.
    Tomorrow she was going to go to confession with Father O’Malley and confess her sins. She wouldn’t tell him who it was she’d had impure thoughts about, but she was going to confess and get it off of her chest. Then again, the sin wasn’t a big one. All she’d wanted was to try and get the attention of someone of the opposite sex. So what if it was an older man and that he was a priest? Danny Ellis didn’t even know her name for sure. Maybe she’d better talk it over with Linda. No...she’d known it was wrong to try to get Father Antonio to notice her and she’d done it anyway. Better to confess and wipe the slate clean. She’d go see Father O’Malley first thing Saturday morning. He’d know how to make her feel better.
     

Those in possession of absolute power can not only prophesy and make their prophesies come true, but they can also lie and make their lies come true.
    -Eric Hoffer-
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Mary Margaret knelt in the dark confessional and waited for the door to open over the tiny screened window. When it did, she caught the scent of whiskey and relaxed immediately. It was Father O’Malley on the other side, and not Father Antonio.
    “Bless me Father for I have sinned. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. My last confession was one month ago.”
    “Go ahead, child. What grievous sin have you committed in this past month?”
    “Well, Father, I’ve been disobedient. My mother doesn’t allow me to wear makeup, and I’ve been using lipstick.”
    “And why have you disobeyed your mother?”
    Taking a deep breath before speaking, she said, “I’ve been trying to attract the attention of a man.”
    “A man? Don’t you mean a boy?”
    “No, Father. I mean a man.”
    “And just what did you intend to do when you got this man’s attention?”
    “I...don’t know.”
    “And just who is this man? Is he the father of one of your friends?”
    Mary Margaret crossed herself quickly before answering. “Yes...he’s a Father.”
    “All right, child. You are entering into years that are confusing and dangerous for a young girl. Do not engage in this kind of sinful behavior again. There are unscrupulous people out there that will take advantage of your innocence. Do you understand?” Father O’Malley asked. “Do you promise not to do this again?”
    “Yes, Father. I understand and I promise. I’m truly sorrowful for my behavior.”
    “Say three Hail Marys and one Our Father as your penance. Now let me hear your Act of Contrition.”
    “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because I have offended you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.”
    Mary Margaret left the church feeling a huge load had been lifted from her shoulders.
    She saw Father Antonio get out of his recently purchased green 1960 Ford Falcon and walk towards the rectory. He was wearing a blue-checked short sleeved shirt, slacks, and saddle shoes. His dark hair was a bit mussed and he ran his fingers through to comb it.
    He hadn’t looked in her direction, so she turned her head away and hurried through the parking lot and out to the sidewalk towards home.
    Her mother was waiting for her to help with the weekly housekeeping chores and would have a cow if she dawdled.
    Mom was actually going to let her go to the movies and for a burger at McDonald’s afterwards with Linda and her older sisters. She’d better not blow