Post by Hendrick Davidson on Jul 24, 2010 23:26:59 GMT
Country: England
Current Time: Late July, around 2PM
Weather Conditions: A sunny, cloudless day and after the sun has warmed the atmosphere relentlessly since the morning and there is no breeze, the air outside stands hot and still.
The air inside the old Catholic church kept cool even in the warmest days of the summer, but inside the confessional the air stood stale and dusty. Hendrick leaned against the wall of the red-wood booth, his blue eyes following the gently carved curves of the various crosses and decorative patterns on the door of the confessional. A red curtain had been drawn over the door and as the lighting in the church wasn't exactly powerful to begin with, it did not only make the air inside the confessional musty, but it also prevented the light from entering the confines of the booth. He was certain that once he'd leave the church and go outside, the daylight would attack his eyes viciously, for by now they had gotten accustomed to the dimness. The young American priest was wearing a black pair of pants, a black shirt and an equally charcoal jacket, but this time he had also placed a purple clerical stole over his shoulders. He smoothed it out as he adjusted his posture, directing his attention to the small grid between himself and the penitent.
He considered himself an understanding, hard-working and patient priest, but his mind had drifted off for a moment as the steady stream of words from the other compartment of the confessional had continued for the last fifteen minutes now, the tone of the older woman's voice astonishingly monotonous and her recollection of her latest sins and misdoings had been presented to the priest very thoroughly, indeed. In fact, she seemed unfittingly proud of each deed she had done, such as envying her neighbour, having ill wishes against her and further telling the priest of every little detail she had managed to uncover about her neighbours through her extensive observing. Hendrick wasn't sure if the woman considered the confessional a place to confess and repent one's sins or something where one could spill the latest gossip to someone who bothered to listen.
"...but, you know, Father, I just... imagined it in my heart, that's almost like sinning, isn't it. She just keeps goin' on and on about her children and then there's her husband..." the voice kept going on and the young American priest cleared his throat, feeling it was time to put a stop to her incessant babbling. "The most important thing is that you feel truly sorry for these sins and ask for God's forgiveness. Now... would that be all?" Hendrick asked carefully, his voice level, hoping that the woman would realize that she had confessed... or babbled enough for one day. "Well, I think so, Father," the woman said carefully and then, apparently, felt very saintly as she whispered for God to pardon her and Hendrick nodded, feeling both guilty and relieved. "Five Hail Mary's and five Pater Nosters. And read Exodus 20," the priest said, his voice level and unchanged, but he could almost sense the woman hesitating on the other side of the grid. "Are you sure that's enough, Father?" she asked, worry evident in her tone. Hendrick sighed and glanced up, as if hoping for God to provide him with extra strength. "Make that five Hail Mary's, ten Pater Nosters and Exodus 20."
"Thank you, Father!" the woman rejoiced, going into her apologies for the Lord while Hendrick frowned at her understanding on just how penance worked, but it seemed as if she was used to things working this way in the parish and Hendrick went on to absolve her, releasing a quiet sigh of relief once the pudgy woman clambered out of her section of the confessional, obviously thrilled by having talked to the rather exotic young American priest and she headed for the heavy doors of the church in a hurry to tell the other womenfolk of the town about the visiting priest. Hendrick just closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall of the confessional with a soft thud.
Current Time: Late July, around 2PM
Weather Conditions: A sunny, cloudless day and after the sun has warmed the atmosphere relentlessly since the morning and there is no breeze, the air outside stands hot and still.
The air inside the old Catholic church kept cool even in the warmest days of the summer, but inside the confessional the air stood stale and dusty. Hendrick leaned against the wall of the red-wood booth, his blue eyes following the gently carved curves of the various crosses and decorative patterns on the door of the confessional. A red curtain had been drawn over the door and as the lighting in the church wasn't exactly powerful to begin with, it did not only make the air inside the confessional musty, but it also prevented the light from entering the confines of the booth. He was certain that once he'd leave the church and go outside, the daylight would attack his eyes viciously, for by now they had gotten accustomed to the dimness. The young American priest was wearing a black pair of pants, a black shirt and an equally charcoal jacket, but this time he had also placed a purple clerical stole over his shoulders. He smoothed it out as he adjusted his posture, directing his attention to the small grid between himself and the penitent.
He considered himself an understanding, hard-working and patient priest, but his mind had drifted off for a moment as the steady stream of words from the other compartment of the confessional had continued for the last fifteen minutes now, the tone of the older woman's voice astonishingly monotonous and her recollection of her latest sins and misdoings had been presented to the priest very thoroughly, indeed. In fact, she seemed unfittingly proud of each deed she had done, such as envying her neighbour, having ill wishes against her and further telling the priest of every little detail she had managed to uncover about her neighbours through her extensive observing. Hendrick wasn't sure if the woman considered the confessional a place to confess and repent one's sins or something where one could spill the latest gossip to someone who bothered to listen.
"...but, you know, Father, I just... imagined it in my heart, that's almost like sinning, isn't it. She just keeps goin' on and on about her children and then there's her husband..." the voice kept going on and the young American priest cleared his throat, feeling it was time to put a stop to her incessant babbling. "The most important thing is that you feel truly sorry for these sins and ask for God's forgiveness. Now... would that be all?" Hendrick asked carefully, his voice level, hoping that the woman would realize that she had confessed... or babbled enough for one day. "Well, I think so, Father," the woman said carefully and then, apparently, felt very saintly as she whispered for God to pardon her and Hendrick nodded, feeling both guilty and relieved. "Five Hail Mary's and five Pater Nosters. And read Exodus 20," the priest said, his voice level and unchanged, but he could almost sense the woman hesitating on the other side of the grid. "Are you sure that's enough, Father?" she asked, worry evident in her tone. Hendrick sighed and glanced up, as if hoping for God to provide him with extra strength. "Make that five Hail Mary's, ten Pater Nosters and Exodus 20."
"Thank you, Father!" the woman rejoiced, going into her apologies for the Lord while Hendrick frowned at her understanding on just how penance worked, but it seemed as if she was used to things working this way in the parish and Hendrick went on to absolve her, releasing a quiet sigh of relief once the pudgy woman clambered out of her section of the confessional, obviously thrilled by having talked to the rather exotic young American priest and she headed for the heavy doors of the church in a hurry to tell the other womenfolk of the town about the visiting priest. Hendrick just closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall of the confessional with a soft thud.