Saints With Dirty Feet
by Michael C. Keith
Genre: Drama
Swearwords: None.
Description: Bitter wine from the altar.
Swearwords: None.
Description: Bitter wine from the altar.
The difficulty we have in accepting responsibility for our behavior lies in the desire to avoid the pain of the consequences of that behavior. – M. Scott Peck
Derek Munson found the taste of the sacramental wine unpleasant at first sip. The second one tasted much better and would mark the beginning of what would become a lifelong alcohol addiction. A traumatic incident about this time would add to his fateful dependency.
For the next year-and-a-half in his role as an altar boy at St. Brennan’s Catholic Church, Derek’s consumption of the holy liquid would increase enough to arouse the suspicion of Father Lemieux. Fortunately for Derek, there were two other boys who served Mass with him and also had access to the wine. Also in his favor was the fact that the priest had always seemed friendlier toward him than his cohorts.
On the Sunday before the start of Lent, Father Lemieux had instructed his three acolytes to meet with him in the rectory after the eleven o’clock service. Though he would not say why, Derek feared it had something to do with the depletion of the wine reserve. His suspicion was well founded.
“Boys, I’ve noticed that the supply of the sacramental wine has been mysteriously disappearing in recent months. Now I know that mice are not the likely cause, although they do seem to like the wafers, so I have to believe that one of you is the culprit. Or perhaps all of you have been partaking of the wine. Would anyone care to confirm my hunch? We are in the house of God, so this is a particularly egregious thing to be doing . . . a mortal sin, in fact. It is, after all, the blood of Christ . . . or becomes that.”
The three altar boys remained silent as Father Lemieux continued his inquisition while carefully probing their faces for any sign of guilt. Finally, he dismissed them with a stern warning that they would be in deep trouble if the situation continued. His threat particularly bothered Derek because he knew his parents would be extremely upset if this jeopardized or possibly ended his years as an altar boy. The Munsons were devout believers, who had taken great satisfaction in their son’s role in the church. In fact, Mrs. Munson harbored a dream that one day her son might even become a man of the cloth.
A couple of months after the meeting with Father Lemieux, Derek discovered that one of the altar boys did not show up to assist in the presentation of Mass. A week later the other one was absent as well. When he inquired as to their sudden disappearance, Father Lemieux said he was certain that both were responsible for the ongoing shortfall in the wine stock. This information shook Derek and he stopped sneaking drinks in the sacristy where the bottles were stored.
Over the next few weeks, Derek was plagued by remorse over the plight of his fellow altar boys and skipped Confession because he would have to reveal his misdeed. He deeply feared the consequences of Father Lemieux finding out that he was the thief.
When Derek was finally forced to go to Confession because his mother had accompanied him, he made a clean breast of things. He had considered withholding his dark secret but knew he would be unable to do so when seated on the other side of the screen from the priest. It was not in him to commit another transgression against God.
“I’m so disappointed to hear that, Derek. Do you realize what you have done? Your lie has caused a great deal of hardship for your fellow altar boys and their families. After Sunday Mass I want you to come and see me in the rectory. I won’t even give you an Act of Contrition until after we meet. This requires some considerable thought.”
As instructed Derek went to the priest’s residence following High Mass. He was directed into Father Lemieux’s office by the housekeeper and waited what seemed forever before the priest appeared. When he did, he took a seat next to Derek and placed his hand on the boy’s knee.
“This is a truly awful thing you’ve done. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, Father, I know. And I feel terrible. I don’t know why I wanted to drink the sacred wine. It was like I couldn’t help myself. Maybe the devil wanted me to do it.”
“The devil does ask us to do wrongful things. That is true, but it’s not so much about your stealing the wine, as it is you’re letting the other boys take the blame. By doing this you have compounded your Mortal Sin. There’s little as bad as that.”
“Are you going to tell my parents, Father? Please don’t,” pleaded Derek, tears running down his cheeks. “They’ll be so unhappy with me. I don’t want them to know.”
“Can you see how your sinful behavior has caused dreadful complications? I can’t imagine not informing your parents about your shameful actions.”
“Please, Father. I’ll do anything. I can clean up the church after Mass, bingo night, and CCD classes for the next year. Or maybe . . .”
“Well, perhaps there is something you can do for me.”
“What, Father?”
“Come here, my son.”
Derek Munson found the taste of the sacramental wine unpleasant at first sip. The second one tasted much better and would mark the beginning of what would become a lifelong alcohol addiction. A traumatic incident about this time would add to his fateful dependency.
For the next year-and-a-half in his role as an altar boy at St. Brennan’s Catholic Church, Derek’s consumption of the holy liquid would increase enough to arouse the suspicion of Father Lemieux. Fortunately for Derek, there were two other boys who served Mass with him and also had access to the wine. Also in his favor was the fact that the priest had always seemed friendlier toward him than his cohorts.
On the Sunday before the start of Lent, Father Lemieux had instructed his three acolytes to meet with him in the rectory after the eleven o’clock service. Though he would not say why, Derek feared it had something to do with the depletion of the wine reserve. His suspicion was well founded.
“Boys, I’ve noticed that the supply of the sacramental wine has been mysteriously disappearing in recent months. Now I know that mice are not the likely cause, although they do seem to like the wafers, so I have to believe that one of you is the culprit. Or perhaps all of you have been partaking of the wine. Would anyone care to confirm my hunch? We are in the house of God, so this is a particularly egregious thing to be doing . . . a mortal sin, in fact. It is, after all, the blood of Christ . . . or becomes that.”
The three altar boys remained silent as Father Lemieux continued his inquisition while carefully probing their faces for any sign of guilt. Finally, he dismissed them with a stern warning that they would be in deep trouble if the situation continued. His threat particularly bothered Derek because he knew his parents would be extremely upset if this jeopardized or possibly ended his years as an altar boy. The Munsons were devout believers, who had taken great satisfaction in their son’s role in the church. In fact, Mrs. Munson harbored a dream that one day her son might even become a man of the cloth.
A couple of months after the meeting with Father Lemieux, Derek discovered that one of the altar boys did not show up to assist in the presentation of Mass. A week later the other one was absent as well. When he inquired as to their sudden disappearance, Father Lemieux said he was certain that both were responsible for the ongoing shortfall in the wine stock. This information shook Derek and he stopped sneaking drinks in the sacristy where the bottles were stored.
Over the next few weeks, Derek was plagued by remorse over the plight of his fellow altar boys and skipped Confession because he would have to reveal his misdeed. He deeply feared the consequences of Father Lemieux finding out that he was the thief.
When Derek was finally forced to go to Confession because his mother had accompanied him, he made a clean breast of things. He had considered withholding his dark secret but knew he would be unable to do so when seated on the other side of the screen from the priest. It was not in him to commit another transgression against God.
“I’m so disappointed to hear that, Derek. Do you realize what you have done? Your lie has caused a great deal of hardship for your fellow altar boys and their families. After Sunday Mass I want you to come and see me in the rectory. I won’t even give you an Act of Contrition until after we meet. This requires some considerable thought.”
As instructed Derek went to the priest’s residence following High Mass. He was directed into Father Lemieux’s office by the housekeeper and waited what seemed forever before the priest appeared. When he did, he took a seat next to Derek and placed his hand on the boy’s knee.
“This is a truly awful thing you’ve done. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, Father, I know. And I feel terrible. I don’t know why I wanted to drink the sacred wine. It was like I couldn’t help myself. Maybe the devil wanted me to do it.”
“The devil does ask us to do wrongful things. That is true, but it’s not so much about your stealing the wine, as it is you’re letting the other boys take the blame. By doing this you have compounded your Mortal Sin. There’s little as bad as that.”
“Are you going to tell my parents, Father? Please don’t,” pleaded Derek, tears running down his cheeks. “They’ll be so unhappy with me. I don’t want them to know.”
“Can you see how your sinful behavior has caused dreadful complications? I can’t imagine not informing your parents about your shameful actions.”
“Please, Father. I’ll do anything. I can clean up the church after Mass, bingo night, and CCD classes for the next year. Or maybe . . .”
“Well, perhaps there is something you can do for me.”
“What, Father?”
“Come here, my son.”
About the Author
Originally from Albany, New York, Michael C. Keith has paternal family roots stretching back to Clan Keith of Caithness and Aberdeenshire. A leading scholar in electronic media in the United States, he is the author of over 20 books on electronic media, as well as a memoir and three books of fiction. Much more about Michael and his publications can be found on his website: http://www.michaelckeith.com