There are some things that are uniquely Catholic. Going to confession is one of these. This sacramental gift that Jesus gaveto his apostles on his first appearance after his resurrection, bonds
us with our Catholic family. We share in
the amazing grace and sometimes, things happen that only a Catholic can understand.
Celia Sattler often takes
advantage of the confession offered prior to daily Mass. On one occasion, by the time it was her turn,
Father Thomas Richter, a newly ordained priest, apologized saying he had run
out of time to hear her confession but would be glad to do so after the
service. After Mass, Celia waited in the pews until she saw the green light
over the confessional door, signaling that Fr. Tom had returned. It was a Friday, the usual day for church
cleaning, so during confession the sounds of a vacuum cleaner reverberated
through the door.
advantage of the confession offered prior to daily Mass. On one occasion, by the time it was her turn,
Father Thomas Richter, a newly ordained priest, apologized saying he had run
out of time to hear her confession but would be glad to do so after the
service. After Mass, Celia waited in the pews until she saw the green light
over the confessional door, signaling that Fr. Tom had returned. It was a Friday, the usual day for church
cleaning, so during confession the sounds of a vacuum cleaner reverberated
through the door.
After her confession, Celiathanked Father and went to leave but found the door locked. Trying again in
vain, she announced she could not get out. Apparently the janitor had locked
the door, not realizing they were inside. Because of all the noise from the
vacuum, neither Celia or Fr. Tom had heard it lock.
“Well, turn the handle,”
Fr. Tom said.
Fr. Tom said.
“I am trying to,” Celia
answered. “It won’t turn.”
answered. “It won’t turn.”
Fr. Tom came over from the
other side of the screen to try the door himself. After failing to pry it to open, Celia saw a
look of panic cross his face. He placed his hands and forehead against the door
and prayed aloud, “Dear God, please help us!”
other side of the screen to try the door himself. After failing to pry it to open, Celia saw a
look of panic cross his face. He placed his hands and forehead against the door
and prayed aloud, “Dear God, please help us!”
Fortunately, after a few
shouts and loud banging on the door from Fr. Tom, a janitor soon came with the
key. With a grin he asked, “What’s the matter Father? Did you get locked in with this lady?”
shouts and loud banging on the door from Fr. Tom, a janitor soon came with the
key. With a grin he asked, “What’s the matter Father? Did you get locked in with this lady?”
Celia quickly slipped away
but always thought she detected a sly grin from Fr. Tom thereafter. She actually had never told he story until
she heard I was writing Amazing
Grace for the Catholic Heart, a book with both humor and inspiration.
but always thought she detected a sly grin from Fr. Tom thereafter. She actually had never told he story until
she heard I was writing Amazing
Grace for the Catholic Heart, a book with both humor and inspiration.
“Oh, I have one for you,” she reported. Before using it however, she wanted me to
check with Fr. Tom and make sure he didn’t mind.
check with Fr. Tom and make sure he didn’t mind.
 |
| Msgr. Thomas Richter |
Fr. Tom laughed when
he recalled the story. “That was Celia?” Celia had made her confession behind a
screen. It’s an option to face him or go behind the screen, but I had assumed he knew her identity once he came over on her
side. In actuality, Fr. Tom had still
managed to maintain her privacy in spite of the awkward situation they found
themselves in. He backed out of his
chair and looked down at his shoes while he yelled for help and pounded on the
door. Fr. Tom initially told her to bang
on the door and call for help herself so as not to intrude on her anonymity.
he recalled the story. “That was Celia?” Celia had made her confession behind a
screen. It’s an option to face him or go behind the screen, but I had assumed he knew her identity once he came over on her
side. In actuality, Fr. Tom had still
managed to maintain her privacy in spite of the awkward situation they found
themselves in. He backed out of his
chair and looked down at his shoes while he yelled for help and pounded on the
door. Fr. Tom initially told her to bang
on the door and call for help herself so as not to intrude on her anonymity.
But then suddenly, he shot
out of his chair in a panic and yelled, “No wait! I’ll do it!” Being his first day on the job,
it occurred to him that it would not make a good first impression in his new
parish to have a lady’s voice screaming from within his confessional: “Help
someone! Let me out!”
out of his chair in a panic and yelled, “No wait! I’ll do it!” Being his first day on the job,
it occurred to him that it would not make a good first impression in his new
parish to have a lady’s voice screaming from within his confessional: “Help
someone! Let me out!”
Fr. Tom said he much preferred
being greeted by the janitor’s grin and comments than inciting the imaginations of the people still
in church.
being greeted by the janitor’s grin and comments than inciting the imaginations of the people still
in church.
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For more uplifting reading: Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families a collection of stories on love and life, and Dear God, I Don’t Get It, children’s fiction that presents faith through a fun and exciting story.
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