Chapter 2.
Mass with Aunt Francine
By the next morning, Fratelli signed his letter, anxious to read it aloud during Holy Mass. Wearing a miter, the bishop’s pointed hat, that glistened white in dawn-light, he paused before the altar, lifting a page high and read:
“Brothers and sisters in Christ, now is a time of untold grace. The newness and bounty of spring foretells one’s new life after repentance, after a long winter of sin and despair. Sin and despair however, have not the last word.
Scripture says: For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; his eternal power also, and divinity: so that they are inexcusable. (1). God reveals his mercy to us in the warm of spring and the rebirth that comes to the earth. How much more should rebirth come into our souls?”
Fratelli stopped. He eyed the congregation who mostly sat still, some children squirming near the back of the church. An old man coughed loudly, suddenly met gazes with him then looked away, covering his mouth as if ashamed. In a moment, Fratelli’s fingers reached, eager to toy with the ring on his other hand, out of nervous habit, but he stopped himself. Nervousness would not get the best of him and it waned while he continued boldly:
“It is obvious to the one who looks at the fields, trees and the little, chirping birds that God provides for us. Our world indeed reveals His face everywhere we turn. It is no small coincidence that the Church’s Great Season of Lent occurs during spring.
Therefore knowing God in His merciful time allows each year as He may, a renewal of repentance and life, shall we not heed His call? Shall we not be reborn as the grass which flourishes and the lilies that bloom white? Let us pray…”
Everyone rushed to stand. Then they recited prayers which pinnacled in the most-sacred communion of the Lord’s Body and Blood. When Mass ended, it seemed all the talk of springtime, fields and flowers made them eager to leave. Seeing some stragglers mingling in the cathedral’s spacious vestibule, prattling about what to do with the rest of their days, Fratelli wondered if they got the message at all.
He didn’t speak but only stood there, awkwardly holding his folded miter. It’s not that people ignored him, they all were exceptionally nice in parting and giving respectful farewell, it was just they really had better things on their minds.
“Oh Angelo, nice to see you!” cried a voice.
He turned meeting a shortish, auburn haired woman whose green eyes matched the emerald-colored dress she wore. Her coy smile faded into a scowl.
“All that wealth at your disposal and you can’t even get a hair- cut?” she said in a belittling tone.
“Francine, please,” Fratelli said, somewhat embarrassed, batting her hand away from his hair, “There are more important matters to deal with at this time.”
“Oh, well, I thought you cared about how people think… a clergyman with messy hair seems….lazy... Next thing you know, they’ll be wondering if you have loose morals… I have three daughters and you are the only son in the family, the least you can do, if you’ll not be married, is look proper. ”
“Enough Francine.”
He granted her a brief farewell and darted away. Francine watched him go and she turned to her equally fine-attired friends, gesturing towards the large door.
Father Arnold noticed the cardinal was upset when he entered the office, attired in regular garb and huffing. Giving an irritated look, he explained, “I saw my Aunt Francine today.”
Arnold’s dark brows furled. He immediately understood.
“Oh…”
~ ~ ~
Meanwhile, Francine gathered with several lady friends, sitting around a wide table on her sun-soaked veranda. She lived near the cathedral. Its tall spire could be seen from her residence, grey amidst clustered, distant buildings.
The youngest of them, clad in a white dress with blue ties holding back raven curls, poured wine. They sipped delicately as another woman to the right, moved back her brown tresses and began, “Francine, I didn’t know your nephew was the cardinal!”
“I’d rather have little nieces and nephews…” she replied.
“But surely, he buys you nice things?”
“Blanca, the last nice thing he bought me was that old, china vase… a year ago.”
Eyeing the jade-green and ivory patterned vase, sitting near them on an end-table, Blanca said, “That’s a fine Ming vase!”
“It’s old and I’m tired of looking at it.”
“Florenza likes it,” Blanca cut in, nudging the youngest girl who nodded.
There was momentary silence. She put a cracker in her mouth, urging the rest to eat. Birds flew about, one settled on the window and another sang above.
“Surely,” Florenza declared, “He would take you in, should hard times befall you.”
Francine interrupted, “That should never happen to me! I deserve to be pampered after all I’ve gone through.”
“Poor Francine… It’s been so hard since her husband died…”
“Francine, have you ever considered re-marrying?”
The woman sat strait, her auburn hair ablaze in afternoon sun and cried, “I shouldn’t have to remarry- my nephew’s a cardinal!!”
With that, no one else spoke. They ate and drank lightly. Then each hurried off to their own affairs.
YOU ARE READING
The Misadventures of Cardinal Fratelli, chapter 1
HumorSet in the 19th century, in picturesque Italy, this comic writing follows the daily life and blunders of one Cardinal Angelo Fratelli. He is devout, young, handsome and experiences many trials partly because of his excitability and because of his sn...
