Shuffling along marble holy floors Father Alessandro moved slowly to an
office off a side hallway in the Madonna dei Miracoli church. He was the
priest to see to have a Mass performed in remembrance of my father,
grandfather and grandmother. Cousin Maria Laura translated my request
directly after Mass that first Sunday.
Father's thick glasses allowed him sight, but I could never tell if he could
really see me as I stood quietly next to my cousin. I wanted to pay him the
10000 Lire for the Mass, yet, for whatever reason, after he wrote the names
on a single sheet of appointment paper , folded it in thirds with other Lire
in it, he said to come back Monday. Monday, we went back, the Mass to be
said Friday at 5:30, I could pay then, just wait. The Mass was said, Dad's
first cousins were in attendance along with Tom and Uncle Frank, we all
spoke the words in Italian. Solemn, yes, truly lovely as only the Catholic
Mass can be.
After Mass, again, I tried to pay Father Alessandro. He was not prepared,
or had forgotten where his folded paper with money was. Finally, several
days later, another trip to church, to buy Miracoli souveniers this time.
Father Alessandro was the clerk of the shop, 5 medals, 4 rosaries, several
key chains of various types, this was commercialism at work, plus I love to
shop. Adding the various amounts purchased he rounded the figure to the
lower ten, a discount! Then, finally, reminding him of the Mass, he
accepted my Lire.
Father Allesandro is 86 years old, not stooped with age yet about five
feet tall, my size, white hair with balding top center. He's a distant
cousin, actually, who has visited the US. Diabetes poor circulation gave
reason his purple-red fingers fumbled putting the crucifixes into the small
bag. We ciao'd, such a sweet person, I kissed both his cheeks as he asked to
be salute'd to our mutual cousin in New York.
Antonette, Maria Laura's mother, said Father never gave her a discount!
Not to ruin my good fortune I didn't revisit the church shop, although
temptation was strong.
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