"A Wizard's Companion" -Chapter 13: Law of Personification
CHAPTER 13: LAW OF PERSONIFICATION
“Any concept, force, object, or phenomena may be considered to be alive, to have a personality, to be an entity.”
Catholic Mass-liturgy-means a lot of different things for different people.
Carl, being raised in a traditional Italian Catholic family, had been going to Mass for as long as he could remember but nothing had ever truly resonated with him there.
He doubted today would be any different.
First he went through the motions of dipping two fingers into the holy water and crossing himself for purification. And then, upon entering, inspiration struck and he did something more.
Carl separated from his family and walked towards the back of the church. He fumbled in his pockets for some coins and then, after dropping them in the box, he lit a small white candle for Tom Swale-whoever he was.
When he was done with the lighting he knelt, fingers entwined, and tried to picture the young man-only without knowing where to start.
He did the best he could do though, and then he stood, dusted his pants off, and glanced up at the light streaming in through an angel caught in the stained glass window.
Finished, he went to find his family.
“Who was that for?” Cecelia whispered at him.
He shook his head and didn’t answer her, instead pressing a finger to his lips.
The organ started to play.
The procession began with altar boys leading the way swinging bells and incense. Following was the priest, Father Paulo.
When they reached the head of the church Father Paulo turned to the congregation. “Peace be with you.” He intoned.
“And also with you.” Carl and the rest replied, then took their seats in the pews.
“Let us pray.” Father Paulo declared, clearing his throat, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” He made the sign of the cross.
Carl surprised himself by repeating that sign, though he didn’t know why. Usually he simply tolerated going to Mass-letting his mind wander for the hour-but today...
Today he was riveted.
He watched carefully as Father Paulo began reciting the Gloria.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will...”
“Amen.” Carl said with the rest when he was finished.
“This is the Word of the Lord.” Father Paolo proclaimed.
“Thanks be to God.” The congregation agreed.
The priest held a Bible high in the air, then lowered it.
“Today’s Psalm is Chapter 19.” He began reading.
“‘...Day to day pours forth Speech,
And night to night declares Knowledge.
There is no Speech, nor are there Words;
Their Voice is not heard;
Yet their Voice goes out through all the earth,
And their Words to the end of the world...”
As Father Paulo finished and stepped away from the platform, Carl felt a chill run all the way up and down his spine. He couldn’t explain why.
“The Lord be with you,” Father Paulo continued gravely.
“And also with you,” the gathered, including Carl, responded.
The priest’s assistant stood up and walked to the pulpit to read.
“Our scripture today is from Daniel 10:10-13:
But then a hand touched my knee and roused me to my hands and knees. He said to me ‘Daniel, greatly beloved, pay attention to the Words I am going to speak to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.’ So while he was speaking this Word to me, I stood up trembling. He said to me, ‘Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your Words have been heard, and I have come because of your Words.”
The priest returned from where he had stepped aside.
“Today we will talk about journeys-and about the signs that show we are ready for them. Daniel, called by the Archangel Michael, did not shy away from his holy Summons to serve God in His works. Neither can we.”
And was it his imagination or did Father Paulo look Carl square in the eye on that last note?
“And to Abraham the Lord said ‘I will bless you...so that you will be a blessing.’
And to Moses God said, ‘I will be with you.’
And to Joshua God said, ‘For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’
And to Gideon God said, ‘The Lord is with you.’
There is not a one of us that the Lord has forsaken. Our sins are many but our gifts are tenfold. If you give yourself over willingly to Jesus Christ, He will come to you.
Then it is written that the Lord almighty said, ‘But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to Serve.’
Our summons to God’s Service was given in our first breath!
In your Lifetime you will have to make choices. And in that time, it is best to remember that the Lord our God is with you always. With Him you will make the correct decision and journey on the path that was set out for you.”
Carl was stunned by the sermon. Surely, surely, his talk with Jacob couldn’t be a Divine calling...
...could it?
It was just coincidence... right?
Carl had never believed in coincidences.
“All rise!”
With the sermon over, everyone rose to sing “Alleluia.”
Afterwards, with the congregation still standing, Father Paulo led them through the Apostle’s Creed:
“I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth...”
The organ sounded again, this time with a choir to accompany it. Something was sung in Latin. The ushers made their way down the rows and Carl reached for his wallet, counting out ten dollars as a tithe.
During this time the altar boys started preparations for Communion.
Carl wasn’t sure he was ready for this.
The priest’s assistant appeared from the back of the church. He brought with him a white linen towel, a crystal bowl, and a carafe of holy water to the front of the altar. He proceeded to wash the priest’s hands.
Once that ceremony was performed, the items were put away in order for the Communion to begin.
“In observing Communion we are remembering Christ and all that He has done for us in his Life, Death, and Resurrection.”
Father Paulo held up a wafer.
The priest’s assistant passes to him a silver goblet which the priest proceeds to also hold high.
“When we observe Communion we show our participation in the body of Christ. His Life becomes our Life and we become members of each other. We are One!”
“The Body of Christ!” Father Paulo placed the wafer in his mouth.
“The Blood of Christ!” He drinks of the goblet.
“Let us pray with the words our Savior gave us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy Name...”
“Amen.” The congregation said at the end.
Soon after the prayer a line started to form as people left the pews to receive Communion. And again Carl found himself following the crowd.
When it was his turn to kneel at the altar, Carl did so, falling to his knees.
The priest approached him.
“Take this bread which represents my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
The wafer tasted bland.
“This is my blood I’ve shed for you. Drink this in remembrance of me.”
The wine was dry.
Both stirred up many memories for him.
Carl sighed.
Dully he made his way back to the pews and his family, feeling every step after labored step.
He half-listened to the announcements of what was happening in the community, but later couldn’t recall anything Father Paulo had said.
“Go in peace.”
Carl started. Mass was over.
The Procession walked out first, with Father Paulo staying behind at the door to say goodbye to each member of his congregation.
Carl’s family stood up with the rest of the assembly to make their way out of the church but Carl stayed behind kneeling on the padded kneeler, fingers entwined, and forehead resting against them.
His eyes were shut tight but he could almost feel Cecelia’s gaze on him.
“Carl...”
“I’ll be fine,” he reassured her, still not opening his eyes. “Just give me a minute.”
He pictured her nodding and then leaving him alone to join the rest of his family.
When the church sounded empty, Carl looked up...
And his eyes caught the crucifix.
Closing his eyes again, this time he did something unheard of...
He prayed.
What do you want from me?