Additional Columns by Ebeth Weidner: The least of our brothers includes a little frightened kitten Gas Mileage: Let's Cut it Down! The Pope's 10 Commandments for Drivers and Hypermiling!

Tax Collectors and Saint Names

Attending Mass during our traveling has always been something our family rather looks forward to.  Though we enjoy our home parish, other parishes offer a change of pace and a different touch to the celebration.  There’s a story my 2 daughters and I still laugh about that happened a couple of years ago while we were traveling with my husband to Boston on a seminar.  The first morning, he had gone for an early walk and came back to the hotel with a report of several Catholic Churches to chose from for daily Mass, one in particular that was big and very old that we might favor over the others.  Good guy, my knight!  He even checked what time daily Mass was.  So after he left for his seminar, the girls and I set off to Mass.

The Church was huge all right, and old as he reported, we couldn’t wait to get inside.  Starting off up the front steps, “Mass is held around back in the chapel during the week” a man called to us.  With a thankful nod we headed in the direction he was pointing.  The door was small without a window and I could see a light from under the door, “This must be it.” I said.  Knowing we were either right on time, or a bit late, I cracked the door slowly and quietly and looked in.  The Altar was right next to this door and the priest was saying the opening prayer when he noticed 3 pairs of eyes peering at him in surprise.  He stopped in mid-prayer and looked irritated at us and asked, “Do you want something?  Are you tax collectors?”  I shook my head, “No.”  “Well come in then, if you’re here for Mass.” He directed.  The three of us came in quickly and sat down at the first pew we came to.  I looked at my 2 daughters, who were sitting there with eyes widely gazing at the priest in shocked obedience.

We settled down soon into the routine of prayers and communion with an additional treat of Mass done in stereo by the little lady that sat behind us who repeated along with the father, but with a whistle.  During the Offertory prayers the priest called out to a lady named Margaret inquiring about her sister in the hospital and another lady reminded father of a parishioner who was ill that week.  Quite homey, we thought.

After Mass, the priest came up to us with a big smile to greet his three young (yes, me included!) visitors.  He inquired to my youngest for her name, “Sarah,” she said timidly. “It’s nice to meet you, Sarah” “And what’s your name?” Fr. asked my next daughter, “Rebecca”, she answered.  His eyebrows raised a bit, “Rebecca, what good Christian names.”  He looked at me and asked, “So, are you Martha or Mary?”  I smiled and said, “No, I’m Elizabeth.”  “Oh my, what a good Catholic family!” he said with a huge smile, my girls were giggling by now.  He was simply charming and obviously happy to see some young people at his morning Mass for a change.  We laughed for a moment, then he inquired about our travels, told us where to get the best cannollis around and we bid him farewell.

The girls couldn’t wait for their non-Catholic daddy to come back to tell him all about the silly priest who said we were a good Catholic family and called us tax collectors.

 

Ebeth Weidner is the wife of a scientist and mom of 3 great kids. Learning her faith and passing it on to her family is her greatest challenge that brings joy to their family life. A published heirloom sewist in Sew Beautiful magazine, she is the author of “A Catholic Mom climbing the Pillars” blog, Ebeth shares her journey with parents on where the Catholic Church is found in a family’s daily living as she climbs the pillars of the Church as a soon-to-be Master Catechist.