Chapter 3 - Back From The Dead

Back From The Dead

A Novel

By Paul McCann

Chapter 3

The Priest And The Monk

It was a beautiful morning in spring in 1960 and the priest was taking an early morning walk around the grove before saying morning weekday mass . The sun was just rising and the colours of the clouds were like soft pastels in a tapestry of life as another dawn arrived . He looked over at the side chapel door and thought he better make his way there to say morning mass .

As he went inside the church he noticed no one was there however as he walked across to the altar he was surprised to see a monk standing there beside the altar  . A little surprised the priest said 

“Good morning there and sure, it’s only reserved once a day for me to say early morning mass at the altar “

The monk looked over and replied

“The beauty of the sunset is free to see and a delight for the eyes of the soul”

“That it is . I’ve never seen you around Ardoyne before . Are you visiting the parish ?“

The priest asked and the Monk replied ‘

“I suppose you could say I’m visiting but then you would ask what’s the reason for my visit and I might have to explain about the troubled days that are to come to the people of Holy Cross parish. ”

“Troubled days , is there something we don’t know . Tell , has the bishop sent you here ?”

The priest asked .

The monk turned his head to the choir loft at the back of the church and said ,

“Wonderful are the work’s of God and mysterious are his ways that often speak in silence , The days will soon come when bombs and bullets will be heard all around the little streets of Ardoyne.”

“Are you mad or something “

The priest said .

The Monk turned away and slowly made his way to the entrance of the church . As he walked out the front door a wind rushed in the front doors of the church and the sound of a voice chanting was heard like an ethereal echo all around the church  drifting from altar to altar between the archways and then it disappeared . The priest was rattled and went into the sacristy to put on his vestments for mass , When he returned the monk was standing there by the altar . He looked at the priest and said .

“Pray for the people of Holy Cross because their faith will be put to the test “

 “ Who are you to come here and speak to me in this place . Are you crazy . What do you seek here :

The Monk again spoke in a soft voice .

.“Invaders will come to occupy buildings and try to control the people and their movements around Holy Cross parish ”.

“So why is it that you are here to tell me all this Brother ?”

The monk replied ,

‘Because what I have to tell you has not yet happened , so now that you have the knowledge of this , you have time to bring light into the darkness before it happens “

“So you mean to pray for the people of the parish”

The priest said and the monk said .

“Yes of course and there will be some who still seek vengeance so you will have to tell those people to stop from doing so and seek peace instead however there will be those who will not hear the words you say which means you cannot change their thinking “

Then Pat the sacristan came to join the priest at the altar and saw the priest talking and said ,

“Who are you talking to Father ?”

“To the monk here at the altar Pat “

The priest replied 

“There is nobody there Father “

Said the sacristan who looked a little concerned and the priest pointed his finger at the monk and said   .

“Look Pat . Can’t you see him , he’s standing right here in front of me . Don’t tell me you can’t see him ”

Pat not wanting to alarm the priest just played along and said ,

“Hello there whoever you are , I don’t know if you can hear me there but is there something we can do for you “

Once again a wind blew through the church and the Monk looked at the frond door and said ,

“Its time for me to go Father “

The priest asked .

.“ What is your name ?”

The monk replied ,

“My name is Brother John “

The priest said ,

“ You are very welcome here in this place Brother John “

“ I came here to bring a message now its up to you to enlighten others of the dark days ahead  “

The priest smiled and said ,

“Goodbye , Brother John . What else can you tell me now ”

The monk replied

““ I could tell you of a morning when the dark night has passed by and I could tell you of another time when angels fly through the sky and of winds that sing and bells that ring to drive away the fears and of things that had to be . I could tell you every single thing but no , for there is a place for us all before to live and die and when that day comes we will all be together with God on high “.

 

‘What can I do then just for now Brother “

The priest asked .

 .“Sure, don’t you know . Its your job Sean . You know all about a lifetime spent on bended knee with prayers send to God on high and waiting for an answer back . “

The Monk smiled and the priest answered

“Why don’t you stay a while longer Brother John and speak to the other priests .“

The monk sighed and replied ,

“Its not for my sake John to go or stay but only for His namesake. My journey here now is over and I have to go on a road not many have travelled Sean and it’s there that my soul  shall find rest .“

The priest said morning mass and afterwards he thought he would go and talk to some of the other priests about what he saw but then he changes his mind and spoke to no one . He thought the message was meant for only him . From that day onwards he spent everyday in prayer asking for guidance and strength form God in heaven. 

A few years passed and sure enough the troubles began and all around the chapel grounds bullets and bombs were heard . The troubles lasted for thirty years and the faith of the people in the parish overcame the darkness that had surrounded them

Now today there is peace again and the future looks much brighter .

 

End of chapter 3 

link to chapter 4

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/chapter-4-back-dead

Back From The Dead

A Novel

By Paul McCann