A Good Listener

JAMES

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The priest sounded American - from Massachusetts, by the sounds of it - and for some reason hearing that familiar accent stripped the doubt from my mind and I again felt grateful to be there. Grateful for his invitation to speak to him - though I doubted what good it could do.

“Uh. I’m sorry Father. I’ve never been to Confession before. I’m not even Catholic.”

“You have no need to apologize, my son. And whether you are Catholic or not makes little difference - your Father in Heaven knows you and loves you just the same.”