The Mortal Sin
The Mortal Sin, by Ann Peppard
Every day after school my Mammy took us to the park to play. We learned about the changing seasons, collected conkers and watched the animals in the Zoo from the railings outside. Played football and hurling and Queenie I O.
From a very early age I played camogie with Eoghan Ruagh. Saturday and Sunday we trained with the team and eventually reached the final of the league. We were very excited and trained really hard and the final match day came. I was the captain of the team and on the Saturday before the match checked that all the players knew that they had to get 8.00am Mass on the Sunday as we had a meeting with our coach Paddy at 10.30am and the match was scheduled for 11.30am. This would ensure we had a good breakfast and would be in good time for the match.
Sunday the match final day came my Daddy called me very early. The basin of water was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs and he washed my feet as usual before going to Mass and receiving Holy Communion. I made my way to the 8.00am Mass in the local Church. In those days you had to fast from midnight to receive Holy Communion so no food before Mass. I sat at the back of the Church watching and checking that all the team were present. Kathleen our goalie had not arrived by the beginning of Mass. I must have missed her!!!!
As I went up to communion I checked every seat to see if she was there we needed Kathleen because without our goalie we would lose the match. Her Mammy must have forgotten to get her up. There was no alternative now but for her to miss Mass. I now needed to put a plan in place.
I would call on my way home and tell her the plan. The Plan : She was to give me her uniform and pretend to her Mammy that she was going to 10.00am Mass and would be going up to play camogie after and that I had her uniform. It is a mortal sin to miss mass on Sunday said Kathleen. I explained we would go with her to The Parish Priest for confession on the following Saturday. Everyone knew that he was very old and a little deaf and we knew his routine in the confession box. She agreed to the plan. I then went to my own house. My Daddy had the glass of water ready and a lovely fried breakfast.
We all met up as arranged and walked to the park. We played and won a very exciting game and to us became the champions. We had a great celebration and were presented with our medals. Paddy our coach was very proud of us.
I was so worried all that week for Kathleen, I would wake up at night dreaming of fire or that she was dead and had gone to hell. I walked with her to school and home again in the evening making sure nothing happened to her. My Mammy wondered why I was so quiet and thought I was getting sick. I could not tell anyone I had made Kathleen commit a mortal sin.
Saturday came at last and I called for Kathleen early and walked to the Church and we were first for confession. She was to go into the box and say the usual words and prayers. Tell her sins but to make sure she left the Mortal Sin till last and then say for these and all my other sins I am heartily sorry. The Parish Priest always interrupted at this point and said! What was your last sin? and she then was to say I told lies and continue her prayer. When he said Bless You my Child at the end, she was to say Thank you Father. To my way of thinking she had told her sin in the confession box and would be forgiven.
Kathleens turn for confession and everything went as planned. She was forgiven and I was so relieved. The team were waiting for us at our usual meeting place and we all jumped and cheered. We walked together to the park in high spirits ready for our next training session and League Final.
Image: 'Phoenix Park Dublin'
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