The Ordination

"If you don't believe in miracles then you're not being realistic."

"Miracles, Angels, God. Come on, Michael. Where's your realism? These things are all figments of your imagination. When have you experienced a miracle? Has God ever talked with you? When was the last time you saw an Angel? You know as well as I do there's no such thing as a miracle any more than there are Angels or God. Realistic, indeed, my friend."

Michael felt that skepticism was healthy, but Barry seemed to be verging on sickness. He spoke to Father Chiani.

"Of course miracles exist," said the Priest. "As do Angels and God and a great many other things the eyes can't see, regardless of what your atheistic friend says, Michael."

"I don't doubt you, Father. I just wonder how to answer him."

"These people usually accept nothing as proof, nothing short of experiencing God themselves. And usually they won't except even that."

"Why not, Father?"

"I think many have become so accustomed to the ways of God that they've forgotten that He causes every thing to happen. It

may be that your friend doesn't believe in miracles or Angels because he doesn't know that he really does know God."

"Know God?" laughed Barry to his friend later. Then, sarcastically, "How can you know what doesn't exist? Hey, Mike, you becoming a holy-roller or something?"

Michael went to Mass. He closed his eyes. He held the Bible. Suddenly he felt light and cool. He saw gray, then white. What inner joy! Michael looked around to see if others had noticed. He held the Bible tight and again closed his eyes. This time he felt pure light and unconditional, unbounded love in every cell in his body.

"Barry, I know the answer to your question. And I didn't get it from Father Chiani. You know God, the unknowable, by experiencing Him. And before you say it, I know that's not proof. But I have experienced Him, and every cell of my body knows."

"And Angels?" snickered Barry. "Have you experienced them too?"

"No. But others have. Look, Bare, just because you haven't experienced something doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

It was those questions, answers, and experiences that led Michael Spurgeon to join the Priesthood. And in time, he invited his friend to his Ordination.

Barry Hamlin sat in the rectory.It's okay, Bare. Just because Michael's going overboard doesn't mean you're losingyourself.

Two deacons led him to the cathedral.Hang in there, Bare. This is Michael's scene, not yours.

The vaulted ceiling, stain-glass windows, the altar, the unfathomable silence, they all possessed Barry. His head

clouded. His ears boomed.Ecclesiastical, ecumenical, catechism, clergy...

White gowns sat in front. Barry stared.A small, bronze ,bird cage swung back and forth and back and forth and back and forth.The silence, the smoke, the movement, they all made Barry's mind swirl.

Hey, buddy Michael. You sure look serious! Maybe I should lighten things and tell you the joke about the priest and the rabbi. Wouldn't that shake those gown-wearers, Mikey boy?

Barry rose and sat. Rose and kneeled. Sat and kneeled. He tried to read from the little red book someone stuck in his hand but couldn't see the words.

Why are they wearing those funny, white dresses, anyway?Especiallythe men?

THE BISHOP, a giant chessman, towered over everyone.

Liturgy...Eucharist...Father, Son, Holy Ghost...

Why doesn't someone open a window? I'm burning up!

A bell clanged so loud that Barry yelled. People stared. Barry slipped back into his cloud.

Genuflect...kneel...rise...sit...

The chessman raised and lowered a staff, put on and took off a hat, crossed and re-crossed itself. And always that tone, that official, mystical, ecclesiastic tone...

The white-gowned spread a sheet. Michael lay down.

God, how I wishIcould lie down!

Crossing crossing crossing... that voice... so many injunctions... staff raised and lowered... holding hands... touching the crown of Michael's head...

In the Name of the Father, the Son...

The Bishop and Michael raised their arms. The two turned to the altar. They mumbled. They raised cups. Crossed themselves.

Kneeling, kneeling, and more kneeling.

"Holy Communion is..."

Holy Communion? Wait 'til I get hold of you after this, Michael! You said I didn't have to do anything but sit and watch. But everyone else is opening his mouth...

Michael dipped the wafer in the wine. He placed it on Barry's tongue.

It'd take a heap of them midget crackers to fill a man, Michael! But the wine's sure good!

The Bishop boomed.

"You're different now. New responsibilities, obligations. Now you must think and actalwaysas a man of God, for a Priest is such a one. You must never cast a shadow on the holiness, the sanctity, of God's work." He smiled and addedso officially, "I give you Father Michael. A fully ordained Priest of the Holy Church of God."

He did it! He passed over! Ole Michael's henceforth and forevermore aPriest. Michael, aPriest!

"Father Michael's first act will be to conduct Mass tomorrow morning. In time, as he's now empowered by the Church, Father Michael will conduct weddings, funerals, baptisms..."

My buddy, Father Michael. My buddy, a Priest. And a Father, too! A man of God!That is, if there is a God...