You don't need to be a Catholic and go to Confession to appreciate this story
Make sure you live by the last line!
A Priest was being honoured at his retirement dinner after 35 years in the parish
A leading local figure and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the dinner
However, he was delayed, so the Priest decided to say his own few words while they waited:
"Thank Goodness we Catholics have a wonderful sense of humor! I got my first impression of this parish from the first confession I heard here.
I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place.
The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set, and when questioned by the police, was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen money from his parents; embezzled from his employer; had an affair with his boss's wife; had sex with his boss's 17 year old daughter on numerous occasions, taken illegal drugs; had several homosexual affairs; was arrested several times for public nudity, and gave VD to his sister-in-law
I was appalled that one person could do so many awful things
But as the days went on, I learned that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people.”
Just as the Priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of
apologies at being late.
He immediately began to make the presentation and give his talk:
"I'll never forget the first day our parish Priest arrived," said the
politician. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first person to go to him for confession.”
Moral: Never, never be late!
Make sure you live by the last line!
A Priest was being honoured at his retirement dinner after 35 years in the parish
A leading local figure and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the dinner
However, he was delayed, so the Priest decided to say his own few words while they waited:
"Thank Goodness we Catholics have a wonderful sense of humor! I got my first impression of this parish from the first confession I heard here.
I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place.
The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set, and when questioned by the police, was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen money from his parents; embezzled from his employer; had an affair with his boss's wife; had sex with his boss's 17 year old daughter on numerous occasions, taken illegal drugs; had several homosexual affairs; was arrested several times for public nudity, and gave VD to his sister-in-law
I was appalled that one person could do so many awful things
But as the days went on, I learned that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people.”
Just as the Priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of
apologies at being late.
He immediately began to make the presentation and give his talk:
"I'll never forget the first day our parish Priest arrived," said the
politician. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first person to go to him for confession.”
Moral: Never, never be late!
