Seven Virtues,  Divine  and  Moral,  the  Seven  Sacraments,  the  Seven Deadly Sins.We have to know by heart all the prayers, the Hail Mary, the Our Father, the Confiteor, the Apostles’ Creed, the Act of Contri- tion, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.We have to know them in Irish and English and if we forget an Irish word and use English he goes into a rage and goes at us with the stick.If he had his way we’d be learn- ing our religion in Latin, the language of the saints who communed intimately with God and His Holy Mother, the language of the early Christians,who huddled in the catacombs and went forth to die on rack and sword, who expired in the foaming jaws of the ravenous lion. Irish is fine for patriots, English for traitors and informers, but it’s the Latin that gains us entrance to heaven itself. It’s the Latin the martyrs prayed in when the barbarians pulled out their nails and cut their skin off inch by inch. He tells us we’re a disgrace to Ireland and her long sad history, that we’d be better off in Africa praying to bush or tree. He tells us we’re hopeless, the worst class he ever had for First Communion but as sure as God made little apples he’ll make Catholics of us, he’ll beat the idler out of us and the Sanctifying Grace into us. Brendan Quigley raises his hand. We call him Question Quigley because he’s always asking questions. He can’t help himself. Sir, he says, what’s Sanctifying Grace? The  master  rolls  his  eyes  to  heaven.  He’s  going  to  kill  Quigley. Instead he barks at him, Never mind what’s Sanctifying Grace, Quigley. That’s none of your business.You’re here to learn the catechism and do  what you’re told.You’re not here to be asking questions.There are too many people wandering the world asking questions and that’s what has us in the state we’re in and if I find any boy in this class asking questions I won’t be responsible for what happens. Do you hear me, Quigley? I do. I do what? I do, sir. He goes on with his speech,There are boys in this class who will never know the Sanctifying Grace. And why? Because of the greed. I have heard them abroad in the schoolyard talking about First Commu- nion day, the happiest day of your life. Are they talking about receiving the body and blood of Our Lord? Oh, no.Those greedy little blaguards are talking about the money they’ll get,The Collection.They’ll go from 118