VIII
Im ten years old and ready to go to St. Josephs Church for my Con-
firmation. In school the master, Mr. ODea, prepares us. We have to
know all about Sanctifying Grace, a pearl of great price, bought for us
by Jesus in His dying. Mr. ODeas eyes roll in his head when he tells us
that with Confirmation we will become part of Divinity.We will have
the Gifts of the Holy Ghost:Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Forti-
tude, Knowledge, Piety, the Fear of the Lord. Priests and masters tell us
Confirmation means youre a true soldier of the Church and that enti-
tles you to die and be a martyr in case were invaded by Protestants or
Mahommedans or any other class of a heathen. More dying. I want to
tell them I wont be able to die for the Faith because Im already
booked to die for Ireland.
Mikey Molloy says, Is it jokin you are? That thing about dying for
the Faith is all a cod. Tis only a saying they made up to frighten you.
Ireland too. No one dies for anything anymore.All the dying is done. I
wouldnt die for Ireland or the Faith. I might die for my mother but
thats all.
Mikey knows everything. Hes going on fourteen. He gets the fits.
He has visions.
The grown-ups tell us its a glorious thing to die for the Faith, only
were not ready for that yet because Confirmation day is like First
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