The Studs Lonigan Trilogy - James T. Farrell [232]
“Unless I am wrong, you’re going to say this: `Get thee behind me, Satan!’ You’re going to be manly and womanly, clean, upright, decent, and you’re going to stand four-square in the front line trenches of Mother Church in her ceaseless war against the world, the flesh, and the devil. You’re going to be soldiers of righteousness, and you’re going to say: ‘Jesus Christ, my Savior, has walked down the aisles of time, a white-robed figure of virtue and strength. And His Church has followed Him and His doctrine. With it, I take my stand. I shall not bargain away my soul, my honor, my right to be a member of that holy Church for a paltry night’s pleasure, for filthy pieces of silver. I shall not be another Judas!’ “
He wiped his face.
“Shakespeare laments: ‘Oh, that we should with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts.’ You’re not going to do that. No! I know it. I know that the young men and the young women of St. Patrick’s parish are going to stand defending the gates of Truth and Righteousness, armed with Grace.
“ `Stand, therefore, having your loins girt with truth and having on the breast-plate of justice, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.’
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen!”
There was rustling and straining in the pews.
“And now, I want to ask you all to follow me in a prayer to Mary, asking her protection and aid in the struggle of the Catholic youth of this land for the triumph of virtue.”
He recited the prayer slowly, and the young people singsonged it after him, verbatim.
“O Victorious Lady! Thou who hast ever such powerful influence with Thy Divine Son, in conquering the hardest of hearts, intercede for those for whom we pray that their hearts being softened by the rays of Divine Grace, they may return to the unity of the true Faith, through Christ, Our Lord! Amen!”
He climbed down from the pulpit, genuflected in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and disappeared through the sacristy door. An altar boy came onto the altar, cassocked, and lit the candles for Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
III
“Say, wasn’t that a sermon!” Les exclaimed.
“It was a knockout,” Studs said, watching the people gush from church, looking at the girls coming out with an attitude of almost futile hope and expectancy.
“It was even better than the sermon he gave Tuesday night,” Red Kelly said.
“Sure it was, if it only teaches you guys something,” Barney said.
“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t fling bricks,” Stan said.
“Me, I’m an old man. He was talking to youth, and you bastards might still technically classify as youth,” Barney said.
Studs scanned the faces. Maybe that girl would be coming out, but it seemed that she had moved away. Lucy. He wanted them to see him there, calm, nonchalant. But he realized that he wasn’t so much to look at any more. Getting fatter all the time, had an alderman, was twenty pounds heavier than when he’d taken Lucy to that dance. Then he had been a damn good-looking guy, and he hadn’t danced so badly either.
“I like what he said about these bastards monkeying around with a guy’s sister. Like the time at Nolan’s, and that bastard, Guy Bain, was trying to lay it into my kid sister on the dance floor. Remember, Studs? Well, I got him,” Weary Reilley said.
“He knows his apples,” Les said.
“He didn’t hand it to the sheiks much, did he?” Tommy said.
“And neither did he to those people who think they are too good for the human race like Young O’Neill who goes to the University. He knows better than make the mission. He’d get his ear full,” said Red.
“Isn’t he making the mission?” asked Studs.
“He’s an atheist,” Red said.