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When hearing confessions, a Catholic priest had
adopted the practice of making white chalk-marks on his black cassock according
to the seriousness of the sin, so that he could add them up and decide on an
appropriate penance. One day a man came into the Confessional and the exchange
went like this:
"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned." "What is the nature of your sin, my son?" "I have fornicated, Father." "Hmm. That's bad." The priest made a chalk-mark. "And I've committed adultery, for she is a married woman." "That's worse." Two more chalk-marks. "Not only that, but she's the wife of my best friend." "A shameful betrayal." Another four chalk-marks. "And they're not even Catholics, but Episcopalians!" To which the Priest says: "What are ye wasting me time for?!" as he rubs the chalk marks off his cassock. |
