Later, in confession, he would tell Father Brady—the keeper of his transgressions. He would willingly endure the devices in the heretics room, and the purging of the sin that he knew still lurked somewhere in his body. A place he couldn’t reach.
But first he would speak to Father Quinn.
He must relay the sighting . . . the miraculous gift from God.
“He’s at Sisters of Our Lady of Grace,” Father Cormack, a priest not much older than Father Murray, informed him. “He’s with the novitiates.”
Father Murray cursed internally at the news. He left Holy Innocents and drove the ninety minutes it took to reach Sisters of Our Lady of Grace, the monastery Father Quinn oversaw alongside the Mother Superior.
He made his way up the steps. Nuns of all ages and stages of experience milled about the picturesque lands deep in the stunning Massachusetts countryside. The place was silent, the gardens green and perfectly manicured. The stones of the building were gray and delicately laced with forest-green ivy. The monastery was old and large and suited the reclusive sisters perfectly. Sisters who stayed away from the community and instead thrust themselves into prayer and serving the Lord.
“Father Murray.”
Father Murray looked up to see Mother Superior walking down the hallway toward him. “What can I help you with, Father Murray? Father Quinn didn’t mention you would be assisting today.”
“I’m not,” he said, trying to keep the sense of urgency from his steady voice. “But I must speak to him. There is something we must discuss as a matter of great importance.”
Mother Superior smiled but shook her head. “I’m afraid he has sequestered himself and the novitiates in the education room for the day. He will be there until sundown and has made it clear they must not be disturbed. Patience, Father Murray, is a virtue. Make this a lesson in that.” Father Murray tried to control his sudden anger. He needed to speak to his high priest. But it had to be in private. Nobody could overhear a word he had to relay. “The novitiates will take last vows in a matter of months. Their schooling at this time is too important to interrupt.”
“Then I’ll wait.”
“Very well.” Mother Superior gestured for Father Murray to follow her outside. “Then you may make yourself useful. The devil makes work for idle hands, after all. We have bushes that need pruning.”
Father Murray wanted to laugh in her wrinkled face. She was a slave to a church who denied the world and the Lord its truth. Tried to stop the heretic trials and ignored the evil that spread through the world like a cancer while they focused on church services and collecting riches from their congregations to add to their already brimming pot.
“Of course,” Father Murray said politely and followed the old woman outside, taking the proffered shearing scissors in his hand.
Six hours later, Father Murray hovered outside the education room. He could hear the low murmur of Father Quinn’s voice as he spoke to the trainee nuns. The sound of footsteps approaching the door followed. He sank back against the wall and watched as the novitiates vacated the room. His eyes quickly searched for the one nun who always captured his attention. The most devout. The quietest. The one who would scarcely meet his eyes. He held his breath when she finally came through. Head lowered in the “custody of the eyes,” she had her gaze downcast and her hands joined together, hidden, tucked under her large sleeves. Her white headdress covered her head, and her black habit hid her small frame. Father Murray took a deliberate step forward into her path.
Shocked blue eyes snapped up to meet his. “Father Murray, you startled me.” She smiled shyly.
Father Murray smiled back. “Sister Maria Agnes. Nice to see you again.”
Sister Maria nodded once, then cast her eyes to the ground once again and commenced her walk to the refectory for the evening meal.
“Father Murray?” Father Quinn’s voice pulled Father Murray’s concentration from Sister Maria. When Father Murray looked to the high priest, he saw the flash of censure in his gaze. “Is there something I can help you with? You were on duty at Holy Innocents today.” Father Quinn spoke vaguely, of course. In actuality, Father Murray was scheduled to be on duty in Purgatory today, overseeing the cleansing of the boys they had in their care.
Father Murray checked their surroundings were clear and stepped closer to the high priest. “I must speak with you. Urgently.”
Father Quinn’s eyes narrowed slightly. The sound of Mother Superior walking toward them made them both face her direction. “Fathers, evening meal will commence soon. Join us.” On cue, a bell rang out into the barren hallways, bouncing off the stone walls.
“We will speak after food, when the nuns retire to their rooms for the night,” Father Quinn said. “Come.” The high priest led the way to the refectory. Father Murray and Father Quinn were seated at the top table with Mother Superior. Everyone ate in silence; discipline was of the utmost importance at this monastery. It wasn’t progressive, a convent of modern times, but one that embraced the past and its harsher, more rigid practices. Father Murray always thought that if the Brethren were to ever take women into their fold, this convent would provide the best candidates.