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Date Posted: 13:49:31 10/08/04 Fri
Author: Anonymous
Subject: Strange Mass

Marie Cornic, from Brehat, had married a sea captain, that she loved with all her soul. Unfortunately, by his profession, he had to spend most of the time away from her. Marie Cornic spent her nights and days thinking of her absent love. As soon as he was gone, she shut herself in her home, not accepting any company other than her mother, who lived with her, and who even mocked sometimes her love for no other but her husband.

The only time the young woman would leave the house was the morning, to go to the church, where she attended all the masses, praying that the Holy Virgin and all the saints of Brittany would keep watch of her husband and bring him back healthy and safe to Brehat.

One night, she awoke with a jump, she thought that she had heard a bell ring.

"Could that be the dawn mass?" she asked herself.

The bedroom was lit by a vague glow. As it was winter she took this to be the beginning of the dawn. She rose, dressed in great haste and hurried to the church.

She was surprised to find the nave full of people, more surprised to see a visiting priest taking the mass.

"I didn't know it was a special day today. But why so solemn? I don't remember being told about a special occasion this week."

Her neighbour was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't hear her words, in any case there was no reply.

The plate was passed round the church carried round by someone Marie Cornic, didn't recognise, he chanted in a sad voice:
"For the souls in purgatory, for the souls in purgatory."

When the plate came to her, Marie Cornic fumbled in her pocket, but in her hurry to reach the church had forgotten her purse. The man holding the plate rattled it.

"For the souls in purgatory, for the poor souls in purgatory."

"Goodness, blurted Marie Cornic, I don't have a penny on me."

"At this mass you do not omit to give for the souls of the dead."

She turned out her pockets to show they were empty.

"You must give me something."

"But I have nothing," mumbled Marie, at her wits end.

"You have your gold wedding ring. Give it for the dead."

She could not refuse and wept, without the strength to return home.

When the rector came he was surprised to see one of his parishioners so early in church.

"Marie Cornic, what are you doing here?

"But I was here at the mass."

"The mass!!... At least you can wait for me to start."

Marie Cornic, looked about her. The numerous audience that had filled the church only a moment ago had gone, there was nobody. Together they searched for her wedding ring and found it on the altar.

Fifteen days later, Marie Cornic discovered that she was a widow. Her husband's boat had sunk, the night of the strange mass, at the same hour that she had given her ring for the souls of the dead.

http://www.twilightharbor.com/moonmistress/stories/StrangeMass.html

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