Marcelinus…well er…to be exact Father Marcelinus is my preacher friend. He inhabits a corner of the streets and preaches his heart out to whoever listens-and they are few. But it worries him less as he argues that the big bearded fellow up yonder with the big pencil and book of course notices him.
With bloodshot eyes, beads of sweat and foaming mouth, he thunders
“The sins of Soddom and Gommorrah are with us, fornication and adultery flourish” here he points a menacing finger to the crowd” I must – in a fashion -warn you, that unless you as –as it were -repent –and so to say –mend your ways-you maybe -after a manner of speaking-damned!”
Marcelinus words are ambiguous, mysterious, superfluous especially so when he drinks a little wine for his stomach. Never mind, the little wine is a whole crate of a popular stout brand for as he unashamedly admits:
“ A tot or two of whisky in the morning before you are fully awake rejuvenates you after a long restless night, a further two tots of Vodka in your morning coffee makes you fully awake ready to face your many chores, a tot or so of brandy in your mid morning tea fortifies you for the remaining part of the morning and two beers or so with your lunch vastly improves your appetite and finally a crate or two of cold, frothy, stout in the evening late in the night plays down your recurrent insomnia” But he hastily adds-
“Let this drinking not interfere with the serious business of preaching the word of God!”
Histrionic, confusing and a juggler of words is my friend Marcelinus… I once asked him as a matter of interest “ … Father, what denomination ordained you, what religious precepts do you ascribe to?”
He answers back after a hard stare “What denomination, would Jesus ascribe to if he comes back tomorrow?”
I have no answer; he could not therefore also answer my question
“Holy man” I ask him “Why did you abandon your church-the Catholic church” “Three reasons” He answers
“One” A church should be A hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints
“Museum?” I question
He ignores me
“Two!” He bellows” What can you say about a religion that makes a sin out of an act of congress and a sacred act of out of drinking alcohol?”
“Three ” He pauses “ You willingly give up conjugal satisfaction and then every weekend you listen to glamorous details from your parishioners”
