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ABANDONED. Spanish priest returns to the island whose natives he preached to
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No response in 5 years. Moving to Abandoned.
A Spanish Fable (?)
Long ago, the prior in a monastery summoned a young priest, and told him he was being assigned to a missionary post on a distant island, and that a sailing ship would take him there, leaving in a few days. Sure enough, the sailing ship was waiting for the priest when he boarded with his steamer trunk. Several from the monastery were there to wave him off.
The ship sailed for months and months across oceans. Finally, the master of the ship told the young priest, "Tomorrow we will see the island on the horizon." Sure enough, in the morning, the tops of palm trees could be seen on the horizon. As the ship drew closer to the shore, the sailors on the ship saw natives begin to gather on the island beach, looking out at the great sailing ship coming towards them. They had never seen such a great sailing ship before, and they had never before seen white men. Finally the master put a small boat into the water, and several sailors rowed the young priest and his trunk ashore.
The inquisitive natives stood on the shore to greet the white man climbing out of the boat. After the priest stood on dry sand, the boat pushed off and went back out to the sailing ship, and the great sailing ship turned around in the harbor, and sailed out to the open sea. Eventually the sailing ship went over the horizon and disappeared.
The young priest settled in with the natives, teaching them the Word of God and the Christian faith, and over many, many years the island population grew in spirit and truth, and there was great love and happiness among them.
One day, a group of native men gathered on the shore, pointing out to sea. They saw the top of a sailing ship come over the horizon, and they were confused and scared. Soon dozens of native men and families with children gathered on the shore to watch the great ship sail into the harbor. The young priest joined the crowds at the water's edge, and watch the sailing ship put a small boat into the water.
The young priest was saddened for he knew in his heart what was happening and the natives became saddened and began to cry, for they feared the news the ship would bring. As the row boat grounded on the beach, the ship's master stood up in the boat with a letter his hand.
"Padre, we have come to take you home," the master said. "The Monastery is calling you back."
Tears rolled down the priest's face, and then the crowds cried in anguish and they begged, "Don't leave us, Padre. Don't leave us. Please don't leave us. We need you." Finally the young priest faced the crowd, hugging those around him, and said, "It is time. I must go. I am being called home."
"No, don't leave, Padre," they cried, holding onto his garments, as he stepped into the water. "What will we do with out you," they cried, choking back tears? Standing in the bow of the boat, the priest turned and said to them, "Remember what I taught you. Have faith. Trust one another, and love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Never give up. I will be with you always," he said, as the boat turned towards the open sea. The natives stood on the shore until the great ship disappeared over the horizon, and night fell over the island with glittering stars above.
Many, many years later, the prior of the Monastery summoned the priest to talked with him," asking what he would like as a final request, after so many years of faithful service to the Lord. The priest said, "Do you remember the island I went to when I was a young priest? Well, I'd like to go back. I'd like to see my native family again, and die there?
A few days later a great sailing ship was waiting at the pier for the old priest to board with his steamer trunk; and they immediately set sail for the distant island. They sailed for months and months over oceans and seas, and one evening the master said to the old priest, "Padre, tomorrow morning you will see the island appear on the horizon." A smile broke on the old priest’s face upon hearing he was nearing home. .
In the morning the ship lowered a boat into the water, and the priest climbed into it. From a distance they could see a crowd gathering on the shore. The priest could see the natives waving their arms and hands, and hear their yells of jubilation knowing the priest was returning to them. The boat was still a distance off, and the priest's heart was filled with joy as he heard the natives call to him, "Padre! Padre! We missed you! Tell us again that prayer you taught us -- we forgot how it goes."
The natives were already standing on water, walking out in the harbor to greet the priest's boat. They walked right up to the boat and thanked the priest for coming back to them. "Tell us again, Padre, how that prayer went? We forgot." The boat rocked as the natives climbed into it and greeted the old priest. The sailors continued rowing ashore, where crowds had gathered to greet the Padre. They were on their knees praising the Lord.
The End.