Max and Father Simon talked for hours. Father decided to teach Max about the Faith one on one, as the RCIA was in full swing. A grateful Max agreed to meet once a week until Easter for two hours. He walked away with a Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and A Treatise on Prayer by St. Alphonsus. Maybe Father Simon's lack of aestheticism revealed a sensitive spirit in other areas. Max avoided stumbling over the plants on the stoop.
On the way back to the shelter, Max ran into James coming home from work. James could not help but notice the stack of books in Max's hands. "Hey, those are Catholic books." James really was not surprised.
"James, too bad you are not practicing. You could be my sponsor." James did not answer. Then, he said,
"I found out that Karen is now in RCIA. Must be something in the air." The two walked on to the shelter, but first, they sat on their bench. Max paged through the books. He felt that this journey would prove not only interesting and spiritually beneficial, but fun.
James remained silent. "My one brother died when I was a kid. I got mad at God. He did not have to let him die. And, Mike died. I just do not understand why we are here."
Max waited a moment. "Why do you have to understand everything? God and the spiritual life are mysteries to us. We can only learn so much, but we have to try."
Their ruminations ended when a huge gust of wind brought in a shower of rain. Max put the books under his shirt, and they ran into the shelter.
At this time of year, in the last weeks of March, the number of men in the shelter had dwindled to about ten. Some of the Memphis men left to go back to the city. A few had found jobs. Some just disappeared.
James laid down on his cot. "I just don't feel well, Max." Max looked at James. He looked very ill. "I am going to phone a doctor."
James tried to sit up, but could not. He was too dizzy and he complained of chest pain. Max got the director of the shelter and together they determined that James had to go to the hospital. He had symptoms of a heart attack.
Max said, "An ambulance is coming. Is there anything else you want, James?"
"I told you death comes in threes," he gasped. "Call Father Simon, would you?"
James asked to use the phone, and within a few minutes, Father Simon was kneeling next to James' cot.
Max and the director stood apart. They could hear the words of the priest, absolving James of his sins.
Then, the doors burst open and the paramedics came in with a stretcher. Father Simon stood up and walked over to Max.
"This was a good thing you did, Max. I don't think he will make it." The paramedics began phoning the angioplasty doctor at the hospital. Then, one got out the defibrillator. They gave James two shots as well. But, after fifteen minutes, it was clear James was gone.
"Well," said Father Simon. "He is in a better place."
Max asked, "Do you mean heaven, Father?"
"I don't know for sure, but either there, or purgatory. He made a good confession, and I gave him the last rites. One cannot do much more than that. See you on Thursday."
Father left, but stopped and blessed James' body first. The paramedics covered the body up, and thanked Max and the director for phoning.
"He went so fast, it could have been something hereditary. We just saw this a while ago."
Max nodded. But, unlike Mike, James had opened his heart to God, as it was giving way.
"Thank you, Mary and thank you Jesus", was all Max could say.
