A/N: I must confess (no pun intended) that my muse told me to share my feelings of how awesome I think the belief of the Real Presence is, lots of spiritually moving stuff and little Spencer. I am also proud to report that I am delightfully nerdy and want to portray Diana acuratlly, not the little we see in the show, so I am now reading Surviving Schizophrenia: A manual for Families, Patients and Providers by E. Fuller Torrey M.D. Where I've started reading about senses being overacute and peak experiences as mentioned here. The peak experiences are also experienced by those with Bipolar.
Sister Anne awoke with a plan the next morning as well as a hunger for the Eucharist. She had seen Mass times of the nearby Catholic Church and thought that Diana just might seek some comfort during this time, seeing her "baby" injured. She decided to ask Diana a question she hadn't asked in years.
A nurse stepped into Diana's room with some breakfast and medication.
" Good morning Diana, would you like to eat in here with your son for breakfast?"
"Yes, I need to stay with my baby. The poor boy has been hurt."
"Alright,Diana." She made sure Diana took her medication and left.
"Good Morning Diana, may I have a hug?"
"Of course Anne, I'm so glad you are here. I miss my discussions with you, my brilliant advocate sister, the Sister."
"Well you are in a good mood today."
"I get to be a mother again."
Spencer opened his eyes looking at his Mom.
"Are you ok Mom?"
"As long as you are Spencer, I worry about you and your job. It's so dangerous."
"Yes, but I love it Mom."
"Well I suppose that's good then, you are a grown man, but it scares me."
"All mothers are afraid, think of how Mary must have felt at the crucifixion" said Anne.
"Spoken like a true Sister. You probably want to go to church today."
"Well, actually I do. Would you like to go with me?" The question she had wanted to ask for years, thank goodness her sister was having a good day today.
"Not that church Spencer was baptized in."
"He's not there anymore,this priest is wonderful."
" Really?"
" Yes, he's seen all sorts of people dealing with many things. He used to be a hospital chaplain."
"Well, I suppose he sounds like a nice enough fellow, unlike that other priest I think he read the wrong book, the Bad News, not the Good News."
"That's so witty, Spencer are you up for stepping into a church?"
"I mean I suppose I could go and study it from a purely academic standpoint. However my friend Jeff and I were going to meet up this morning."
"Come back safe Spencer, remember a mother knows." Diana stroked her son's forehead before kissing it.
"Don't worry Mom."
"Have you eaten Anne?"
"Yes, at the hotel. Let me go clear everything with Dr. Norman. You just get yourself ready, ok?"
"Ok, I wonder what to wear to my first time in church in 25 years."
"I'll be back soon. Perhaps you can ask Angela to help you decide,"suggested Anne of Diana's nurse.
Once clearing the visit with Doctor Norman who felt very competent leaving Diana in the care of her expert sister, they left for Mass.
Diana stepped into the church, blessing herself with the holy water, genuflected and purposely decided not to sit where she had last time she attended. She remembered that time well, her senses being over acute at that time.
The opening hymn was very familiar to her,she was sure she had lead the parish in it before. She also couldn't stop looking at the priest because he looked so familiar. She had forgot how beautiful the scripture was, she could see why the Bible as Literature was offered the last semester she had taught.
The Gospel was the story of the prodigal son, such a wonderful parable with an amazing homily, and that interpretation was one she loved, so full of mercy and love. Once it was time for communion Diana was a little hesitant after all hadn't she committed a mortal sin in 25 years? As soon as she had received Jesus, this feeling of bliss and peace fell over her. She wondered if it was real. She remembered having this heightened awareness and sense of bliss when she last taught. Her psychiatrist had called it a peak experience, but this felt real,like you didn't have be crazy to experience it. She knelt savoring the experience, until she heard the gentle voice of her sister alerting her to the fact that everyone else was seated.
It was when the priest gave announcements before the closing hymn that she realized who he was. It wasn't just any priest, but a visiting one. It was the priest that had been there for her as an undergraduate, Fr. Paul had decided to retire in Las Vegas, but was also going to be the Catholic chaplain at Bennington. If anyone could bring her back it was him. Unlike the priest who had come to this parish 25 years ago whose very insensitive views on mental illness had lead to Diana's falling away from the church. Diana and Anne were very hopeful for the future.
