A Day to Remember

During dinner, the adults were careful not to give away their secret. Nor did they want to let on about their travel plans.

The children made it easy. They were chattering about all the two Sisters had told them about their Fräulein. They had to be reminded to eat.

Soon the Reverend Mother appeared at the door of dining room. She saw they were no longer eating; she asked.

"Is everyone ready to go to the chapel for vespers?"

She saw heads nod and they began to stand.

"Then follow me."

The chapel was located near the Abbey's gate. Their walk there took them through the large courtyard to a passageway with curved openings. They followed the Sisters who approached it with hands folded and with their fingers pointing to heaven. Not a single word was spoken.

Everyone could hear the choir singing chants in Latin as they approached the chapel. No one in the family, except Maria knew the meaning of the words. If they did, they would know the choir was singing about being invited to sit with the Lord and He would make their enemies their footstool and would protect them forever and ever.

And as they entered the chapel the choir sang. Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, amen. Alleluia!

And now the word Alleluia was repeated by individual voices singing the word Alleluia in harmony.

The Reverend Mother paused at the entrance to allow for Marta and Gretl to catch up the group. They didn't walk as fast as the others. Maria and Georg were last.

The Reverend Mother didn't speak; she entered the chapel. She led them to the front pew where she had the children sit. All the adults were behind them. They listened to the choir sing the final Alleluia.

The Bishop had watched everyone enter from the platform in front of the altar. And now that everyone was seated, he began the service with these words.

"In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."

These words were spoken as he first touched his forehead then brought his hand down and touched below his chest. He then followed that by touching first his left shoulder and then his right. And everyone except Marta and Gretl did the same.

And now the Bishop read several verses from scripture. Each was followed by the singing of a hymn and other appropriate responses from the Sisters present.

And they heard his concluding prayer.

"The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you
and give you peace."

And this was followed by making the sign of the cross again. But he didn't say the words of dismissal. Instead he spoke these words.

"Since you are all gathered here, it has become an appropriate time for another church ceremony. Georg and Maria will you please come and stand before me."

He could hear the whispers of the children. "Liesl, what's he going to do?"

She had a good idea of what was coming, but whispered. "Gretl, let's listen to the Bishop."

He didn't make them wait. As soon as Maria and Georg stood in front of him, he spoke again.

"In times when nations have been overrun by another nation or that nation threatens to swallow up another, the Church allows ceremonies to be conducted which veer from the rules."

Marta couldn't keep quiet. "Are Father and Fräulein Maria going to get married?"

"Yes young lady they are and I am pleased to perform the ceremony. Let me begin."

Maria and Georg and the others heard the question which asked first the couple and then the others if there was any reason they shouldn't be married. He heard two resounding exclamations of the word, NO!

He smiled before continuing. His next words were the consent of the couple to be married.

"Maria, will you have this man to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

"I will."

"Georg, will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

"I will."

"Since you have both consented to the covenant of marriage and the responsibilities required, I will ask each of you the same question.

"Georg, please take hold of Maria's right hand." The Bishop paused while he did. And then he continued.

"Will you Georg take Maria to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until you are parted by death."

"I will."

The Bishop could hear the breathing of the group they were so silent.

"Now Maria, please take hold of Georg's right hand." Again he paused a few seconds before continuing.

"Will you Maria take Georg to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until you are parted by death.

"I will."

"I pronounce that they are husband and wife. May they so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace. May the Lord find favor with each of you and fill you with spiritual benediction and grace; living faithfully your lives together. Amen."

"Georg, you may kiss your Bride."

First Georg whispered. "I love you."

And he heard Maria's "I love you."

They each put their hand on the others cheek and together they pulled their faces closer for their very first kiss. They released their hand simultaneously and smiled. They each felt a warmth which was God blessing their union.

And the children, the adults and all the Sisters applauded. And Maria heard her new salutation for the first time.

"Mother, now you really are father's Cinderella."

"I suppose I am Marta."

And the other children each said something so they could say, Mother. Maria's heart was about to explode; it was filled with not only Georg's love but with love from seven children.

Katia had waited until the commotion of hugging and kissing both Maria and Georg had stopped before speaking.

"Please walk back to the dining room. There's a surprise waiting for the newlyweds."

"Katia, what have you done?"

"It's good, Georg. You'll be pleased."

Somehow Katia and Isabel had found enough ingredients to make a cake; a rather large cake. It was sitting at the end of the dining room table.

Maria saw it immediately upon entering. "Georg, look; it's a wedding cake. It even has a ceramic figure of wedding bells on top of it."

"I see it, darling,"

"And now you both need to hold the knife and make the first cut into it."

Since Georg had done this before he directed Maria. "Cover my hand with yours after I take hold of the knife."

Maria did and together they pressed the knife into the cake. Immediately Katia spoke. "Let me take hold of the knife and I will cut you a slice. Georg, you can lead Maria in the customary way to take the first bite."

Katia placed the slice on a plate and handed it to Georg along with two forks. This was all new to Maria; she had never even been to a wedding before. She heard her husband tell her.

"Pick up your fork and cut yourself a small piece; I will do the same."

They had each cut a piece and Georg continued. "Now, we're going to feed each other this piece of cake. We will entwine our arms to do so."

This Maria understood. She looped her arm around his and each carefully placed the piece of cake in the others mouth. After swallowing, Georg spoke.

"Maria, we need to move away to finish our cake so everyone can be served a piece to enjoy."

Liesl had her little sisters sit at the table to eat. Everyone else stood to eat theirs. The Bishop then told them.

"It's time for me to leave. I'll be here early tomorrow morning for Morning Prayers."

Maria and Georg walked with him to a back entrance of the Abbey. His residence was across the street.

"Bishop Howard, Maria and I sincerely thank you for everything."

"You're most welcomed."

They watched him walk away. The couple didn't return to the group immediately. They talked.

"Maria, I think you will agree with me, this isn't the proper place for newlyweds to fulfill the scripture. I do want to sleep together."

"I want that too. There's a room in the guest house with a big bed; we can sleep there. We need to stop by my room in the Abbey so I can pack the few things I brought with me."

By the time the couple arrived at the guest house, Isabel and the Reverend Mother had found bedrooms for everyone. And Maria led Georg directly to the one with the big bed and they found their bags had been placed there. And after kissing each child good night, the couple returned to their room.

"Georg, today will be a day we'll always remember. It's first and most importantly our wedding day."

"And I'll also remember it as the day you rescued me from that man whose name I will never say again. And it will also be remembered for the day we learned how we were leaving Austria. I still find the Bishop's plan remarkable."

"And they are all summed up in a phase I read before I left the Abbey to go to your villa. When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window. God has already opened windows for us."

"I believe that too. Maria, we better try to get some sleep. We need to be ready to leave here when the cars arrive. And I'm sure the Sisters will have something for us to eat before we leave."

"I'm sure they will."

After one last kiss, Georg turned on his back and was almost instantly asleep; something he had learned to do during the war. Maria turned on her side so she was as close to him as possible. Her hand covered his. In a few minutes she was asleep too.