21 -- The Priest Gives up His Priesthood

Two months later.

The sun shone into Jozef’s eyes. He woke, instantly remembering his changed state, as he had the last several days. Two weeks earlier, he and the bishop had come to an understanding, and Jozef had given up his calling as a priest. Even after these many days, it felt right. Once again he thought about having a family, but his heart wasn’t his to give away anymore. However, Maja was probably married by now, and even if she weren’t, he and Maja lived in two different worlds. She probably wouldn’t want him, a local man, even if she were still free.

He lay quietly, thinking. What his heart really desired, besides Maja, was a family. How nice it would be to have a loving wife and sons and daughters to play, laugh and spend time with. Now that he was not bound by the priesthood anymore, marriage could be a possibility. But was it fair to marry a woman while his heart belonged to another?

He shook off these depressing thoughts, rose and dressed in wholly unremarkable clothes. After breakfast, he finished the last of his paperwork on Konrad’s holdings to the west.

The late fall sun was still shining, and he decided to take a walk to the little town where most of Konrad’s peasants lived.

As he went on the path, admiring the red, green, and yellow foliage of the trees flanking the road, he caught up to three figures walking ahead of him. He squinted into the sun and recognized two as females, and one man. His stride being longer, he had caught up with them in a few minutes.

“Good morning, Fa…, Panje Wawrzyiniak,” Maja and Sylwia said in unison. The young man, Karel, bowed with a grin. Jozef had met him before. He came to see Sylwia, and everybody knew it.

Jozef doffed his hat and bowed. “Good morning to you, lovely ladies and gentleman. Where are you going, this early in the morning?”

Maja gave him her bright smile. “It’s such a beautiful day. We thought we’d take a walk to the village.”

Sylwia giggled. “She’s not telling you that the best seamstress lives there. We’ll probably visit her and look at her new material.”

Maja turned red.

Karel grinned. “And I’m out for a walk. But what better way to walk than with two beauties on each side?”

Jozef nodded. “How right you are.” He touched Maja’s shoulder. She was such a nice girl, even though she was almost past marrying age and a little heavy. She’d make a great wife to a lonely guy, and a wonderful mother one day. “It’s all right. You have the right to delight in beauty. Everybody does.”

“That’s for sure,” Karel said, but he never took his eyes off Sylwia’s.

Karel, Sylwia’s arm in his, walked on a little faster.

Jozef slowed down to give them some privacy. Maja matched his steps.

“Maybe I’ll have the seamstress make a new dress for my birthday next month,” she said.

More about these two tomorrow!

19 -- The Priest Starts a New LIfe

Jozef looked out of the coach window at the vast wheat and oat fields that surrounded the estate home of Konrad Bukowski. The coach bumped along a wide path, flanked by apple and pear trees. Peasants working in the fields looked up and waved, probably recognizing the horses and the coat of arms on the coach, before returning to their tasks.

Judging from the smiles on their faces, Konrad must be a gentle master. The coachman pulled the horses up to the curb, pulled Jozef’s luggage from the top of the coach and bade him to exit. 

The butler led Jozef to a waiting room only a little less elegant than the bishop’s office. Tapestries decorated the wall, and a large fireplace sported a crackling and flickering fire. A tall, portly man entered. “Jozef Wawrzyniak?” He held out his hand.

Jozef nodded. “Yes. I come from the Bishop’s offices.”

“I know. I’m Konrad Bukowski. Welcome to my home.” He pointed to a lovely sofa covered in green velvet, that flanked the fireplace. Jozef sat down, in front of a gleaming cherry wood table.

Konrad took a seat on an upholstered chair opposite him and bent forward. “I need a manager, and you come highly recommended. But before I show you your new home and duties, I want to introduce you to my family.”

A maid entered, carrying a tray heaped with cheeses, bread, and two glasses of wine. Jozef hadn’t seen such good food since he had to leave his own home as a boy.

Konrad turned to the maid. “Basia, please tell my wife and children to come and meet the new manager.” He pointed to the tray Basia had placed onto the table between him and Jozef. “Help yourself. I gather you haven’t eaten a lot lately.”

“Thank you so much. You’re right, I am hungry.” He helped himself to a piece of bread and a chunk of cheese.

Konrad sipped on his wine and watched him. “Since you’re a priest, you have the skills and understanding to manage such a large estate as mine. And I can rely on your honesty. My last manager left me in a mess.”

The sound of footsteps came from beyond the door. Konrad rose. “But let’s leave that for later. Here’s my family.”

The door opened.

18 -- The Priest Receives a New Position

When Jozef rose the next morning, the feeling that his path in life did not include the priesthood grew even stronger. He dressed, preparing himself for a struggle with the bishop the. He would be reverential, he decided, but he would stick by his decision.

As before, the bishop sat in his chair behind the desk and smiled at Jozef. His eyes were warm and seemed to be understanding. “How do you feel today, my son?”

Jozef’s last doubts vaporized in the warmth of Bishop’s Majewski’s smile. “I feel fine.”

“Are you still determined to leave the priesthood?”

“I still feel that the priesthood is wrong for me. I’m needed somewhere else.”

“It may surprise you, my son, but I too, have prayed and fasted on your behalf. I’m not so sure about you leaving the priesthood, but I feel you need a change. One of my good friends needs a manager for his estate, and I think working for him for a few months might put your work for the church into a different light. If you’re willing, you can start working for my friend next week.”

“I’m willing to do that. I still feel I need to leave the priesthood, but I’ll submit to your wisdom and will wait. Do I need to return to my parish?”

“No need to. I’ll send out a new priest this afternoon.  You get your things ready. You’ll stay here until Monday, in fasting and prayer. I’ll introduce you to my friend Konrad Bukowski, and you’ll go with him on Monday. He has a little house ready for you on his estate, and he will make you familiar with your new duties. I will still expect you to wear your collar and behave in the manner that behooves a priest, understand?”

Jozef’s heart grew lighter. He might never see Nina again, but he felt the Bishop had made a good decision. Surely his new life on Panje Bukowski’s lands would bring him closer to what God had in mind for him.

He thanked the bishop, who also seemed relieved, and went to prepare for his new life.

16 --The Priest Meets the Bishop

The bishop was a skinny old man, dressed in the ritual gold and scarlet garments. Jozef entered his large office and looked around in wonder. The stone walls were paneled in warm oak wood. Tapestries depicting saints helping the poor hung behind the bishop’s desk and on the two side walls. A large window in the south wall let in the spring sunshine, which lit up the reds, greens and blues in the decorations.

Bishop Majewski sat down behind his desk and leaned forward, hands on the spotless blotter. “It must be something major that brings you all the way to the city, my son.”

 “It is. I don’t think I’m called to be a priest. It feels all wrong. I thought maybe Satan is tempting me, or the Lord is testing me, so I was going to wait it out. But as time passes, the feeling is getting stronger, not weaker.” Jozef crossed his arms in front of him. “I’m at a loss. I don’t know what to do.”

The bishop watched him, even as he had finished speaking. Eventually he said, “Is there a woman?”