Francisco and Jacinta

Francisco, Jacinta, Lucia, sheep (3), Mary, Jacinta's mom, Lucia's mother, priest, other people (3), administrator, police (2)

This story takes place in Portugal in 1917.  (Enter administrator)  In those days the government, speaking through the administrator, said "We have expelled the Monarchy! Now let's get rid of priests!"

The audience gasped

(Enter priest)

A priest ran in and said "But why?"

The administrator said "Because we are a government of Masons, and that is what we do."

(Enter police)  Then to the police, the administrator said "Beat that man up please.  He is a priest!"

So the police beat the priest up.

(Clear the stage)

(Enter Francisco, Jacinta, Lucia and sheep)

One day three children, Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia were looking after their sheep, when suddenly there was a flash of light!  Francisco said "Oh no, looks like lightning!  Let's get the sheep into a shelter!"

So the three children rounded up their sheep, which was difficult, because their sheep kept braying and going off the wrong way.

(Enter Mary)

Suddenly Mary appeared to them, bright like the sun, and floating above the trees!

The kids said "Aaah!  Run away!"

But Mary said "Come closer children".

Jacinta said "Where do you come from?"

Mary said "Heaven."

Lucia said "Who are you?"

Mary said "Come back here every month, and in October I will tell you.  Meanwhile, pray the rosary every day."

Then Mary dissapeared.

(Exit Mary)

Lucia said "Guys, don't tell anyone abut this! Let's make it our secret!"

(Enter Jacintas mom and Lucias mother and priest)

But when Jacinta saw her mom, she said "Mama, mama! A beautiful glowing lady appeared to us and told us to pray the rosary!"

Her mom laughed, and turned to the audience saying "Can you believe what my daughter says? Next she'll be telling me it was the blessed virgin herself!!"

But the audience said "The blessed virgin?  Crazy!"

Lucia's Mother said "Lucia, you're not allowed to go back there, y'hear?"

But the local priest said, "Oh, let her. What harm can it do?"

(Enter other people, Mary)

So the children continued to go to the spot, followed now by their mothers and the priest and other people. And every month Mary appeared to the children, but no one else could see her.

(Enter administrator and police, exit mom, mother, sheep, other people, Mary)

One day the local administrator said "This is ridiculous!  I'll put a stop to it!"

And so he had the police arrest the 3 children and throw them in jail, so they would miss their appointment. He said "Ok children, tell me the truth, or I will dump you in boiling oil!"

Jacinta began to cry, while her brother Francisco held her tight, and stroked her hair, saying "There there."

But Lucia stood up boldly and said "We are telling you the truth. If you like, I can ask the lady for permission to share some secrets with you!"

Finally, the administrator let them go.  But because they had missed their appointment with Mary, she appeared to them 6 days later in another place!

(Enter Mary)

 She said "In October there will be a miracle for all to see!" Then she disappeared.

(Exit Mary, enter everyone else)

So on the 13th of October, 1917, everybody came to the Cova to see the children and the miracle.

Suddenly Lucia cried out "Look at the sun!"

The cast and the whole audience gasped as the sun appeared to dance around in the sky!  The cried out "Impossible!" and "A miracle!" and "The children were telling the truth!"

When it looked like the sun would crash into the earth, everyone in the cast and even the audience fell on the floor screaming in terror!

But then suddenly, everything went back to normal.

Jacinta and Francisco died while they were still children, but Lucia grew up to be an elderly nun.

Saint Jacinta and Francisco-  Pray for us!

Blessed Imelda

Blessed Imelda

Count Egano, Castora, Imelda, sister, sacristan, priest

(Enter Count Egano)

There once was a man called Count Egano Lambertini.  Count Egano said, in his best Transylvania accent “One!  One lovely bat. Ah-ah-ah.”

The audience said “Not that kind of count!”

Count Egano said “Do I at least get to where a cape?”

The Narrator said “Ok”.  Count Egano clapped his hands with joy, then fastened his imaginary cape, pretended to drape it over his face, and said “One!  One fashionable purple cape.  Ah-ah-ah.”

The audience said “Oh Brother!”

(Enter Castora)

The count saw a women named Castora.   Castora said “I love a man in a cape…”

Count Egano said “I love a woman who loves a man in a cape.”  Then he kissed her hand, and said “Will you marry me?”

Castora said “Of course, yes!”  And she draped her arms around him.

(Enter Imelda)

Count Egano and Castora had a baby girl, and they named her Imelda.  When Imelda was a little girl, she said “When you receive communion, you receive Jesus into your heart, right?”

Castora said “Of course my dear!”

Imelda said “How can you receive Jesus into your heart and not die?”

Count Egano said “One!  One awkward question!  Ah-ah-ah.”

Castora said “You know by heart, we don’t mean your physical heart, but your spirit….”

But Imelda said “I know- I just think you would die of love.  I wish I could receive communion now!”

But Castora said “Oh, dear.  You are too young!  You have to be at least 14 to receive first communion!”

The narrator then explained that that rule has since then been changed and you can receive communion as young as 7 now.

(Enter sister, Sacristan and Priest)

One day Imelda was with her mom and dad and sister at Mass.  They were kneeling and praying, and a strange mysterious light was seen floating above Imelda’s head.

The  Sacristan came over and tried to grab the weird light, but it could not be grabbed. The priest said “It’s a miracle!  We should let Imelda receive communion even though she’s too young!”

So the priest took communion to her and said “The Body of Christ!”

Imelda said “Amen” and received her first communion.

Afterwards, she just kept kneeling with a great big smile on her face. She stayed perfectly still as a statue.  Mass ended, and the priest, sacristan, and Imelda’s family all walked out.  But Imelda just stayed there, like a statue, with a great big smile on her face!

Eventually her sister came back and said “Imelda!  It’s time to go home now!”

But Imelda didn’t move.

Her sister said “Hello, Imelda!”  And waved her hand in front of Imelda’s face.

Imelda didn’t even blink. She just kept kneeling with a big silly grin on her face.

Her sister said, in a very whiny voice “Imelda, come on!”  And she shook her.

But Imelda just fell over, dead.  She loved Jesus so much that when she received him she died and went to Heaven!

Blessed Imelda is the patron saint of first communion.

Blessed Imelda- Pray for us!