This blog is comprised of Saint of the Week stories I have been writing for my youth groups in Rocky Mountain House and Sylvan Lake. Each week we act out the life of another saint in what is called a "Spontaneous Melodrama." Choose volunteer actors for each role in the story, then read the story, pausing when necessary to let the actors say their lines. This is a dynamic and fun way to learn the stories of the saints, although sometimes historical precision is sacrificed for flow. Feel free to try this in your group!

Friday, April 8, 2016

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!