THE CLOSER IN THE DARK NIGHT / by Joe Castorino

My Merciful Manager

hands me the ball,

and I take the mound     

in the ninth inning   

since our team is    

ahead by one run.    

 

After going to confession,        

I devoutly pray Lectio Divina          

for thirty minutes, and then,

free from all affection for sin,

I say an Our Father and Hail Mary

for the Holy Father’s intentions:        

thus, I pitch a supersonic fastball

that crisply crackles in my

All-Star catcher’s glove --     

the first hitter strikes out,

with an aggressive         

swing and a miss.

 

Next, during the Offertory

at Holy Mass, I offer up the

intention for a plenary indulgence —

for a specific individual, or for

whomever Our Lady chooses:

I swiftly snap off a    

knee-buckling curveball --    

the second hitter in the lineup        

strikes out, frozen    

like a cement gargoyle        

as he watches the baseball        

bend over the strike zone.  

Finally, I receive Holy Communion

and, in a total gift of self, I devoutly

seek union with Our Lord and King:        

and so, I release a knuckleball        

that dives through the air    

like the Dove of Divine Mercy --         

the third hitter in the lineup        

strikes out, waving his bat            

helplessly, hopelessly,            

missing it by a foot.

 

Suddenly a happy soul        

speeds across the dark sky

like a bright shooting star,              

streaming red and white 

in unimaginable exhilaration,                   

escaping the pains of Purgatory        

and finding the pleasures of Paradise;        

then my All-Star catcher,

the sweet Lady of Love,        

leaps into my waiting arms,        

joyfully embracing me  

with the kiss of peace,     

to celebrate yet another

heavenly save in the

Kingdom of Divine Mercy.