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It has now been fifteen years since she first entered the Church of Saint Mary of the Angels. The Office of Vespers had just begun. Rain pounded on the roof; there was thunder and lightning. She appeared tired and frightened, and walked, in some pain, with a limp. Still, she made it down the long center aisle and into the sanctuary, where she lay down on the festal carpet, quiet and attentive through
The Tale (or Tail) of One Professed
It has now been fifteen years since she first entered the Church of Saint Mary of the Angels. The Office of Vespers had just begun. Rain pounded on the roof; there was thunder and lightning. She appeared tired and frightened, and walked, in some pain, with a limp. Still, she made it down the long center aisle and into the sanctuary, where she lay down on the festal carpet, quiet and attentive through the remainder of the office.
Father Jones and Joan Johnson scooped her up and dried her off, gave her food and water, and decided to watch her overnight. Perhaps she would need to be seen by a Vet in the morning. She did not, and by morning had set about exploring the entire church, from the heights of the choir loft into the depths of the undercroft, covering every inch. Never mewing, she moved with a stealthiness that was almost reverential. Some could pet her briefly, but only when approached by her first. Due to the time of her arrival, she became known as "Vesper".
She attended every Mass and office, at times resting on the sanctuary carpet, or moving quietly under the pews, where she would suddenly rub against and startle the faithful. One or two were initially scandalized; "What's that cat doing in the church?" It lasted less than two weeks, and the mantra changed to "Has anybody seen Vesper?" She has never left. She knows, and is known by all. She greets visitors, and members of a Hollywood actor's workshop that meets on Mondays, the members of A.A. who meet on Wednesday and Friday evenings. She now has a pillow on the far Gospel side of the sanctuary, fondly referred by all as "Vesper's Stall."
She required emergency surgery on one occasion, when, no doubt defending her ecclesial home, she tangled with what must have been a particularly vicious (and very likely heretical) possum. In that she is one of America's many medically uninsured, the parish treasurer, always known for a thriftiness rivaling that of Jack Benny, promptly paid, without question, all of the expenses. And so, after fifteen years as inquirer, candidate, postulant and novice, she is now recognized as life professed with the name Sister Mary Vesper de Los Feliz . She is, not only life professed, but by popular assent, SUPERIOR, very superior, in every respect. Should you have doubts, just ask her!
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