The Passing of Mother Mary

By DC Brownlow

A catholic priest helps a child named Brownlow run away from her evil aunt, Mary Catherine before she finds out that the child has a million dollar inheritance awaiting her when she turns eighteen. As the aunt goes after Brownlow, she involves her father who is released for prison after many years of prosecution.
A modern day ‘Oliver Twist’ story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: DC Brownlow
• Release date: Dec 28, 2010
• ISBN: 9780982860335

DC Brownlow

AUTHOR BIO CHRISTINA REYES (DC BROWNLOW) IS A NATIVE DETROITER. SHE LIVES NEAR CONANT GARDENS; A PROMINENT SECTION OF DETROIT MICHIGAN. SHE GRADUATED FROM WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY. SHE CONTINUES TO TEACH SPANISH, GIVE MOTIVATIONAL WRITING SEMINARS, AS WELL AS WRITE POETRY AND PROSE, AND FUTURE NOVELS. www.conantgardens.com

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INTRODUCTION

There in the cemetery Brownlow stood. She was looking down at the light blue coffin of Mother Mary. On top, were the loveliest flowers that she had ever seen. The color scheme of Rose and Lilly fit her perfectly. To some people, Mother Mary was the Rose that would brighten a person’s day. To others she was the Lilly that represented the way she held herself as a lady. Brownlow laid nothing but her hand upon the white coffin and only for a brief moment. Her love was brief during the latter part of Mother Mary’s life. Pulling her hand away, she felt no remorse. Brownlow knew that she had finally found solace, as well as Mother Mary. Turning herself away, Brownlow did regret however, that the peace between them when Mother Mary was alive, had ended in her never having the chance to say, thank-you for making her a stronger and much wiser woman.

As Brownlow turned to walk away, she looked back once more, and thought to herself, was she wrong to leave Mother Mary when she did? When Brownlow finally looked up, she saw the convoy of funeral cars leaving the cemetery grounds. She knew that Mother Mary’s most loyal sisters were in one of those Limos. They believed that Brownlow never attended the funeral at all. Yet she did. Brownlow remained in the back of the church disguised as a guest that would resemble an acquaintance of Mother Mary. She stood there and listened to the moans and weeps of those who would miss Mother Mary’s presence.

The church was a large cathedral. Mother Mary had a catholic service at one of the most prestigious churches in town. It seems that all the people who knew her in life, even though they have not shown the deserve respect while she lived, gave it to her in death. Brownlow had to admit that she was to be counted as one those persons.

Brownlow listened to the songs that were sung, and like others, she was truly moved. The Priest, Father Reyes, who was always said to be a compassionate man, told mourners the things that would comfort them. Then Brownlow asked herself, what would comfort her? Slowly a tear did fall down her cheek. The tear fell not because she was sad, but because it was then that she had felt a wave of calmness move within her. Brownlow’s soul was now as liberated as Mother Mary’s. The difference that consumed Brownlow’s thoughts was that, in her soul, she felt a heavy burden faint from her shoulders. Mother Mary could not hurt her anymore. No more taunts and tortures. Brownlow knew Mother Mary’s soul would be emancipated to roam the domain in which God send all souls.

In the church, Brownlow did feel a little envious. Mother Mary won the most important trophy that this life had to offer. She received the praises and the adornments that represented how well she was regarded. At the church, Brownlow did bow her head with respect to pray for Mother Mary’s soul. She did love Mother Mary once. Brownlow did try to forget the pain that occurred within their relationship.

At the cemetery, as Brownlow walked across the grounds, she looked back at the coffin a third time. She knew it would be her last. Brownlow finally entered into her own black car. Her companion gently reached for her hand, and delivered a passionate kiss to her fingers. They drove off with Brownlow’s mind recalling the events that occurred prior to the death of Mother Mary.

Am I My Mother’s Child?

Brownlow never believed that she was the child of Mother Mary-Catherine. She would rather believe some other lie. As far back as Brownlow could remember she was ten, when she was told that she belonged to Mother Mary. Mother Mary was the only one, who solely cared for her during early childhood. Mother Mary was the Mother Superior of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. It was the only Catholic Church in the small town of Dearboren, Iowa.

There was also a large abbey behind the church. The church and its auxiliaries were very old. It had a lot of history, which dated itself back to the mid-1800. It was at times very drafty. Brownlow was always cold, and it did not matter if the weather outside was hot or cold. Originally, the abbey was built for men who wanted to study the sacred life of the priesthood. The young virgins within the town, and some that came from abroad, who also had a calling were welcomed there to become nuns.

Brownlow was forbidden to call Mother Mary by the name of Mother Superior. Brownlow was not going to be a nun, nor was she, one of the Privileged Catholics, as Mother Mary would deliberately say to her many times. Brownlow was just to call her ‘Mother Mary’.

The nuns also lived in the abbey behind the church. They had the east wing, and the priests had the west. Mother Mary and Brownlow were fortunate to be able to live in a more modern dwelling. Mother Mary and Brownlow had a cottage to themselves. It wasn’t far from the church or the abbey. It was just beyond the garden. In this garden grew the loveliest of flowers.

Mother Mary made the virgin nuns take care of the garden. They cared for this garden with stern discipline. Some of the nuns would even argue over who would water it and who would rid it of the weeds. Brownlow would often shake her head and laugh. She viewed their arguments as facetious.

The cottage was all white with thick wooden angled carved shutters. It was small and quaint. The floors were made up of brown tiles, which had a constant shine, thanks to Brownlow’s daily dusting. The kitchen was as immaculate as the rest of the cottage, although it was rarely used. This was only because Mother Mary and Brownlow often ate inside the abbey’s dining room. In one large room in the back of the cottage, there was a library. Its shelves possessed many books containing all kinds of Catholic Literature. It was a favorite place for Mother Mary. Mother Mary was an avid reader. She knew all the great philosophers. She could quote the scriptures as well as any of the traveling priests and missionaries.

Brownlow never knew her true Christian name. Nor was she ever told exactly how Mother Mary came to possess her. When Brownlow would ask the other nuns, how Mother Mary obtained her, no one would give her an exact answer. Mother Mary would always say, You belong to me Brownlow, and that’s all that matters. Brownlow was sometimes afraid to ask her if she were her real mother. Brownlow knew not to get into Mother Mary's way during her busy days. Brownlow did her chores obediently, and as fast as she could, and then she would sneak into one of the bible sessions of the young virgin nuns. Brownlow loved to hear the bible stories, and she learned to recite them along with her prayers as she commenced her daily duties.

In the church, all chores had to be done by hand. Brownlow had to dust the large chapel all by herself. The pews and the wooden alter could not contain any dust particles at all. Mother Mary would check each day with a white handkerchief. Brownlow had to make sure that she wiped each of the chapel windows, until they all gave the appearance as if they were left open, and one could put their hand through it. She had to also scrub all the latrines for the priests and nuns. Their sinks must not contain any residue or signs of usage by the nest of day.

Brownlow had to replace the towels in each bath at least twice a day. All the corridor floors were also scrubbed by hand, and then wiped completely dry so that none of the priests or nuns would slip or fall. Brownlow was given strict instruction, not to touch any of the statues of the Virgin Mary, or the statues of Jesus. Mother Mary thought these religious relics were too precious for the unclean hands of Brownlow.

Brownlow usually worked long hours. She would get up by four in the morning and try to finish by eight o'clock that evening. Mother Mary allowed Brownlow to have a large breakfast before beginning her chores. This was so that Brownlow would not ask for lunch, and therefore she would not be seen anywhere among the virgin nuns during midday. Mother Mary was so busy during mid-afternoon and late evenings, that Brownlow could sneak some snacks and eat dinner at her desire.

Mother Mary had so much control over Brownlow that she deliberately issued some of the strictest Catholic disciplines towards her. Mother Mary often reminded Brownlow that she was going to be a woman of lower status; therefore not all privileges would be given to her, as would be given to others. Brownlow was small for her age, and skinny. Her leg bones were curved inward. Brownlow trained herself to walk as dignified as the virgin nuns, so that the curvature would not be so readily noticed. Her skin was of brownish color with pale yellow undertones. Her hair was dark brown, thick, and very wavy. Mother Mary gave up at times, trying to comb Brownlow's hair, so she would just have it cut very short, and she tied it back with a thick yellow ribbon.

Brownlow had a droop to her right eyelid. Mother Mary said that she was cursed by Satan, and sent to her by God to protect her and change the evil within. To be cruel, Mother Mary would tell Brownlow that the same devilish angel that possessed King Richard III now engulfed her, hence making her deformed as well. Brownlow later found that such stories were not only cruel, but were only to give her an inferior complex, as well as low self-esteem. Mother Mary told Brownlow once, The perfect children have to look better than you, if they are to get into heaven someday. Brownlow would often look in the mirror and cry bitterly.

Brownlow believed that by saying her prayers, maybe God would work a miracle and change her physical characteristics, then making her more acceptable to others. Brownlow also felt that if she was not so ugly and deformed, she could be part of the privileged nuns coming into the church each year to serve God.

As the years passed, Brownlow matured physically and in personality. She also became more and more defiant. Brownlow soon became lax with her chores. There were times when Mother Mary would often yell for Brownlow so loudly, that her voice seemed to pierce the thick church walls. Mother Mary’s voice could be heard throughout the entire church and abbey. Many of the nuns and priests felt uncomfortable around Mother Mary when she was looking for Brownlow. Most the nuns were asked to help search for Brownlow; yet even when they could not find her, they were also ridiculed for not doing God’s work.

After several months had passed, many of the rooms became so dusty, that when Brownlow did dust them, she would get some of the dust into her lungs. During mass, Brownlow would cough spontaneously. She tried to muffle the cough, which got worse at each attempt. Brownlow would often hide from Mother Mary, especially when she was punished for attending mass, or bible sessions with the nuns. Brownlow thus became miserable and depressed. She wanted to join others during mass, she wanted to attend the bible sessions, and even to sing in the choir with the other nuns, yet she could not understand why she was forbidden to do so. For her continual disobedience, she was severely whipped.

Many of the nuns rarely paid Brownlow any attention. They were instructed to ignore her, and walk passed her as if they did not see her. No one left the church grounds, unless it was for church business. Brownlow was forbidden to play with the outside children. She was not allowed to attend school like the other children in the town. However, there were some compassionate nuns that gave Brownlow lessons in grammar and reading, but only when Mother Mary was away from the abbey.

Mother Mary was given the assignment of visiting parishioners when they were ill. She hated that task, and would often grunt as she left the church grounds. When there was no one to talk to, Brownlow would make up new friends about her. They became her only companions, yet none could see them but her. Sometimes the nuns would peek around the corners to see whom Brownlow could be talking with. Some nuns gave their report to Mother Mary upon her return from town, and Brownlow's friends slowly disappeared one by one with heavy insistence from Mother Mary's whip.

The only place that became a haven for Brownlow was the cottage's attic. The attic was not very big. Although the attic had the dirtiest walls and very thin glass windows, Brownlow didn’t seem to mind. It was hers, and no one bothered her there. The colored-stained glass windows were sealed shut. In the summer, it was extremely hot, but Brownlow didn’t seem to mind that either. In the winter, Brownlow pulled the white blanket off of a trunk that was against one wall. During those cold mid-afternoons, Brownlow laid down on the floor with the blanket wrapped around her. She would read her bible. Sometimes she would practice the school lessons that some of the compassionate nuns taught her.

The attic was the one place that she felt safe, and there she found solace from her world of daily torment. In the evenings, before leaving the attic at night, Brownlow would say the prayers to the angels Michael and Gabrielle. These were her