The Third Revelation by Ralph McInerny Read Free Book Online

lawyer, ‘Can I ask you two questions?’ and the lawyer says, ‘Certainly, what’s the second one?’ ”
    â€œI’ll get to the questions soon enough. First, I have to tell you a bit about the recent transformation in Ignatius Hannan.”
    â€œDo you call him Ignatius?”
    â€œNate.”
    â€œSounds like a hillbilly.”
    â€œFar from it. He’s a genius. An entrepreneur. And he has become very religious.”
    â€œWhat was he?”
    â€œHe was born and raised Catholic, of course. He became caught up with building his business and, well, he was just too busy, I guess. A year ago, one night when he was unable to sleep, he turned on the television to EWTN and listened to Mother Angelica. Do you know her?”
    â€œI know who she is.”
    â€œShe was talking about devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Fatima. She urged her listeners to say the rosary every day. The next morning he asked me to buy him a rosary. That was the beginning.”
    â€œDon’t tell me he wants a papal audience.”
    â€œCould you arrange one?”
    He made a face. “Is that why you’ve come?”
    â€œNo. Not at all. It was an afterthought. Though it would be an important day in Nate’s life if he could meet the pope. But back to Nate’s conversion. He began to watch EWTN regularly and was struck by the works of art that were featured in the transitions from one program to the next.”
    John said nothing.
    â€œA couple of days ago he asked me to get him a list of the best and most famous paintings depicting the mysteries of the rosary. He was particularly interested in the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation, and the finding of the Child Jesus in the temple.”
    â€œThe joyful mysteries,” John said.
    â€œYes. I told him it was out of my area of expertise but that my brother was a priest in the Vatican with a fine education in sacred art. He told me to hop in the plane and come see you.”
    â€œJust like that?” John said.
    â€œJust like that. And here I am. And I’m asking you.”
    John listened to this account, put out his cigarette, and said, “And what will he do when he has the list?”
    â€œKnowing Nate, he’ll buy them.”
    John’s laughter brought home to Laura that it was incredibly naive to think her boss, however incredibly rich and well connected he was, could just walk into wherever the paintings were and make an offer.
    â€œCan you give me such a list?” Laura said.
    â€œYou’re serious.”
    â€œI’m not. Nate Hannan is.”
    He shrugged. “I’m not the one to do it, but I can have it done. I’ll ask Brendan Crowe.”
    â€œWho is he?”
    â€œAn Irish priest who works in the Vatican Archives. He lives here.”
    â€œHow long would it take to put together such a list?”
    â€œThat depends. I think I won’t tell him why you want the list. He might drag his feet if he knew what it was for.”
    â€œI understand.”
    â€œI’ll ask your question. I’ll call you when I get the list.”
    â€œThanks, John.”
    â€œHow many pushy sisters do I have?”
    Laura couldn’t resist. She got up and went to hug her brother again, dropping a kiss on the top of his head.
    He blushed like a six-year-old caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
    â€œLaura . . .”
    â€œIt’s just so good to see you.”
    â€œYou better get going.”
    â€œThanks, John.”
    And so they parted.
    Later, Laura would wonder what she would have done then if she had known the ripple effect such a simple question would have on the people she loved, and on the Church itself.
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    On her way back to the hotel, Laura went through the basilica, telling herself it was a shortcut. Once inside the enormous church she found herself wandering about like any other tourist. And then she noticed the confessionals. The