Bless me, Ultima

               I understand the thoughts of the young Catholic boy about to receive his first confession. Sin is very real and damnation is only a sin away.  That is how Catholic religion was in my time.  The nuns and priests were infallible and their word was law.  For one of the boys, Florence to claim that he never had sinned was blasphemous. “I don’t have any,” Florence said softly.” (Anaya 3318). “Everybody has sins!” shouted Agnes.” (Anaya 3318)  The way that the story moved alongside the Stations of the Cross was interesting to me.   The childish confessions of sins were benign but their actions against Tony were vicious and not very Christ-like.  They all marched in for their confession like devote Catholics but just a few moments ago were beating Tony who was by far the most forgiving and conscious of his sins.  Is the writer drawing a parallel to Christ who was blameless but willing to suffer for the sins of others?