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to the sacristy afterwards. The sender should be assured that the con–
tents would be turned over to the Holy Father, if possible.
"Providing, of course," said Father Udovic, standing and trying
to get into the act, "it's not something...."
"Providing it's possible to do so."
Father Udovic tried not to look sad. The Archbishop might
express himself better, but he was saying nothing that hadn't occurred
to Father Udovic first, days before.
It
was pretty discouraging.
He retreated to the outer office and went to work on a memo
of their conversation. Drafting letters and announcements was the
hardest part of his job for him. He tended to go astray without a
memo, to take up with the tempting cliches that came to him in the
act of composition and sometimes perverted the Archbishop's true
meaning. Later that morning, he called Monsignor Renton and read
him the product of many revisions, the two sentences.
"Okay," said Monsignor Renton. "I'll stick it in the bulletin.
Thanks a lot."
As soon as Father Udovic hung up, he doubted that that was
what the Archbishop wished. He consulted the memo. The Arch–
bishop was very anxious that "not too much be made of this matter."
Naturally Monsignor Renton wanted the item for his parish bulletin.
He was hard up. At one time he had produced the best bulletin in
the diocese, but now he was written out, quoting more and more
from the magazines and even from the papal encyclicals. Father
Vdovic called Monsignor Renton back and asked that the announce–
ment be kept out of print.
It
would be enough to read it once over
lightly from the pulpit, using Father Udovic's version because it said
enough without saying too much and was, he implied, authorized
by the Archbishop. Whoever the announcement concerned would
comprehend it.
If
published, the announcement would be subject to
study and private interpretation. "Announcements from the pulpit
are soon forgotten," Father Udovic said. "I mean-by the people
they don't concern."
"You were right the first time, Bruno," said Monsignor Renton.
He sounded sore.
The next day-Sunday-Father Udovic stayed home, expecting
a call from Monsignor Renton, or possibly even a visit. There was
