Over the weekend I recalled a story I heard this past year. It's supposed to be true. Well, even if it never happened, it's still true.
In Catholic schools some decades ago, the crowning of the statue of Mary as May Queen was a big deal. There were processions, etc and the bright and pious girl who was chosen by the nuns to do the actual coronation had status.
There was a girl, Maria Scarpino, let's call her, who wanted this role. So she set out during the year to be the most exemplary Catholic school girl she could. She excelled both in academics and behavior and ramped up her piety with Masses and rosaries, etc. It was her project and goal and she dedicated herself to it totally.
When the time came in spring, though, the nuns chose another girl to perform the coveted ritual, one who, to Maria's eyes, seemed far less worthy than she. It was a bitter disappointment.
Many years later, Maria was invited to her class reunion. Now an adult, she returned to her childhood school and some of the nuns who had taught her were there. She summoned up her courage and asked one of them about the affair of the May Crowning, which had haunted her all these years. She wanted to know why, despite her worthiness, she had not been chosen. This was the answer she got:
"Ah, well, Maria, yes, you certainly deserved the spot. But we only had one dress for the ceremony and unfortunately...you didn't fit the dress."
You certainly deserved the spot, but, alas, you didn't fit the dress.
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