As in:
There are at least three versions of the Act of Contrition that Stuart was familiar with and he figured, by the one Father Lynch chose, that his senior was trying to put him at ease by choosing the version that was the most thoroughly and severely repentant.
“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my
sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend
Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly
resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near
occasions of sin.”
“Amen,” Stuart said.
“It’s good get that out of the way,” Father Lynch replied.
“So, father, what offenses by thy here?” Stuart asked, albeit shakily.
“I’ve searched my heart and it wasn’t greed,” Father Lynch said, “and so it must be something else. In the realm of pride.”
“Okay,” Stuart said, “pride then. Go on.”
“I think that I thought, that I must have thought, that it was okay to be worldly in the pursuit of good and rugged competition with Bert, and Duke, and really it wasn’t. At least I now realize it wasn’t. That no matter how stubborn Bert has been to resist the faith, well any faith really, that it was wrong to excuse myself from ministering to him, as I would minister to anyone else.”
“I see not much evil in that father,” Stuart said.
Father Lynch replied with a deep and instructive silence, that left Stuart falling face forward, though not literally.
“But I do see your point,” he finally blurted, to catch himself.
“About time you did,” Father Lynch replied.
“Oh certainly.”
“Very good then.”
“That will be six Hail Marys and two Lord’s Prayers.”
“I’m sure it will be at least that.”
“Amen.”
And with that Stuart blessed him and dismissed him to the lengthening shadows of the long afternoon.
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