After the old priest in charge of the souls of the people of that small village left us forever, the area archbishop is sending a new priest to be in charge of that parish.

As the village major knew of this fact and as it happened that the railroad station was about 5 mi. apart from the city, he asked Joe the shepherd, to take his horse carriage, go to the station and pick the priest. Joe (who was also a pest) affirmed very pleasured.

As the priest was getting out from the coach at the station Joe approached him and asked (undoubtedly, or not many people left the train at that station or the priest was wearing his working uniform for Joe to recognize him so easily.)

“Sir, are you the new priest?”

“Yes, I am” the priest answered and continued to say “what do you want?”

"Well”, replied Joe, “the major asked to come here to take you to the city and for me that was a great pleasure”

“Oh, thank you very much, I was thinking in the train if I had to walk to there; by the way, what is your name?”

“Well, they tell me Joe the Shepherd” he replied.

“OK, Joe, let’s go” said the priest.

They went up into the carriage and started their way to the village.

About half-way, the priest showed a pack of cigarettes up, offer one to Joe, and lighted them. As Joe was not a stupid as he saw the lighter he asked the priest.

“Father, would you mind giving the lighter to me?”

and the priest replied:

“Listen Joe, I’m very grateful to you for coming to the station, whatever I had I would give to you, but I’m very poor and the only thing I own is this lighter which was given to me by my mom at her death bed”

“C’mon Father, give me the lighter!” Joe insisted,

and continued to insist, and insist, and .... Finally they reached the village, the lighter was in Mariano’s pocket and the priest was owning nothing else than his habit and underwear.

The priest took possession of the church and started doing his job. Sometime later he was at the confessional when he heard a woman’s voice coming from the other side of the board, the voice started to say:

“Father, I declare myself guilty. My boyfriend is always forcing me to go to bed with him and make love”

and the priest asked:

“Well, and what is your answer?”

“I always reply he shouldn’t expect anything until after the wedding”

“That’s the perfect reply. Keep strong my daughter. By the way, which is your boyfriend’s name?” the priest asked.

“They tell him Joe, Joe the Shepherd” the woman replied.

“In that case, my dear, consider yourself fucked. But you have my absolution in advance, just in case”

the priest replied.