I don't think the minister's reaction was due to any overly-emotional "alter call" type of experience.
I think the minister's tears were because he had children of his own and he was experiencing AG's mother's pain along with her.
It would be difficult to look at a lifeless child and not see your own child's face. (I can hardly type these sentences. I can only grasp at the reality.)
AG, you and your mother will see Patrick again in heaven. Forever.
I realize that.
That's exactly right, Dr. E.
I'll say it again, the priests, all three had nothing in the tank here, and they couldn't really, because it would take breaking their vows to fill that tank. They had nothing to offer. The Monsignour was so discombobulated and at a loss as to what to say that he told my Mother his death might have been good because she never know how he was going to grow up, sort of implying that he might lead an untoward life. It was so stupid. But it happened mostly because he had nothing to offer, really. The Pentecostal minster's response came from deep, deep inside and it was really comforting to my Mom because it was truly a grief observed and understood.
If I seem overly attached to Patrick it's because he was the baby, we looked exactly alike and he loved me in a special way because I'm the only girl in the family.
By the way, when my Mom was pregnant with my younger brothers, I prayed that they wouldn't be girls. Selfish, I know. Just knew I held a position of privilege and didn't want to let it go. :) And, anyway, God did answer my prayers.