Cardinal Rules

PPC6-cardinal

Stories passed down; family lore
oft without all the details.
Perspectives, perhaps lost in misty time
or left out intentionally.
Times being what they were or fresh starts
being easier that way.
Still, feelings were involved--
heart hurts battling rigidity.

A story 'thought' generations old
wasn't as far back in ancient past
as one would have been left to believe.
Judgments being more final back in the day.
Sometimes, perhaps, stories
needed to be rewritten.
Made more 'user-friendly'
to protect the innocent.

When the heart overrides discretion
or rules set in stone, there can be
no easy path, in some eyes, no redemption.
And yet. Sometimes the heart finds a way--
rocky perhaps, hard--very hard
because that love exists regardless
of 'should-be's' or 'must-bes,'
of 'can't-bes' and yet, still are.

Solutions and responsibilities
are found and honored.
The 'right' things to do and are
because honor must be followed through.
History and power can be used to negate reality.
To cover up, mislead imperfections
of heart and mind.
No one is perfect, after all.

Fast forward several generations
to a day no one then saw coming.
Fast-forwarded to a day where records
are 'available' with the click of a key.
When original souls are long gone
and just descendants remain.
For years, it was the 'avoided subject',
the one no one talked about. At all.

And yet, and yet, it happened.
The apples fell so close to the tree
there is no mistaking photographic evidence.
It explains a lot about personalities
and having to deal with realities.
Opens up understanding and forgiveness.
Opens up respect for choices made
and the effort to rise above. No matter what.

His name was Luigi Paulo Maglione
and he and a woman named Helen fell in love.
Both Catholic. He, he was a priest.
Forbidden on numerous levels.
And yet, they found a way. He was a rising star,
brilliant in diplomacy, very good in all he did.
He found the way and an understanding soul,
or perhaps a poor one, and married her anyway.

His son was named Paulo Luigi after him.
His daughter was named Madeline.
He became a Cardinal under Pope Pius, XI.
Became Secretary of State to the Vatican
under Pope Pius, XII.
Life continued under the radar,
under veils of secrecy, in the shadows.
But there needs be more, in the sun.

He sent Helen and two children to the United States
for a fresh start. He made sure they were okay.
He put both children through college
while being Secretary of State for the Vatican.
I have no clue how much they kept in contact
but I am quite sure they did. They kept their secrets
close to their hearts. I remember Gram saying once
that she and her husband couldn't be together.

At the time, I didn't understand, but it was clear
no more would be said on the matter and that he'd now (then)
been dead for almost thirty years. She clearly
still loved him. And had never stopped.
She was a strong woman, that I knew.
But I'd had no clue how strong she'd really been.
Stalwart, brave, truly a phenomenal woman.
In retrospect, she was so much more than she appeared to be.

This was my daughter and son's great-grandmother.
He was their great-grandfather. The one history
denies. And yet, blood cannot.
Facts exist. I didn't always understand her or
her son's choices or attitudes. I didn't always
like them as people. But I do now because I gained
it through my research. I learned that it is in
the untold truths where understanding can still bloom.