The Holy Deacon
Story Summary
In "The Holy Deacon," a short tale with a moral, an itinerant preacher enlists a Holy Deacon to collect donations from a reluctant congregation, promising him a quarter of the proceeds. However, after the collection, the Deacon reveals that the hardened hearts of the congregation yielded nothing for him, illustrating a life lesson about the challenge of generosity. This easy small story serves as a poignant reminder for young readers about the complexities of faith and giving in short story collections with moral themes.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
The moral of the story is that greed and dishonesty can corrupt one's integrity and lead to unjust actions, even in the guise of religious service.
Historical Context
This story reflects themes commonly found in folk tales and morality plays, particularly those rooted in Christian traditions where itinerant preachers traveled to spread their message while sometimes facing the duplicity of local church authorities. It echoes retellings of Aesop's fables and other parables that highlight the tension between genuine faith and the exploitation of religious authority for personal gain, illustrating the moral dilemmas faced by characters in both historical and contemporary contexts. Such narratives served to critique and illuminate the interactions between the faithful, their leaders, and the often-complex relationship with money and ethics within religious communities.
Our Editors Opinion
This story highlights the moral complexity of trust and integrity in communal and financial relationships, a lesson that resonates in modern life, where transparency and honesty are vital in both personal and professional dealings. For instance, in a workplace scenario, a manager might delegate a team member to gather funds for a charity event, only to later discover that the funds were mishandled, emphasizing the importance of accountability and ethical behavior in fostering trust within a community.
You May Also Like
The Lion and the Fox
In "The Lion and the Fox," an engaging moral tale, a Fox partners with a Lion, helping him locate prey while the Lion captures it. Jealous of the Lion's share, the Fox decides to hunt independently but ultimately fails and becomes prey to hunters and their dogs. This short and sweet moral story reminds students that envy can lead to one's downfall.
A Flourishing Industry
In "A Flourishing Industry," a foreign traveler asks a local about American industries, only to discover that the man's business is thriving in an unexpected way—he manufactures boxing gloves for verbal sparring rather than physical fights. This humorous twist highlights the heartwarming moral that competition can be both playful and uplifting, making it a meaningful story with moral lessons about creativity and resilience.
A Forfeited Right
In "A Forfeited Right," a Thrifty Person sues the Chief of the Weather Bureau after relying on his accurate weather prediction to stock umbrellas that ultimately go unsold. The court rules in favor of the Thrifty Person, highlighting the moral lesson that one can forfeit their right to truthfulness through a history of deception. This classic moral story serves as an inspirational reminder about the importance of integrity and trustworthiness in communication.
Other names for this story
The Deacon's Dilemma, The Itinerant's Plea, Harvest of Hearts, The Preacher's Share, Deacon of Deceit, A Holy Misunderstanding, The Price of Faith, The Deacon's Secret
Did You Know?
This story highlights the theme of hypocrisy and the exploitation of faith for personal gain, as the Holy Deacon, who is expected to embody moral integrity, instead chooses to deceive the preacher and the congregation for his own benefit.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.