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 Miser and His Gold
A Miser hides his gold at the foot of a tree, visiting it regularly to gloat over his wealth but never using it, illustrating a classic moral lesson. When a robber steals the gold, the Miser laments its loss, only to be reminded by a neighbor that since he never utilized the treasure, he might as well simply look at the empty hole instead. This tale, one of the top 10 moral stories, teaches that wealth is worthless if not put to use.
The Archer and the Eagle
In "The Archer and the Eagle," a mortally wounded eagle finds comfort in the fact that the arrow that struck him was feathered with one of his own quills, highlighting a profound lesson from moral stories. He reflects, "I should have felt bad, indeed, to think that any other eagle had a hand in this," showcasing the depth of his acceptance. This captivating moral story reminds us that sometimes, the source of our pain can provide solace, making it one of the best moral stories to inspire resilience.
The Lion and the Rattlesnake
In this short moral story, a man attempts to subdue a lion with the power of his gaze while a rattlesnake ensnares a small bird nearby. Both boast about their successes, but the lion ultimately points out the irony of the man's futile determination to control him. This quick read highlights the theme of effort versus outcome, making it a compelling moral story for students.
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.