Benediction

A girl walks into a monastery—and what she finds isn't just faith, but the memory of love.

Benediction was published just weeks after Bernice Bobs Her Hair, on May 22, 1920, in The Smart Set, a magazine known for courting the literary avant-garde. This story marked a tonal shift for Fitzgerald—a turn away from flirtatious parties and toward something more introspective, almost spiritual.

Fitzgerald had a complicated relationship with religion, particularly Catholicism. Raised in the faith but often in conflict with its expectations, he poured that tension into this short, haunting tale. Some critics called it sentimental; others called it bold. Fitzgerald, true to form, called it good.

The Story
Lois is on her way to meet her lover, Howard, for a weekend rendezvous. But before she does, she makes a stop: to see her estranged brother, Kieth, who is preparing to be ordained as a Catholic priest.

At first, Lois is flippant and worldly, a society girl only mildly amused by her brother’s piety. But as she observes his devotion—and is pulled into the rhythm of the monastery—something begins to shift. She witnesses a benediction ceremony, and in that quiet, reverent moment, she experiences an awakening of her own.

Is it faith? Regret? Nostalgia for innocence? Benediction doesn’t answer cleanly. It lingers in that ambiguity—the place where sacred and profane meet, where love and longing refuse to be categorized.

It’s a story about connection, yes—but also about the distance between people who once shared a home, a childhood, a God. And it leaves us asking: what do we really believe, when no one is watching?

Published: May 22, 1920 (The Smart Set)