How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
In the sky, saints and martyrs looked on with set and unforgiving faces. The candle was blessed. It belonged to Saint Francis. Saint Francis will have a big candle in its place tonight. (5.49)
Hold on, we're not talking about the Pirate's candle. The candle in this quote is Danny's house itself, after the friends accidentally set it on fire. In the Catholic Church, the tradition of burning a candle for a particular saint has to do with pleasing that saint so that he or she will hear your prayer. Maybe Danny's house burning was the way to bring all the friends together to one place, and for that reason it is compared to a holy candle. What do you think their "prayer" might be?
Quote #5
"How did the fire start?"
"We don't know," Pilon explained. "We went to sleep, and then it started. Perhaps we have enemies."
"Perhaps," said Pablo devoutly, "perhaps God had a finger in it."
"Who can say what makes the good God act the way He does?" added Jesus Maria. (6.18-21)
When Danny gets on his friends' backs for burning down his rent house, they immediately bring out the heavy artillery and pass the buck on to God. What can you say to that? This trick makes it really hard for Danny to be mad at them, because if it's really the Lord working in mysterious ways, then who is he to question it?
Quote #6
The Pirate shook his head. "No: I cannot do that. It is promised. I have nearly a thousand two-bitses. When I have a thousand I will buy a gold candlestick for San Francisco de Assisi.
"Once I had a nice dog, and that dog was sick; and I promised a gold candlestick of one thousand days if that dog would get well. And," he spread his great hands, "that dog got well." (7.100-01)
The Pirate is saving his gold to buy a candle for Saint Francis. Here we learn more about the tradition of the candles: the Pirate explains that he had made a promise to buy the saint a candle if his dog got well. We can see how devout the Pirate is because he's been saving up for years to keep his promise.