In an example of situational irony, Kernan’s friends try to impress him (and each other) by sharing their knowledge of Catholicism, only to get their facts extremely wrong. In the following passage, for example, the men make several incorrect claims about papal mottos:
—So he was, said Mr Cunningham, if not the most so. His motto, you know, as Pope, was Lux upon Lux—Light upon Light.
—No, no, said Mr Fogarty eagerly. I think you’re wrong there. It was Lux in Tenebris, I think—Light in Darkness.
—O yes, said Mr M’Coy, Tenebrae.
—Allow me, said Mr Cunningham positively, it was Lux upon Lux. And Pius IX. his predecessor’s motto was Crux upon Crux that is, Cross upon Cross—to show the difference between their two pontificates.
The first incorrect claims here are that the motto of Pope Leo XIII was “lux upon lux” and that of Pope Pius IX was “crux upon crux.” These are blatantly incorrect, as the phrases combine Latin words (lux and crux) with an English word (“upon”), whereas most mottos would be entirely in one language. The rest of the conversation features the men seemingly reciting any phrases they’ve heard in Latin, despite the fact that they do not correspond to the popes they are discussing.
This moment highlights the absurdity of these men “leading” Kernan toward the Catholic Church (and toward spiritual clarity). They are clearly ill-informed and care more about debating papal mottos than discussing Catholic tenets that might help Kernan in preparing for his retreat and potential sobriety, such as grace and redemption.
