God Underneath
Spiritual Memoirs of a Catholic Priest
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3.7 • 3 Ratings
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
A delightfully different approach to religion and spirituality, this collection of engaging personal tales transcends specific doctrines to reveal the presence of God in everyday life.
Father Edward L. Beck spins tales like a master, presenting with candor and a touch of irreverence incidents and events that will resonate with readers. Exploring such universal themes and concerns as friendship, sexuality, illness, alcoholism, loss, and death, the vignettes and stories in this collection are animated by intriguing characters, pitch-perfect dialogue–and a surprising twist. Probing beneath the surface of ordinary life, each selection contains a hidden message, a subtle but powerful reminder of the signposts that mark a spiritual journey.
Quotations from the Scriptures introduce the tales, providing a context that will help readers uncover the meaning the story holds for their own personal lives and beliefs. To encourage further reflection and rumination, Beck offers insights into the specific religious and theological themes that inspired the writing of each tale.
A lively, unabashed look at the challenges of living a spiritual life in contemporary times, God Underneath will appeal not only to Catholics, but to all spiritual seekers, regardless of religious affiliation.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Born in 1958, Beck, who belongs to the religious order of brothers and priests known as Passionists, hardly seems old enough to be writing his memoirs. But whatever he may lack in the wisdom that age brings, he compensates for in this refreshing portrait of life as a Catholic priest. Beck is a gifted storyteller who evokes both humor and pathos with his tales of family and church life. Employing a cast of fascinating characters ranging from his mother, whose expletive of choice is "terrible," to Sister Mary Alicene, his first grade teacher, Beck offers an intimate look at what led him to his vowed life and what keeps him there. Although he clearly loves his calling, he is honest about its challenges, particularly the state of celibacy. For example, he writes movingly of the time he got too close to a woman who sought spiritual direction from him, leading to an ending that was painful for them both. In relating such incidents, Beck manages to reveal his failings without excusing them, emerging as someone who is comfortable with his humanity even as he aspires to holiness. At times, he lapses into opining on issues such as anti-Catholic attitudes and the Church's refusal to ordain women priests, but he is at his best when he sticks to telling stories. Beck's book could well become required reading for anyone considering religious life, and is sufficiently engaging to attract a wider audience.
