My Son the Priest

<p><b><span>“A beautifully written tale of spiritual growth.”—James Martin, SJ, author of the <i>New York Times</i> bestsellers <i>Jesus: A Pilgrimage</i> and <i>Learning to Pray</i></span><span><i> </i></span></b></p><p><b>Not every Catholic mother wants her son to be a priest.</b></p> <p>The true story of a young man’s journey to become a Jesuit priest—written by his mother, a fallen-away Catholic who must come to terms with her son’s decision or risk losing him. It is an intimate, sometimes irreverent, and often searing examination of faith, family, and reconciliation.</p> <p>“You send your son off to college and you think that in a few years you might get a call, and he’ll announce that he has someone he’s bringing home, someone he wants you to meet. But then that someone turns out to be a recruiter hawking a lifetime of poverty, chastity and obedience. What college kid in his right mind would sign up for that?”</p> <p>The book offers a rare, often entertaining, glimpse into the highly unusual Jesuit formation process—which includes sending would-be priests off on pilgrimages with $35 in their pockets. It also takes on tough issues, from the church’s history of sexual abuse to its treatment of women, and asks tough questions: Is it possible to be Catholic, liberal, and a feminist all at the same time? What does it mean to call yourself a Catholic?</p>