God Underneath: Spiritual Memoirs of a Catholic Priest [Hardcover]

Edward L. Beck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 17, 2001

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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

God Underneath, a memoir by the Catholic priest Edward L. Beck, is composed of moving, funny, and profound vignettes that blur the line between sermon and story. Beck's reflections meander through a variety of topics, including friendship, sexuality, illness, alcoholism, death, demanding mothers, reticent fathers, and the political struggles that doomed a spiritual retreat in Peoria, Illinois. Like a homily, each chapter begins with a verse of scripture, then proceeds to tell a story that helps readers understand that verse and, even more, learn to live it. In the book's introduction, Beck describes his belief in "incarnational spirituality," which he explains as follows:

God chooses to be revealed in the people and events of our lives. ("Incarnate" comes from the Latin incarnati, to be made flesh.) Thus, this spirituality is of the very stuff of our lives. God becomes incarnate, a God with skin.

Beck's way of telling stories is faithful to this mode of spirituality: he describes people whose lives describe truth, welling up from the God who is underneath and in all. -- Michael Joseph Gross

From 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.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st Edition ISBN#0385501803 edition (July 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385501803
• ISBN-13: 978-0385501804
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,863,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming, Inspirational Stories, August 19, 2001

By 

Christine (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God Underneath: Spiritual Memoirs of a Catholic Priest (Hardcover)

God Underneath is a moving, sincere glimpse into the heart and soul of a religious man. Fr. Edward's real life stories evoke deep feelings of joy, fear, and doubt. He bravely reveals the struggles and rewards of being a Catholic priest. Fr Edward allows us to intimately share with him his personal spiritual journey. These heartfelt and inspirational stories demonstrate the presence of God in everyday life. God touches all of us in different ways. To experience God we simply need to open ourselves up to the events and people around us.
I found it refreshing to have a priest put his trust in us by revealing himself so honestly and openly. We are fortunate to have Fr Edward working at God's side.
I highly recommend this book to anyone searching for God in their daily lives.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The human face behind the spiritual mentor..., July 29, 2001

By 

K. Corn "reviewer" (midwest, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: God Underneath: Spiritual Memoirs of a Catholic Priest (Hardcover)

Told in little vignettes or stories about life serving the people around him (as well as memories of childhood) author Edward Beck offers a revealing, honest glimpse into the challenges and rewards of priesthood. He doesn't gloss over the hardest parts - celibacy, being on call at all hours, the struggles of those he serves. But he also gives an inspiring account of his life, if only by the revelations he shares.

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Hoped It Would Be, February 11, 2002

By 

Frank Sevola (Hartford, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God Underneath: Spiritual Memoirs of a Catholic Priest (Hardcover)

My initial excitement over this book quickly turned to disappointment. Being a priest and a member of a religious order I thought it would be great to read the memoirs of a priest my own age. However, I found very little insight in the book. It seems to me that Father Beck goes to great lengths to tell us about the people in his life yet he reveals very little about himself. Even his musings about God and spirituality at the end of each chapter seem shallow and condescending. Perhaps the writing of memoirs is best left to those who are well seasoned.