A Long Retreat: In Search of a Religious Life (Hardcover)

by Andrew Krivak (Author) "Even now my memory is never far from a composition of that time and place..." (more)
Key Phrases: general examen, formation assistant, good discernment, New York, Society of Jesus, Ignatius Loyola (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The road to priesthood in the Society of Jesus is arduous. Jesuits, like most other Catholic religious orders, demand a lifetime of poverty, chastity and obedience. They also require years of postgraduate study and hard work before ordination. At age 27, Krivak joined the order, already equipped with two degrees as well as experience writing poetry and working in a boatyard. Over the next eight years he studied philosophy and theology, visited hospitalized AIDS patients, taught writing to college students, worked in the Dominican Republic, Russia and Slovakia—and fell in love. The search for love is an important theme running through this artfully written memoir: the love of God, the strong but imperfect love of Krivak's father and eventually the deep, reciprocated love of a woman. Life, he tells a friend, is a long retreat—an awareness that God is everywhere present and can be trusted. Now married and the father of a son, Krivak shows no bitterness as he explores his painful decision to leave the Society of Jesus. I walked a long but worthy road that led to a place where I didn't belong, he told his spiritual director. I don't feel any resentment. I feel gratitude. (Mar.)
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Review

"A LONG RETREAT is not just a fascinating insider's look at Jesuit formation, but a beautifully written case study in prayerful discernment of one's proper vocation.  Few memoirs of religious life are as wise and revelatory as this." –Ron Hansen, author of Mariette in Ecstasy and Exiles

"This is the best spiritual memoir I've read since THE SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN--and that was a long time ago. Andrew Krivak conveys his own ardent search while also capturing the fragmented spirit of our times, making his "long retreat" the occasion for a wise, tough and sometimes refreshingly comic meditation on faith. I read it like a detective story, unable to put it down--and then unable (and unwilling) to stop thinking about its lingering questions."  --Patricia Hampl, author of Virgin Time

"Here is a personal remembrance and reflection become an instrument of summoning spiritual witness--and an account of a soul's progress amidst the possibilities offered by our contemporary secular world, all told incisively and with a haunting candor that will reach and touch the grateful reader."  --Robert Coles

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Product Details Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1st edition (March 4, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 0374166064 ISBN-13: 978-0374166069 Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #279,833 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Even now my memory is never far from a composition of that time and place. Read the first page

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general examen, formation assistant, good discernment

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New York, Society of Jesus, Ignatius Loyola, Cape Cod, Spiritual Exercises, United States, Eastern Catholic, John's College, Christian East, Thomas Merton, First Week, Ciszek Hall, Luke's Gospel, Eastern Rite, New Mexico, Jesuit Residence, Holy Spirit, Catholic Church, Old Slavonic, Father Sammons, Father Minister, West Side, Lexington Avenue, Eastern Christian, Father Fury

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews 5 star:  (6) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.6 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 12 of 12 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Remarkable Narrative of Personal Discernment, March 12, 2008 By  Vincent Hevern (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Andrew Krivak's eight-year journey into, through, and out of the life of a Jesuit seminarian is captured in a memoir of poignancy, generosity, and spectacularly wonderful writing. He details with great honesty and sustaining intelligence the external challenges of his formation in the Society of Jesus (graduate philosophical studies, hospital work with AIDS patients, Russian language study in Moscow, and college teaching among other experiences). But, even more importantly, Krivak testifies with conviction about the movements of his own heart and soul as he struggled with the nature of his calling, the meaning of love, and his efforts in prayer and meditation to discern the full dimensions and import of his doubts and fears. One of the most remarkable spiritual autobiographies since Merton's SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN. An utterly captivating volume. I expect to read it again simply to savor the extraordinary beauty of the writing once more. (Disclosure: As a Jesuit myself, I knew Krivak during two years covered in this book. But, I've had no contact with him in over a decade and didn't quite know what to expect before picking up A LONG RETREAT. I'm so happy I did.) 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Sentient Tale, May 18, 2008 By  Adam B. Clayton (Salt Lake City, Utah) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Wonderful memoir! Very well written and poetically conveyed journey. Clear and aesthetically pleasing in its own distillation of the lifestyle and ritual, but also containing many subtle themes which seem to cut across many religious cultures and spiritual journeys. Krivak has written an unassuming and honest story. There is no arrogance of certainty which other authors sometimes seem to portray. Krivak's story is believable and passionate. Thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end and would recommend to anyone inclined to spiritual connection and understanding, whether religious or not. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Different Account of Religious Life, July 27, 2008 By  Timothy Kearney (Hull, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)       A LONG RETREAT is a fascinating look at formation in the Society of Jesus. The title of the book alludes to the Thirty Day Retreat that is a part of the beginning and end of Jesuit formation, but it's also a metaphor for his eight years author Andrew Krivak spent in a Jesuit formation program. We meet him as he is about to begin his journey with the Jesuits and continue with him as he begins his theological studies as he draws closer to priesthood. He discusses the discernment process as he enters the order and also the same discernment process that eventually led him to a vocation outside of the order. Krivak shares a number of experiences and anecdotes about formation with the reader that shows how the writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola and Ignatian spirituality are lived in a day to day context. We also see his initial enthusiasm fro religious life and believe he will persevere as a Jesuit, yet as the book continues, we also begin to see he may be called elsewhere. He also discusses a number of conflicts he has, some rather serious, others trivial, so we always remember we are accompanying someone who is very human. The story contained in A LONG RETREAT is compelling, Krivak tells it in a somewhat poetic manner with beautiful writing. He also writes it in a memoir style rather than a biographical one so the reader enters into his experiences and shares his joys, struggles, and pain. It is also unique in that we hear about the formation process from someone who does not finish with priesthood, and is able to see and share the lessons he learned during his time as a Jesuit. It is also refreshing to read an account of someone who left religious life has his appreciation of both the Jesuits and Catholic Church. While it is not uncommon for a person to have this perspective, all too often the horror stories are the accounts that make it into print which give a somewhat biased and skewed perspective. This is not the case in A LONG RETREAT. If anything, I believe we can expect to see Andrew Krivak become an important Catholic writer.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Moving Forward in A Long Retreat Andrew Krivak's, A Long Retreat: In Search of a Religious Life, is an eloquent introspective autobiography of one man's search for a meaning to his life. Mr. Read more Published 2 months ago by M. F. Shaw 5.0 out of 5 stars The best insight I've read of a Jesuit's spiritual formation This memoir is unique in my experience, in the depth of the author's sharing of his spiritual and emotional lived experience from the time he entered Religious Life to the time he... Read more Published 3 months ago by A reader from Connecticut 3.0 out of 5 stars A Road Less Traveled Krivak is an engaging writer, yet I finished the book wondering whether the entire undertaking was not, at its essence, an apology for declining ordination. Read more Published 7 months ago by letters2mary 4.0 out of 5 stars Poignant Portrait My thanks to Andrew Krivak for sharing his powerful journey! I benefited from learning about the discernment process of the Jesuits, how vocations are developed, and how very... Read more Published 11 months ago by L. Bryan 5.0 out of 5 stars A Long and Not Too Arduous Journey I must admit I like books about people who embark on vocations, religious and otherwise. So no surprise that I wanted to read this book. Read more Published 14 months ago by Dr Cathy Goodwin Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1st edition (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374166064
• ISBN-13: 978-0374166069
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #279,833 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Remarkable Narrative of Personal Discernment, March 12, 2008

By	Vincent Hevern (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Andrew Krivak's eight-year journey into, through, and out of the life of a Jesuit seminarian is captured in a memoir of poignancy, generosity, and spectacularly wonderful writing. He details with great honesty and sustaining intelligence the external challenges of his formation in the Society of Jesus (graduate philosophical studies, hospital work with AIDS patients, Russian language study in Moscow, and college teaching among other experiences). But, even more importantly, Krivak testifies with conviction about the movements of his own heart and soul as he struggled with the nature of his calling, the meaning of love, and his efforts in prayer and meditation to discern the full dimensions and import of his doubts and fears. One of the most remarkable spiritual autobiographies since Merton's SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN. An utterly captivating volume. I expect to read it again simply to savor the extraordinary beauty of the writing once more. (Disclosure: As a Jesuit myself, I knew Krivak during two years covered in this book. But, I've had no contact with him in over a decade and didn't quite know what to expect before picking up A LONG RETREAT. I'm so happy I did.)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sentient Tale, May 18, 2008

By	Adam B. Clayton (Salt Lake City, Utah) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Wonderful memoir! Very well written and poetically conveyed journey. Clear and aesthetically pleasing in its own distillation of the lifestyle and ritual, but also containing many subtle themes which seem to cut across many religious cultures and spiritual journeys. Krivak has written an unassuming and honest story. There is no arrogance of certainty which other authors sometimes seem to portray. Krivak's story is believable and passionate. Thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end and would recommend to anyone inclined to spiritual connection and understanding, whether religious or not.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Different Account of Religious Life, July 27, 2008

By	Timothy Kearney (Hull, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A LONG RETREAT is a fascinating look at formation in the Society of Jesus. The title of the book alludes to the Thirty Day Retreat that is a part of the beginning and end of Jesuit formation, but it's also a metaphor for his eight years author Andrew Krivak spent in a Jesuit formation program. We meet him as he is about to begin his journey with the Jesuits and continue with him as he begins his theological studies as he draws closer to priesthood. He discusses the discernment process as he enters the order and also the same discernment process that eventually led him to a vocation outside of the order.

Krivak shares a number of experiences and anecdotes about formation with the reader that shows how the writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola and Ignatian spirituality are lived in a day to day context. We also see his initial enthusiasm fro religious life and believe he will persevere as a Jesuit, yet as the book continues, we also begin to see he may be called elsewhere. He also discusses a number of conflicts he has, some rather serious, others trivial, so we always remember we are accompanying someone who is very human.

The story contained in A LONG RETREAT is compelling, Krivak tells it in a somewhat poetic manner with beautiful writing. He also writes it in a memoir style rather than a biographical one so the reader enters into his experiences and shares his joys, struggles, and pain. It is also unique in that we hear about the formation process from someone who does not finish with priesthood, and is able to see and share the lessons he learned during his time as a Jesuit. It is also refreshing to read an account of someone who left religious life has his appreciation of both the Jesuits and Catholic Church. While it is not uncommon for a person to have this perspective, all too often the horror stories are the accounts that make it into print which give a somewhat biased and skewed perspective. This is not the case in A LONG RETREAT. If anything, I believe we can expect to see Andrew Krivak become an important Catholic writer.