God Underneath: Spiritual Memoirs of a Catholic Priest (Paperback)

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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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Image (July 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385501811
• ISBN-13: 978-0385501811
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #644,188 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming, Inspirational Stories, August 20, 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.

7 of 7 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" (Indianapolis,, IN United States) - See all my reviews (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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intensely Personal and Frank, September 26, 2001

By	Rosemary Billman (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

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

The biggest surprise of this book is how intensely personal the stories are and how open Father Edward is to sharing his innermost thoughts and feelings. Some of the stories made me cry, both with sorrow and joy. Most of all, they made me want to experience the Spirit in my life as intensely and in such a meaningful way. Father Edward's intent in sharing these stories is to show how the people in his life have shown him the way to find the Spirit beneath, and he succeeds wonderfully in doing the same for the reader. In giving us a peak into his private spiritual life, he magnificently shows what it means to be human in the best sense, to be drawn by the Spirit ever more deeply to that special relationship which gives hope and salvation. This is a book worth savoring and rereading.