Morris West's Papal Trilogy

I don't read much fiction; in fact, the only fiction I read in 2007 was a papal trilogy from Morris West (1916-1999). The three books, which examined the lives and ministries of three popes, are titled: 1) The Shoes of the Fisherman (1963) 2) The Clowns of God (1981); and 3) Lazarus (1990). I first picked up The Clowns of God over twenty years ago, and have enjoyed West's writings ever since. Don't feel bad if you've never heard of him, even though he's published nearly thirty books.

The Shoes of the Fisherman details the early reign of Pope Kyril I, whose body and psyche bear the scars of torture and imprisonment under the Soviets. Kyril finds the confinement of the See of Peter reminiscent of his days in Siberian exile. Hemmed in by protocol and tradition, he learns once again to submit his will to the will of God. At the same time he befriends an ailing priest and academic, Father Jean Télémond, whose writings were censured by the Church twenty years earlier, and who has been forbidden to teach or publish his research. He has returned to Rome for another chance to defend his work. The quote I took with me from this novel was: If we die to ourselves, in the end we come to live in God. But it is a long, slow dying.

The Clowns of God is set against the backdrop of Cold War, with pending hostilities haunting everyone's thoughts. Pope Jean Marie Barette has a private vision of a nuclear Armageddon, but is forced to abdicate before he can make his revelation public. His fellow Cardinals fear his vision could instigate widespread panic. In examining what his vision means for the future of the church, Jean Marie Lately a Pope wrestles with what faith means for regular people, and whether the rules, constraints and minutiae of Catholicism are not the burdens lain on people's backs from Luke 11:46. In short, he is searching for the lowest common denominator of the Christian faith, and defining the difference between holiness and legalism. Jean Marie's conflict is not confined to the College of Cardinals, but he contends with God, as well as his own will.

Finally, Lazarus is about rigorist Pope Leo XIV, elected to replace Jean Marie Barette. After undergoing open heart bypass surgery, Leo experiences a different kind of change of heart. This softer, gentler Pope realizes late in life how much he has missed by isolating himself within ministry and the church. Sub-plots are provided by two priests, one who discovers he is an unbeliever, and the other battling addiction to alcohol. They must decide if redemption can best be found inside or outside of ministry. Stalked by a radical Islamic assassin, Leo XIV must now decide if he should save himself by hiding himself within the safety of the Vatican, or risk his newfound life by touching and being touched by the people Christ has called him to shepherd.

We saw a quote while we were in Washington this weekend. It read: A home without books is like a room without windows. Morris West is gone, but his books survive. He wrote in many different genres, from religion to romance to spy thriller, and he did them all good.

It's a new year. Why not make a resolution to read some good books? It could change your life for the better.

Any good titles you would recommend to me?