A little more Joe, please

Father Joe by Tony Hendra
The Man Who Saved My Soul
Random House, 2004

While Tony Hendra is probably not a household name, most middle-aged and older Americans are likely familiar with at least some of his work. Hendra served as an original editor at National Lampoon and played Ian Faith in the movie This Is Spinal Tap, to name a couple entries from his resume. His reputation is that of a no-holds barred satirist, the consequences or casualties be damned.

Father Joe, however, is a different undertaking altogether. The subtitle suggests the book is about the priest whom Hendra credits with ultimately leading him to the truth of the Catholic Church. The problem, however, is that before Hendra truly found the church he badly lost his way. In and of itself, that’s not uncommon – we’re all of us sinners and many of the children of the 60’s and 70’s have their own stories of getting off track before eventually reverting to the church. Heck, St. Augustine has the same story!

This issue here, though, is Hendra spends a little too much time relaying how bad his life was and not enough time on Father Joe. Obviously, the intent is to let the reader know just how important Father Joe’s influence was by showing just how low Hendra had sunk. It’s a solid writing device, but Hendra overdoes it. The same effect could have been achieved with a lot less detail and name-dropping...and more Father Joe. The only saving grace is that Hendra succeeds amazingly well at making himself completely unlikable, which in fact does work quite well as a contrast next to the very likable picture he paints of Father Joe.

The wise priest at Quarr Abbey whom Hendra meets as a teenager is the quintessential embodiment of the sower of seeds Paul mentions in his first letter to the Corinthians (chap. 3, verses 6-9); Father Joe is planting and watering, but he’s wise enough to stand back and let God do the work in His own time and according to His own plan. Over the course of decades, Father Joe patiently shares and models God’s love for Hendra. Unfortunately, the encounters during Hendra’s wandering years are few, which may explain why he spends more time on himself than on Father Joe: it doesn’t sound like he saw the priest that much.

Whether telling the story of his journey away from the church or telling the story of his relationship with Father Joe, there can be no doubt that Hendra is a gifted story-teller and writer. The narrative pulls one along, anxious for the outcome of the current conflict and eager for the next turn of events. It’s a not a book one is likely to set down and forget to pick back up, if for no other reason than the hope that the next pages will bring a little more Father Joe. And even though the book is a lot more Tony Hendra than Father Joe, a little Father Joe goes a long way. 

A good starting point for church history

The Compact History of the Catholic Church by Alan Schreck
Servant Books, 1995

It’s important to understand that this little book wasn’t intended to be a book at all, but rather a teacher’s manuscript for seminars presented in Third World countries. It was designed as a primer, a means by which a basic foundation of Catholic history could be shared with those who otherwise might not have the resources to acquire it. Seen in that light, and assuming the material was placed in the hands of capable instructors, the eight chapters (lessons) contained in this brief historical overview surely must have served their purpose well.

Considering its original purpose, it’s no surprise The Compact History of the Catholic Church is a great place to start for those who have no background or knowledge of church history. Obviously, Schreck just scratches the surface – there’s only so much you can do when covering 2000 years in 173 small paperback pages. For example, the eleventh century occupies just one page in the book. Anyone expecting in-depth analysis or a book that covers every aspect of Catholic history will be disappointed.

However,this compact book is perfect as the first step in a broader examination of historical topics. Schreck does a good job of hitting the major players and movements through the ages, thus providing the inquisitive with enough information to delve more deeply into those people and events that capture their interest. The Compact History of the Catholic Church is by no means a major reference work and was never meant to be. However, it succeeds in providing rudimentary knowledge of church history and establishing a jumping-off point for those whose appetite it whets for more.