I recently finished "Midnight Mass" and loved it, natch.
I was impressed with the sensitivity with which FPW wrote about Catholicism, and in particular, the genuine fondness for the old time religion that was evidenced. That's not to say that the book was without its (rightful) criticism of the Church and its caretakers, those who abuse and misappropriate the trust put in them by followers.
But the balance between those divergent viewpoints was striking to me.
As a Catholic in recovery (a nifty turn of phrase used by FPW in his foreword), "Midnight Mass" made me look back at my life as a Catholic with, dare I say, fondness. There was an innocence captured by FPW in "Midnight Mass" that I miss. I almost ache for it, that sense that goodness counts, redemption can be achieved, and prayers can be answered.
Actually, goodness, redemption and prayer are all part of my life, but in a very different way than when I was a practicing Catholic.
I'm not quite capturing what I experienced in reading "Midnight Mass." Nostalgia may be close to it. Life seemed simpler then, more black and white, actions and consequences followed logically.
Perhaps I'm simply missing my youth, and the simplistic views I held then.
It never fails that, despite the topic, FPW's books are thoughtfully provocative, even while scaring the bejesus out of you!
This post was last modified: 07-07-2005, 10:19 PM by Maggers.
Reading is freedom.
The mind soars, no earthly cares,
no limitations.
A Maggers Haiku, 2005
Years ago my mother used to say to me... "In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
Well, for years I was smart.
I recommend pleasant.
You may quote me.
Elwood P. Dowd