The Cardinal

by Henry Morton Robinson

The daily trials and triumphs of Stephen Fermoyle, from the working-class suburbs of Boston, drive him to become first a parish priest, then secretary to a cardinal, later a bishop, and finally a wearer of the Red Hat.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classics, Catholic, Religion, Literature, Christianity

530 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1950

Reviews

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting in 1915, the book chronicles the life of the archdiocese of Boston's own Stephen Fermoyle from Parish Priest to Cardinal.

I have fallen in love with this man. His beliefs and actions are SOLID. He has many decisions to make in his life; some of them do not turn out well. But he has a creed and follows it religiously.

I am a Catholic and have found much solace in reading this book. When I started this book, I was in the hospital after gallbladder surgery, experiencing complications. The story of this priest lifted me and carried me through what could have been a nightmare situation.

I strongly recommend this book to Catholic readers. Best read by a reader older than 60, because there are some references to the Latin Mass, which was changed to the vernacular in about 1963. But saying that, I think any spiritual Catholic could glean much.

5 Holy Stars

[Neil Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm one of those "old-school" Catholics: a young teenager when Vatican II brought the Church into the 20th century, yet having had enough of the Tridentine experience during my formative years to leave a lasting impression of Church as an integral part of Self. Great books and films, over the years, reinforced my early memories: The Ten Commandments; Ben-Hur; Quo Vadis; The Shoes of the Fisherman; The Nun's Story; even such light-hearted fare as Going My Way and The Bells of St. Mary's reinforced, in a Legion-of-Decency-kind-of-way, the notion of strength that is rooted in Faith and Patriotism. These films about Faith left no room for doubt: Our faith was core of who we were/are, the very extension of ourselves. I spent as much time in Catholic middle school assisting at Mass as I did helping with chores at home, and it was at least an annual event to help out at the rectory or the convent with fall or spring cleaning. So when I recently found, tucked in the corner of an upstairs bookcase, a paperback copy - 75 cents, it had cost, when it was purchased in 1963, mind you! - of Henry Morton Robinson's THE CARDINAL, I had to read it. Sure, I've seen the film more than a few times, with Tom Tryon in the lead role as Stephen Fermoyle, and it's always struck me as powerful. But here was the book, and I knew, as ultimately turns out to be the case, there had to be more to the story than Hollywood's version. I could not have been more right - or more satisfied with the read.

THE CARDINAL, while one novel, has six parts to it, plus a Prologue and an Epilogue. This made for convenience, as I've been busy reading several things simultaneously. I was able to put Robinson and Fermoyle aside and return later, picking up effortlessly where I left off. As for the six parts, each focuses on a time in Stephen Fermoyle's life: as young Rome-educated, American priest - Boston/Medford, to be precise - then as a curate, a bureaucrat, a monsignor, bishop/archbishop, and, finally, as a cardinal, a member of the Sacred College, and advisor to the pope. Each part is intense and satisfying in a way I wasn't prepared for. It seems to me, Fermoyle's life and experiences are based in part on that of Francis Spellman, a Boston priest who eventually became the Archbishop of New York, a formidable cleric during the mid-twnetieth century.

More than just a great read, THE CARDINAL is a timely one, particularly during this election season and at a time when we, as a nation, appear to have lost our clarity of vision around the separation of Church and State. Stephen Fermoyle, faced several times with accusations of institutional loyalty, is absolutely clear about decisions made as a son of the Church as opposed to those made as an American citizen. It's refreshingly black-and-white! There are other issues as well that seem all-too-familiar: abortion and Planned Parenthood, the threat of war, but - and interestingly - not the questioning of authority or the questionable behavior of clerics. It is a different time, and yet, it's not.

I'm sure most will be content to leave this one in the corner. I'm putting it back with an elastic around its middle as it separated, due to old age, during the reading. For those willing to take a chance and blow the dust off, I think you'll find it a rich and satisfying read. It's strong on substance and plot, has powerful, if somewhat forgotten, themes, and an ending that evokes hope. I'm glad I took the time... (less)
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[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. In fact I got trouble with it in my Catholic school because it was a book that was on the seniors reading list. So, when I went to the bookstore to buy it, they wouldn’t let me have it without a note from my English teacher. I don’t remember how I got the note but I did get the book and I absolutely loved it.

Those who read it with criticisms towards the church needs remember that it is a novel.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant surprise to stumble upon a book you've never heard of before and find such satisfaction in the reading.

[Joe LaCour · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is tremendous. The movie was a disaster.

There are two books about Catholic priests that, in my youth, influenced how I envisioned a priest should be. The Keys of the Kingdom was one and The Cardinal was the other.

The section when young Jeremy Spillaine meets the dying Ned Halley is one that will stay with me until my dying day.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading "The Cardinal" for pleasure in high school, over 50 years ago, and so was prompted to try it again. It was even more enjoyable this tme.

[Charles Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for good stories about priests. My favourite will always be The Edge of Sadness. I gave that five stars but would have given it 10 stars. Now The Cardinal. When I was about 12 the movie came out and I saw it several times with my family. It had a ton of heroics in it. There was the Cardinal being beaten by the Klan, and taking on Nazis in Austria. There book is more sober. And so in many ways utterly different. I would have liked to give this three and a half stars. The reason is there are just too many characters who seem like cliches. There is his relationship with a Italian sea captain of a luxury liner that feels phoney. The film made much of his younger sisters love affair with a Jewish boy, which was an absolute scandal in the Boston of the pre-WWI era. The movie did a great job of bring that to life but in the book it's more of a side story. However, what makes up for the flaws are the great touching moments of humility he has to go through. Especially when he is assigned to the poorest, most dysfunctional parish in all of Massachusetts. If you're Catholic, like me, and you soak this kind of thing up, then by all means read it. If your interest is cursory I would take a pass. But for both groups I would run to get a copy of The Edge of Sadness, which is a work of pure genius.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was such an innocent, traditional Catholic with an infant daughter when I read this that I loved it and cried. Wonder if I would feel the same today after many more life experiences and disillusionment with the Church.

[Kevin Estabrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. It is an epic in its own right.

[Alex Strohschein · Rating 4 out of 5]

My edition of The Cardinal (which, despite being a relativity new version, is rather tawdry; bits of the cover peeled off leaving some glossy patches) heralds that this novel, a best seller upon its release, is a worthy read with the elevation of Timothy Cardinal Dolan. How much more poignant is this book now that Robert Prevost has ascended to the papacy as the first American pope!

Though Henry Morton Robinson didn’t have as illustrious a career or legacy as his fellow American Catholics Flannery O’Connor and Walker Percy, The Cardinal belongs in the canon of American Catholic literature. In it, Stephen Fermoyle rises through the ranks of the Church hierarchy until he is bestowed the red hat. Stephen’s rise is the driver of the story, as he gains tutelage from veteran priests and figures out how to care for his flock. One of the subplots that features throughout the novel is Stephen’s commitment to celibacy even as he finds himself intrigued, attracted, to Ghislana Falerni.

The Cardinal curiously blends fiction and history. Real figures like Rafael Merry del Val and Popes Pius XI and XII appear alongside made-up characters and Stephen becomes bishop over the fictional city of Hartfield (which I accidentally assumed for a long time was Hartford!). Stephen is a stalwart Catholic, much taken with the “Roman way” of thought and life. It is fascinating reading an American Catholic novel that garnered so much attention (that it was made into a 1963 film) pre-Vatican II that portrays the Catholic Church in the first half of twentieth century America.

Stephen comes from a devout, working-class Catholic family, being the eldest of three brothers and three sisters. Oddly, only one of his siblings marry (a point made by his brother George late in the novel). What I do find disturbing is that when Stephen’s sister Mona vanishes, taken up with a scoundrel who is both professional dancer and abortionist, she becomes pregnant but deeply ill and distressed. She is spotted by George who enjoins his other brothers in a relentless search for her. They succeed in tracking her down but she is gravely sick and Stephen takes her to the hospital. The doctor informs Stephen that the only chance of possibly saving his sister Mona would require terminating the pregnancy. Stephen is given the keys to deciding his sister’s fate but, dedicated to Catholic dogma that resolutely refuses abortion in any circumstance, Stephen allows his sister to die so that her child might live. I am pro-life and personally opposed to abortion, but I believe there is a strong Christian case to be made for privileging the life of the mother in such cases. I was surprised that Stephen doesn’t experience any ongoing internal anguish over this monumental decision; it is hardly alluded to at all and Mona’s daughter becomes a paragon of beauty and artistic performance, very convenient.

[Raime · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5⭐ A novel about a career path from priest to cardinal. Number one U.S. bestseller in 1950. Not interesting, not engaging, not entertaining. I can see how reading this could be comforting for some people, but for me it was a chore. Reminded me of Lanny Budd novels by Upton Sinclair, wich were executed a lot better. The ideas and the way they were approached were off-putting.

"Whatever's worth doing worth doing badly".

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intelligent, well-researched tale of the career of a Catholic priest from South Boston whose virtue and brainpower take him ever higher in the Church.

I got this book about 20 years ago because I was curious about the author. I had bought another book, A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake: Unlocking James Joyce's Masterwork, and noted that Robinson was the coauthor along with Joseph Campbell. I'm a huge fan of Campbell, and I wondered who was this chap who had decoded the mysteries of Finnegans Wake with him. When I discovered that Robinson had written a novel himself, I was curious enough to seek it out and wound up making a special trip to a used-book store in Burnaby, east of Vancouver, to pick up a copy. However, it sat on my bookshelf until a few weeks ago.

But now I've read it, and I'm impressed. The author, in his foreword, notes that his hero, Stephen Fermoyle, is not really a fictional creation so much as a composite of the many Catholic priests that he has known. One thing that I really liked in reading this book is that the protagonist's primary motivation is spiritual: we first meet him as a newly ordained priest at the threshold of World War I, and we follow his progress in the Church up until World War II, and his zeal for the spiritual life and its expression on Earth is genuine. But although his talents cause him to rise, he is not actuated in any way by ambition.

The hero is from a large, rambunctious, working-class, Irish-American family with which he maintains close ties throughout. The author demonstrates much familiarity with Boston and New England of that period--but also of the Vatican and its inner workings, for Stephen will make his way there. The book is saturated with the feel of American life of the period, including some of its obsessions and political contradictions. And world politics becomes increasingly important as Europe sinks into fascism and falls again into war.

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the urbane tone of the narrator: here is an intelligent, educated person addressing readers who are assumed to be the same. There is no dumbing-down here, no targeting a presumed "8th-grade reader." The narrator speaks at a level appropriate to his highly educated, literate, multilingual protagonist. This reader found himself looking up many words along the way, even though he has a large vocabulary.

Stephen faces interesting conflicts along the way, with superiors, with his family, and, yes, with the challenge of celibacy--although, much to the author's credit, this is handled in a restrained and tasteful way.

The novel does have imperfections. It was published in 1951, and sometimes I felt while reading that I was watching movies from the 1940s, with their earnest dialogue ("That's about the size of it, Frank"). It is somewhat episodic, with a "career" structure rather than a properly dramatic one. But overall I felt that the author and the novel really delivered the goods. It's especially interesting to read such a work in this era when the Catholic Church has been so severely discredited in various ways, especially with issues of sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse. No doubt such things were going on 100 years ago, but it's important to remember that there were and are genuinely spiritual and virtuous Catholics who really believe in God and who really want to help people achieve spiritual salvation. The protagonist of The Cardinal is one such, and his story is well worth reading.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start, I will be unable to give this book justice.

Having seen the movie, several times, I was finally able to read the book. The story of Father Stephen Fremoyle starts when he is forst ordained a priest (pre WWI) and follows his vocation through the time of the election of Eugenio Pacelli as Pope Pius XII in 1939.

The story tell about his struggles as a priest, trained in Rome, suddenly assigned to a no nonsense pastor who wanted things done his way and who was not impressed by the teachings of the American College in Rome. Then his struggle with the Archbishop of Boston who decided that the best thing for him was to send him to the poorest of the parishes in the Archdiocese to instill humiliation (a punishment) into him.

The book relates his time spent in the south, inspecting the lack of Catholic Churches, his confrontation with the KKK which, by the way, he kept to himself.

It went into the side story of his sister, which was a little different and sadder than the movie.

What impressed me was the way Robinson was able to relate the teachings of the Catholic Church, the doctrine and tradition. I highly recommend this book to all.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful novel about a guy from a large Irish family in Boston who becomes a priest and is elevated up the ranks to cardinal. The characters are well drawn. The priest is tempted on a few occasions, but he always stays true to his faith, which is refreshing in a novel (so you know it was written in an earlier era!). The priest and his friends are all extremely well educated (you'd think they were Jesuits) and banter with each other in poetry, quotes from ancient manuscripts, and in multiple languages. The pomp and circumstance and costumery of the church I found silly, but there was no denying the strength of convictions and faith of the characters

[Angeles Menendez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es una re.lectura. Escrito en 1949, lo había leído en la década de 1960. En aquel entonces me pareció muy bueno. Había visto la película en 1964 ( nada tiene que ver con el libro). Hoy 50 años después me pareció lento, le sobran muchas páginas y por momentos se hace pesado !. Muy bien escrito con un lenguaje barroco, que me encanta. Me gusta (aunque es traducción) ver la belleza y riqueza de nuestro idioma, eso si es un placer para la vista....cuanto se perdió de purismo con el paso del tiempo!!!. También pude comprobar como cambian los gustos con muchos años de lectura a la espalda, maduramos como lectores y cambian nuestros gustos. De todas formas es un lindo libro!.

[Melody Hitchner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous poem of a novel. I felt like I'd been given a peek behind the heavy velvet curtain of the Catholic holy of holies and found the secret to be humanity. Robinson's prose swoops and sings, but the story flows along so that you barely notice his literary musings. Written in the 50s and set in the decades between the two world wars, it felt timeless, with characters complete with flaws, regrets, and aspirations. Dickensian in its connections (the motif of music and the violin comes full circle), Robinson manages to keep the novel from being trite or cliched.

[Martin Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading it for second time now, after 20 or so years. Still see it as a remarkable piece of art. Gives you the feel for that particular culture (Irish) at that particular time (WW1 era), but also captures the nuances of behavior regarding people in a family, a parish, and at the highest levels of power.

Father Fermoyle, the protagonist, might be a common sort if judged demographically but he's a great character - a good man trying to be a good priest, brother, and friend. He's not perfect... and knows he's not perfect.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started out OK, but lost its way once Fermoyle gets to be a Bishop. Interesting to read so much about the Roman Catholic Church in Boston given the clerical abuse that has been brought to light. Of course none of that here.

Overwrought writing typical of the era. One can almost hear the soundtrack of violins during some of the passages.

Lots of very uncomfortable notions being preached by the author / Catholic Church.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having already watched the 1960s movie adaptation of the book, I knew the general arc of the storyline. However, I came to appreciate the novel far more than the movie over the course of reading, as the producers of the movie took some liberties, albeit understandable ones, with the overall flow of the story.
Robinson portrays an interesting and dynamic portion of the American Catholic experience — certainly in a somewhat redacted and hagiographical manner — with the flow and pull of a novel.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not Catholic but I loved the movie as a kid. In these difficult times we’re all looking for some comfort and I thought I might find it in these pages. I’m pleased to say that I was correct. It’s a great story and I was completely engrossed throughout. I also learned a lot about a religion that I’ve never practiced but I’ve been close to through relationships for much of my adult life.

[Mary Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very please to see this book is still popular. I have read it twice. It is interesting that many of the same issues that were encountered in that time, really not too long ago our challenging still today.

[Lynn Roy bryden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The divine meets humanity. Epic story of the struggles and victories of a man searching for truth and his own destiny.

[cellomerl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it many years ago. It was outstanding story of faith and ambition placed before everything, even reason and family.

[Nada · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story up to a point. The best part was the story of the priest's early years and how he was sent to an undesirable appointment to help him overcome a character flaw of pride. Unlike most priests who are stuck in such assignments, he goes on to move up the ladder. There is a heavily overdramatized episode where the priest must choose between saving the life of his dissolute sister (who is dissolute because she was not permitted to marry the man of her choice who was Jewish) and saving the life of her baby who is in the process of being born. That type of situation is highly unlikely and is the stuff of soap opera melodrama. The last section of the story wherein Our Hero must choose between his vocation and the love of some European noblewoman didn't do much for me. After all he has been through so far, it seemed far-fetched that he'd throw it all away for some woman he had a crush on when he was young.
I understand this was supposed to be a fictionalized version of the rise of Cardinal Spellman. I somehow find it doubtful that this book reflects the real life of Cardinal Spellman, at least when it gets past the early portion dealing with the protagonist's Irish-American Catholic family.

[Camden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot and storyline are captivating. I did not want to put the book down at any point. The romanity, universality, and catholicity of the Catholic Church written in the book is something in these modern times we are not able to experience.

But there were a few select parts that hinted at the errors of americanism and liberalism which is why I have to hold off from giving it 5 stars. Ideally, I wish I could give it 3.5 stars but I gave it the benefit of doubt. It is very subtle and the reader will have to understand the errors in order to know that the Church does not condone or support the ideas.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book about 60 years ago and have just finished it for the second time. I doubt that I understood all of what I was reading when in my teens, and the perspective of age is indeed very interesting. The issues faced by the church then…some are the same. Some are different. The author manages to end his novel,on an optimistic note, even though it ends on the brink of WW2. The church didn’t appear to be in crisis then as it seems to be now. Nor was it split between radical left and conservative right, as it is today. All in all, I enjoyed reading this again even though the world is a very different place now.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've long wanted to read this 1950 book about the American Catholic Church in the first half of the 20th century. It was a favorite of my mother's, and reading it brought back memories of my childhood and explained where some of the familial behaviors I remember came from. Particularly, the reverence for priests and the desire to have one in the family, and the relationship of Irish-American Catholics with their church. Great read for me, but probably would not engage a contemporary audience.

[Debi Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I 1st read "The Cardinal" about 50 years ago, when I was a teen. Not being a Catholic myself there was much I didn't understand in the book, but I still enjoyed it. I liked it well enough for it to be one of the books I re-read regularly over the years. Each time I find new insights & new understandings. Though it was written in 1950 & takes place between 1915 & 1939, it remains very relevant in today's world. I still love this book & will continue to re-read it as the mood takes me.

[Richard Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still worth reading

I read this book shortly after it was published, if i remember correctly. It had an impact on me then, so i tried it again. It is still as good story but but the one I remembered. For one thing, I find the language too pretentious. For another thing, it is telling me a story different from the one I heard decades ago. Sometimes i guess you can't go back. So still four stars fur what once was.

[Curmudgeon66 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember seeing the movie of this many many years ago, finally decided to read the book.
As always the book has many more details and a much more subtle plot than the movie did. I enjoyed most of the reading. But was very disappointed by the ending, it felt to me as if the author was on a roll, telling a great story and then reached a time limit and just through a quick last chapter on that didn't feel like the same book.