The Miracle

by John L'Heureux

“The author seems to be standing on the shoulders of giants . . . gives a rare human depth to a young priest who wants to become a saint” (San Francisco Chronicle).   In a pitch-perfect, deeply satisfying work of fiction selected as a New York Times Notable Book, a Publishers Weekly Best Book, and recipient of the Gold Medal for Fiction from the Commonwealth Club of California, master storyteller L’Heureux enters the world of an unorthodox young priest whose faith is put to the test.   Father Paul LeBlanc is young, handsome, and charismatic, but he has dangerous ideas on sex, marriage, and birth control—and he just doesn’t uphold the decorum expected of a young priest. When, for no reason, a miracle occurs—a dead girl is brought back to life before his eyes—Father LeBlanc finds his faith, his vows, his reason, and his life itself called into question, leaving him with nowhere to turn. Witty, profound, and deeply moving, The Miracle explores the way God meddles in our lives and to what end. It is John L’Heureux’s best, most daring novel to date.   “Written in swift-moving prose of unaffected simplicity . . . It comes off as neither pat nor preachy but, rather, as a delicately nuanced portrait of recognizable human individuals making what they can of life.” —The New York Times Book Review   “L’Heureux brings the priest through his crisis of faith with the same tenderness that makes all his books such a pleasure in read.” —TheLos Angeles Times Book Review   “L’Heureux’s snappy, succulent novel of faith and body, starts out sharp and ends with a razor slash.” —The Baltimore Sun

Genres: Fiction

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

John L'Heureux served on both sides of the writing desk: as staff editor and contributing editor for The Atlantic and as the author of sixteen books of poetry and fiction. His stories appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Esquire, Harper's, The New Yorker, and have frequently been anthologized in Best American Stories and Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards. His experiences as editor and writer informed and direct his teaching of writing. Starting in 1973, he taught fiction writing, the short story, and dramatic literature at Stanford. In 1981, he received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching, and again in 1998. His recent publications include a collection of stories, Comedians, and the novels, The Handmaid of Desire (1996), Having Everything (1999), and The Miracle (2002).

http://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/m...

Reviews

[Dean McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE MIRACLE by John L'Heureux is not a Christian novel, nor is it even a religious novel. It is about Father LeBlanc, a young, unorthodox priest, handsome, athletic, with dangerous ideas on sex, marriage, and birth control that bring him into conflict with the church hierarchy. He struggles with his faith, his vows, his duty, and his calling. Throughout the book raises questions for the priest and the other characters, which might lead the reader to ponder. In his struggles, Father LeBlanc pleads with God for a sign that will point him what to do, where to go, how to live. He sees the sign in a miracle. A young woman dies, is examined, and pronounced dead. She later and obviously unexpectedly comes back to life with no memory of her death. Father LeBlanc struggles in his relationship with the girl's mother and his fellow priests -- is this truly a miracle, is it a sign from God? His struggle is compounded by the girl's dying a second death in a motorcycle accident and by his relationship with the girl's mother, an elderly dying priest, and an attractive young woman who enters his life. This is a wonderfully written novel, plot, events, characters, and the greater theological, philosophical, and life questions it raises. As I say, it is not a religious work although it is placed in a religious setting. There are sexual references and some rough language, but nothing beyond what is in nightly cable television.

[Rupert Nacoste · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story-meditation on faith, love, commitment and how they intertwine, confuse and can enlighten our everyday existence. Tragic, lovely, and was good for my soul.

[Kevin James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Catholic priest in South Boston in 1970 conveys Vatican-Two-inspired, trust-your-conscience counsel to working-class, Irish-American parishioners. Change happens.

[Marguerite Hargreaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

This interesting book by John L'Heureux prods the phenomenon of miracles, including the big one, resurrection, but also the more mundane variety. The experience is largely mediated through the views of two priests: young Paul LeBlanc, exiled to the boonies because of his dangerous Vatican II views, and Father Moriarty, who's waiting to die from ALS. Both men have profound questions -- and doubts -- about God, salvation and sin. That's the heart of The Miracle.

The women characters are one-dimensional: cartoons images drawn from a cloister, though the teen-age girl is somewhat more credible. L'Heureux describes the law student as a deep thinker, but she comes across as extremely shallow.

The book makes short work of a priest's vocation, apart from morning Mass. I don't know any priest who has time for long walks on the beach. But, it raises interesting questions. And, the man can write.

"His idea of God was simply egotism turned inside out ... . It was just another brand of megalomania, extinguishing the self to make it perfect, as if perfection meant getting rid of everything human."

"I don't know about faith. I have hope. That seems enough for the time being."
"And the love of God?" Monsignor Glynn asks.
"I'll have to find out who God is."

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book and a quick read. A story about a particular young priest with thoughts on religion/spirituality and miracles wrapped inside. I enjoyed all of the characters. It sounds patronizing to call the book sweet, but it is sweet in a non-patronizing way.

[Meg Clayton]

novel

[Marvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story of a young Catholic priest struggling with his vocation, looking for a miracle to confirm that God loves him, but learning to find miracles in everyday life.

[Terry Perrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this guy. He's got it all -- character, plotting, drama and HUMOR, and I can say this about ALL of his novels. You can go wrong with JL.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

an exuberant priest who believes he sees the dead return to life. A Catholic novel that forgives the fallible.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writer seems to be obsessed with the word "sexy".

[Cheryl Ruane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes for great book club discussion