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God Underneath: Spiritual Memoirs of a Catholic Priest
A delightfully different approach to religion and spirituality, this collection of engaging personal tales transcends specific doctrines to reveal the presence of God in everyday life.
Father Edward L. Beck spins tales like a master, presenting with candor and a touch of irreverence incidents and events that will resonate with readers. Exploring such universal themes and concerns as friendship, sexuality, illness, alcoholism, loss, and death, the vignettes and stories in this collection are animated by intriguing characters, pitch-perfect dialogue–and a surprising twist. Probing beneath the surface of ordinary life, each selection contains a hidden message, a subtle but powerful reminder of the signposts that mark a spiritual journey.
Quotations from the Scriptures introduce the tales, providing a context that will help readers uncover the meaning the story holds for their own personal lives and beliefs. To encourage further reflection and rumination, Beck offers insights into the specific religious and theological themes that inspired the writing of each tale.
A lively, unabashed look at the challenges of living a spiritual life in contemporary times, God Underneath will appeal not only to Catholics, but to all spiritual seekers, regardless of religious affiliation.
Father Edward L. Beck spins tales like a master, presenting with candor and a touch of irreverence incidents and events that will resonate with readers. Exploring such universal themes and concerns as friendship, sexuality, illness, alcoholism, loss, and death, the vignettes and stories in this collection are animated by intriguing characters, pitch-perfect dialogue–and a surprising twist. Probing beneath the surface of ordinary life, each selection contains a hidden message, a subtle but powerful reminder of the signposts that mark a spiritual journey.
Quotations from the Scriptures introduce the tales, providing a context that will help readers uncover the meaning the story holds for their own personal lives and beliefs. To encourage further reflection and rumination, Beck offers insights into the specific religious and theological themes that inspired the writing of each tale.
A lively, unabashed look at the challenges of living a spiritual life in contemporary times, God Underneath will appeal not only to Catholics, but to all spiritual seekers, regardless of religious affiliation.
231 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 21, 2007
Funny, moving, honest, sometimes a bit irreverent - I loved it. One of the authors who praises the book on the back cover calls Beck "a male version of Anne Lamott" - a fairly accurate description!
September 19, 2024
A PRIEST TALKS ABOUT "EVERYDAY" SPIRITUALITY, THROUGHOUT LIFE
Edward Beck wrote in the Introduction to this 2001 book, "Incarnational Spirituality is perhaps worth exploring more fully, because we have not always sufficiently reverenced it. Incarnational Spirituality believes that God chooses to be revealed in the people and events of our lives.... Thus, this spirituality is of the very stuff of our lives... Unfortunately... the Church has often promoted a disembodied and rarefied [spirituality], relegated to a privileged few...
"But spirituality is not an esoteric discipline reserved for those who can leisurely pursue it in the cloister, or for the mystic who can effortlessly transcend the constraints of physicality. Rather, it is in the realm of all of us... It is the stuff of our lives: our families, marriages, and friendships... These are the places where God is revealed to us, where the possibility of transformation hovers... My hope is that the stories contained in this book speak to your heart and open it more to this world of Spirit." (Pg. xxiii-xxiv)
He recalls that in his pre-seminary days he once spent a weekend with four Passionist priests and a brother: "The weekend was ordinary, unremarkable, yet perhaps the most significant of my life. For a few days, I simply shared the life of these men. I ate with them, prayed with them, helped them to clean the kitchen, played cards, watched TV, and---I watched them. I observed them intently, every move, every nuance. In some ways, the veil of mystery was lifted... Not impressed with the striving peripatetic existences that surrounded me, I longed for what these priests and brothers had instead. But I didn't know how to get it." (Pg. 57-58)
He also notes that as a boy, "I almost didn't make it to the altar anyway. The requirements to be an altar boy were surprisingly stringent when I was in the fifth grade. Although my parents and teachers assured me that serving as an altar boy would be 'good for me and bring me closer to God,' they failed to mention that I'd have to pass two written tests and one practicum exam before I could GET 'closer to God.' 'Why do I have to take a test to serve God?' I asked. ' I thought He loves me no matter what grade I get.' ... my fifth-grade teacher... said, 'Well, of course, He does, dear, but He loves you even more when you don't embarrass Him at His holy altar.' ... Luckily, I passed the second part of the exam and the practicum with a healthy margin... Thus my parents and I were spared the public embarrassment of my flunking out of 'Altar Boy 101.'" (Pg. 62-63)
He concludes, "This book has been an attempt to find God in the significant experiences and people in my life... My belief throughout has been that God has been a part of my experiences and relationships, even when I wasn't aware of it at the time. My underlying supposition has been that the spiritual is infinitely more significant and empowering than the physical. I'm at a time in my life when I yearn to live the truth of that declaration more authentically." (Pg. 230)
This book may interest many students of contemporary spirituality (but not necessarily only Catholic persons!).
Edward Beck wrote in the Introduction to this 2001 book, "Incarnational Spirituality is perhaps worth exploring more fully, because we have not always sufficiently reverenced it. Incarnational Spirituality believes that God chooses to be revealed in the people and events of our lives.... Thus, this spirituality is of the very stuff of our lives... Unfortunately... the Church has often promoted a disembodied and rarefied [spirituality], relegated to a privileged few...
"But spirituality is not an esoteric discipline reserved for those who can leisurely pursue it in the cloister, or for the mystic who can effortlessly transcend the constraints of physicality. Rather, it is in the realm of all of us... It is the stuff of our lives: our families, marriages, and friendships... These are the places where God is revealed to us, where the possibility of transformation hovers... My hope is that the stories contained in this book speak to your heart and open it more to this world of Spirit." (Pg. xxiii-xxiv)
He recalls that in his pre-seminary days he once spent a weekend with four Passionist priests and a brother: "The weekend was ordinary, unremarkable, yet perhaps the most significant of my life. For a few days, I simply shared the life of these men. I ate with them, prayed with them, helped them to clean the kitchen, played cards, watched TV, and---I watched them. I observed them intently, every move, every nuance. In some ways, the veil of mystery was lifted... Not impressed with the striving peripatetic existences that surrounded me, I longed for what these priests and brothers had instead. But I didn't know how to get it." (Pg. 57-58)
He also notes that as a boy, "I almost didn't make it to the altar anyway. The requirements to be an altar boy were surprisingly stringent when I was in the fifth grade. Although my parents and teachers assured me that serving as an altar boy would be 'good for me and bring me closer to God,' they failed to mention that I'd have to pass two written tests and one practicum exam before I could GET 'closer to God.' 'Why do I have to take a test to serve God?' I asked. ' I thought He loves me no matter what grade I get.' ... my fifth-grade teacher... said, 'Well, of course, He does, dear, but He loves you even more when you don't embarrass Him at His holy altar.' ... Luckily, I passed the second part of the exam and the practicum with a healthy margin... Thus my parents and I were spared the public embarrassment of my flunking out of 'Altar Boy 101.'" (Pg. 62-63)
He concludes, "This book has been an attempt to find God in the significant experiences and people in my life... My belief throughout has been that God has been a part of my experiences and relationships, even when I wasn't aware of it at the time. My underlying supposition has been that the spiritual is infinitely more significant and empowering than the physical. I'm at a time in my life when I yearn to live the truth of that declaration more authentically." (Pg. 230)
This book may interest many students of contemporary spirituality (but not necessarily only Catholic persons!).
August 2, 2019
4.5 stars
A back-cover blurb claims that Beck is a priest's answer to Anne Lamott—high praise, you think, but the similarities are there. Beck generally writes of the small moments of his life, though there are some biggies too: almost drowning as a child, a friend's near-fatal motorcycle accident, his mother's brain surgery, Carly Simon's breast cancer (they become friends), and a very difficult near-entanglement with a needy parishioner. However, the many small stories in between often steal the show, and these seeming anecdotes actually tell large life lessons. It is here that I see the Lamott analogy play out; also, Beck writes beautifully.
In my current survey of priest memoirs—it's a niche sub-genre, I grant you, but it exists—this one was one of the few that I am glad I read for reasons beyond my research.
A back-cover blurb claims that Beck is a priest's answer to Anne Lamott—high praise, you think, but the similarities are there. Beck generally writes of the small moments of his life, though there are some biggies too: almost drowning as a child, a friend's near-fatal motorcycle accident, his mother's brain surgery, Carly Simon's breast cancer (they become friends), and a very difficult near-entanglement with a needy parishioner. However, the many small stories in between often steal the show, and these seeming anecdotes actually tell large life lessons. It is here that I see the Lamott analogy play out; also, Beck writes beautifully.
In my current survey of priest memoirs—it's a niche sub-genre, I grant you, but it exists—this one was one of the few that I am glad I read for reasons beyond my research.
to-buy
June 16, 2019Recommended by Mary Carr in The art of memoir
February 11, 2021
Great Read
Very inspirational were Fr. Beck’s down-to-earth style of narration. I would highly recommend this book for those who love reading memoirs.
Very inspirational were Fr. Beck’s down-to-earth style of narration. I would highly recommend this book for those who love reading memoirs.
January 2, 2014
This was a good read; easy to read a chapter at a time. This seemed to be a very honest book, primarily a biography done as chapters of significant times in his life. He is very upfront about his limitations/failings and its interesting to read about his path to the priesthood.
January 19, 2011
Really 4 1/2 stars at least- I just loved this book, but I think that was perhaps more me than the book itself.
April 7, 2012
Very well written & a wonderful look at faith & relationships
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews