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Search - LAST RITES

LAST RITES
Author: Charles Patterson, Charles Patterson

Last Rites is a novel about a young man who follows his grandfathers and father into the ministry only to find out he made a big mistake. — Written in the first person, it tells the story of Tom Reed, who is born into a church family in Connecticut and grows up as the theological wunderkind of his father's parish. In college he star... more »ts having his first serious doubts about where he's headed. Senior year he applies to seminary only after flipping a coin.

After he graduates and is ordained, he spends two years as a curate in a suburban parish, then is called to be the rector of a moribund parish in a remote part of the state (at age 26 he's the youngest rector in the Diocese of Connecticut). He conducts lots of funerals, gives sermons that nobody listens to, and hears the confessions of the parish's compulsive penitent.

He has a series of run-ins with the vestry, the laymen who govern the parish, about issues such as letting the youth group use the church for a rock concert and flying the American flag on the front lawn. Although he feels increasingly isolated and unhappy, he puts off taking any steps that would upset his father, who has had a stroke and is now in a nursing home.

When his father dies, Tom conducts the funeral, a chore made even more unpleasant by the presence of his mother and Bishop Howard, who delivers the eulogy. Tom resents that the bishop, who beat out his father to become the new bishop, and his mother are having an affair.

When Tom finally decides he has had enough, he resigns from his parish and goes to New York after Bishop Howard grants him a leave of absence "for theological study and reflection."

In New York he learns about New Beginnings, a small agency that helps church people find secular jobs. He has an interview with "Ma" Brogan, the ex-nun who runs the agency, and meets other church refugees, including Patty Sullivan (previously Sister Mary Theresa) and Mike, a 19-year-old Franciscan monk who ran away from his monastery.

Ma Brogan gets Tom some interviews, but none of them pan out. Desperate for money, Tom conducts a funeral for a show dog on Park Avenue.

When Tom finally lands a job with an insurance company, he writes the bishop to tell him he's leaving the ministry and won't be returning to the diocese. However, the bishop insists he come to Hartford for a talk.

At his showdown with Bishop Howard, Tom fends off the bishop's final attempts to keep him in the fold. Six weeks later he receives the document ("Renunciation of the Ministry") that makes his resignation official.

The novel is moving, funny, irreverent, entertaining, and very readable. It's a story that has never been told before.

ISBN-13: 9781601453129
ISBN-10: 1601453124
Publication Date: 10/8/2007
Pages: 296
Rating:

0 stars, based on 0 rating

Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc.
Book Type: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

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