Character Analysis: The Man Who Saved My Soul

The encounter that began as dread and trepidation became a life-long journey of compassion, friendship and Christ like love. The book, Father Joe The Man Who Saved My Soul, begins with Tony Hendra describing his Catholic household during his youth. He was captivated with nature and enjoyed exploring the countryside. In his exploration Tony found Ben and Lily, a married couple, that Tony new vaguely from the parish he attended. As Tony spent time with the couple, Lily’s loneliness turns into inappropriate attention towards Tony. Finally, Ben discovers the two in an almost intimate way. Of course Tony is fearful of Ben’s attack but instead, Ben reacts to the unfortunate situation and requires Tony to visit a priest with him. Tony’s upbringing had placed him in front of a variety of priests mostly those who believed discipline began and ended with physical pain. But soon Tony found this priest, a Benedictine monk at Quarr Abbey, by the name of Dom Joseph Warrilow, to be different from any he had ever met. This priest, Father Joe, was

fueled by something that Tony had never experienced.
“I knew I'd just met a man from whom would come none of the usual responses I'd learned to expect from priests. Some unknown fuel drove his engine. Gentleness bubbled out from the funny figure in the scruffy black robes like clear water from solid rock. It was flowing into me through his dry warm hand. I felt on the brink of learning an entirely new set of possible responses to the world.” (57)

It was the spirit, kindness and compassion, that Father Joe carried that Tony had never received from a priest. It is that same type of compassionate spirit that I prayer will lead my ministry. Tony found this priests love would never give up on him and whose goodness would keep calling him back. Throughout the book, I found examples that reflect the structure of the Benedictine Rule. This was believed to be St. Benedict greatest contribution, which provided structure to his community. Tony Hendra often refers to the concept of these rules as he describes various situations and encounters with Father Joe. The first reference is reflected in the immediate introduction of Father Joe, to the 14 year old Tony, who was genuinely afraid of the wrath he might face in their first meeting which was arranged by Ben after the “affair” with his wife Lily. Father Joe’s unconditional love was immediately recognized.
“I went to kneel beside the chair as I had with Father Bleary when he heard my confession in his lair. "No no no no," said Father Joseph Warrilow seventeen times. "Sit down next to me." He reached over for a little wooden stool at the table and pulled it to him, patting the seat. I sat down. Without looking at me he took my hand in his.” (FJ )
This reminded me of the Rule of St. Benedict, “Rather that extreme asceticism, the Rule seeks wise ordering of the monastic life, with strict discipline, but without undue harshness.” (Goz 278) From the beginning, Father Joe established a relationship based on respect and love not authority and discipline. Father Joe’s compassion was not compromised by the structure of the Benedictine Rule, it was enhanced. I make this statement believing our ministry often gets caught up in the day-to-day tasks, the busyness of what we feel we should do. The Rule, seems to provide a structure for the community allowing them to respond to needs through obedience and understanding the fullness of Christ. Other Rules of St. Benedict I observed in this text included; Father Joe’s appreciation of wine, appreciation of food, stability of his presences within Tony’s life, the kiss of peace, his willing of obedience and the pattern of the monk’s day.
“The monk’s day was divided between work and prayer, “work” meaning anything from high art to academic research to making wine to cooking dinner or mucking our the cows. … work was enjoyable or not, exalted or humble … work is to pray.” (FJ45)
Tony never doubted Father Joe’s obedience to God or to the Rule but different from other priest, it never interfered with his friendship with Father Joe.

(FJ 67). This was a remarkable testimony to me of grace Father Joe extended to Tony. Father Joe did not allow the sin or the evil to overcome the relationship. In Augustine’s words, before the fall we were free both to sin and not to sin. But between the fall and redemption the only freedom left to us is the freedom to sin.” (Goz 249) Father Joe realized sin was a part of human nature but his ministry and his words reflected also what Augustine stated, “When we are redeemed, the grace of God works in us, leading our will from the miserable state…to a new state in which freedom is restored.” (Gox 249) This type of grace is recognized as Tony describes his awe towards Father Joe, one example found in their initial conversation as Tony is taken back in Father Joe’s

verdict.
“The verdict was gentle, final, the last word of, well, a father. A father unlike mine or anyone's I knew, unlike the men we were accustomed to call Father or even-according to all reports-the God we called Father. I'd confided something that had confused and tormented and terrified me to this father. And the matter had been handled.” (58)

From this point forward, the relationship between Tony and Ben and Lily was over, but it was the beginning between Tony and Father Joe. Tony’s was completely comforted by the wisdom and unconditional love extended by Father Joe. For years Tony periodically visited Father Joe at his monastery. Father Joe had a redemptive effect upon Tony, stemming from his ability to make Tony feel more than just understood, but to be deeply loved as a unique self. Father Joe was not just a sounding board for Tony, he was a spiritual director. Throughout the book we can see glimpses of Father’s Joe’s teachings in reflection of spiritual leaders that I believe impacted his life. A few of these might be Meister Eckhart, Aristotle, Augustine, Cicero, Catherine of Siena and Aquinas.
The very basics of Tony and Father Joe’s relationship, friendship, speaks to a primary concept I am drawn to in readings of Augustine. “You only love your friend truly, after all, when you love God in your friend, either because he is in him, or in order that he may be in him. That is true love and respect. There is no true friendship unless You weld it between souls that cling together by the charity poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. [Confessions Bk. V.19 http://www.ccel.org/ccel/augustine/confess.html] It is this type of love that Augustine speaks of in his Confessions, that saves Tony’s soul.
Throughout Hendra’s story I found references that connected me to the theology of Augustine of Hippo. Beginning with the Rule of St. Augustine which emphasizes a life lived in love, community, obedience, and service. (Dictionary 25)
One Augustine similarity was found years later in the story as Tony returns to sit again at the feet of this deeply wise monk. In one scene, Tony and Father Joe discuss the purpose of satire. Tony describes satire as a “dynamic” tool that divides the world into two groups.
“It’s the way the world works Father Joe,” he says. “People think in teams. We’re good, you’re evil; we’re smart, you’re dumb; we’re upper-crust, you’re vulgar.” Then to illustrate Tony tells a Polish joke. Father Joe does not laugh. In fact he says, “Is there a joke coming?” Then Tony tells him a blond joke. Father Joe does not get it. In fact, he frowns. Then comes the real punch line from Father Joe: “You see dear- I think there are two types of people in the world. Those who divide the world up into two kinds of people…and those who don’t.”(189-190)