I am the world\u2019s slowest reader. I love long novels. Go figure. The two Catholic novels I have enjoyed most are very long. Still first on my list is Kristin Lavransdatter<\/i> (1100+ pages), <\/i>which I wrote about here<\/a> and here<\/a>. But closing fast is Island of the World <\/i>(800+), <\/i>which I finished today.<\/p>\n
Island <\/i>is truly an odyssey. Through a series of horrific trials, a boy\/youth\/man raised in a Christian culture becomes desperately disillusioned; then, through a series of minor miracles, he comes back to the Catholic faith. The key, it seems, is waiting faithfully. As the author reminds us near page 800, a thousand years are as a day to God, and a day is as a thousand years. If we look for the cause and effect of grace, if we expect grace to heed deadlines, we\u2019re going to be disappointed.<\/p>\n The miracle of Island of the World <\/i>is that despite the most terrible sufferings\u2014beginning with the annihilation of Josip\u2019s family by Partisan guerrilas (and I\u2019m only giving away the tip of the iceberg)\u2014Josip arrives at a hard-won salvation. This takes every bit of patience he can muster. But God is always<\/i> patient. \u201cMuch good begins in us before we learn to know its name,\u201d an elderly Josip says to himself. \u201dOur Father is patient with us, for he loves us.\u201d<\/p>\n Or as Josip writes to a loved one near the end of novel, \u201cIt seems to me now that even terrible absences can become a blessing if we do not lose heart, if we keep swimming in the many waters of God\u2019s grace, if we give him time, if we permit a little space for his mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n A bit further on, Josip shares the short \u201cprayer\/counsel\u201d he tries to live by:<\/p>\n Seek nothing for yourself.<\/i> Island of the World <\/i>was recommended to me first by Father Barnes, then by two fellow parishioners at St. Mary\u2019s, Julie and Elizabeth. Father has recommended other books that I have not read\u2014The Fulfillment of All Desire <\/i>by Ralph Martin and a book by Adrienne von Speyr, the title of which escapes me. So I\u2019m glad I finally took him up on Island, <\/i>which I bought while on retreat at St. Joseph\u2019s Abbey<\/a> in Spencer, Massachusetts. (There\u2019s a great Catholic book shop at the abbey.)<\/p>\n For more details on Island of the World, <\/i>check out the Web page<\/a> put up by publisher Ignatius Press, which includes blurbs from luminaries like Peter Kreeft. Next on my novel reading list is O\u2019Brien\u2019s Father Elijah, <\/i>also from Ignatius Press and <\/i>recently recommended by Randy Beeler<\/a>, who calls Michael O\u2019Brien the \u201cbest living Catholic novelist.\u201d I can\u2019t disagree.<\/p>\n Posted by Webster\u00a0I am the world\u2019s slowest reader. I love long novels. Go figure. The two Catholic novels I have enjoyed most are very long. Still first on my list is Kristin Lavransdatter (1100+ pages), which I wrote about here and here. But closing fast is Island of the World (800+), which I finished today. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![](\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/_dmDaLWNETzg\/Sy-2lyGKkTI\/AAAAAAAAAto\/doTKm3_gCDs\/s320\/Island\")
Stand ready to serve<\/i>
in quietness,<\/i>
demanding nothing, expecting nothing,\u00a0<\/i>
sacrificing and praying without anyone knowing.<\/i>
Silence\u00a0<\/i>
Silence\u00a0<\/i>
Silence<\/i><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/tracker\/6738513599344023043-7364322638578955858?l=yimcatholic.blogspot.com\")