The Abbey audiobook

I like really much this choral story, whose center are three characters an accountency, an architect, and the father Paul. I cheer up to the father James Martin S.J. who continue with the adventures of the father Paul. It is a character plenty of life. In my opinion would be very interesting he spread his horizons. I loved very much the author settled this story in Philadelphia (Pensylvania) in this state lives my friend Val Bianco, whom i send a fond hug. This novel is self-help, besides this novel allows to the persons know the monastic life, and the mysteries of the catholic, thanks to the doubt of two characters, especially one Anne. I am very interested in the activity of the Benedictine, and Trapensian monasteries in United States, meanwhile i read the novel i had the feeling that i was reading to the father Thomas Merton. This story provoke that God enter in your life. To sum up is a tender, beautiful, and wonderful story. Other reason to enjoy of the reading is that one of the readers was the acclaimed american novelist Ron Hansen. I would be enchanted to read their novels. My next review will be "Die under your sky" was written by the great spanish writer Juan Manuel de Prada............................................................................................................................................................................Me gusto mucho esta historia coral centrada en tres personajes. Es mucho mejor de lo que parece. Animó al Padre James Martin a que prosiga con las andanzas del Padre Paul. Es un personaje, que en mi opinión tiene mucha vida, y puede dar muchísimo más. Me gusto también que el autor haya situado la historia en Filadelfia Pensylvania, dónde vive mi amigo Val Bianco. Es una novela de autoayuda, pero que ayuda a las personas a conocer la vida monástica (especialmente a mí me interesa la labor de los monasterios Benedictinos, y Trapenses. Tenía la sensación de leer a Thomas Merton), y a conocer a Dios. En resumen es una novela tierna, bella y delicada. Otro motivo de regocijo es que parece que uno de los lectores fue Ron Hansen. Un autor, al que estoy deseando leer.Mi siguiente crítica será de la novela "Morir bajo tu cielo" del mejor escritor español Juan Manuel de Prada.

I have long admired James Martin for his intelligent and clear manner of interpreting the Gospel. I was not prepared to love this book like I did. The Abbey is the centerpiece of this story and the characters - Anne, Mark, Father Paul, and Father Edward are fully fleshed out characters with interesting back stories. The reader follows along as the characters unfold and strive to find answers and to live their best lives. Have to admit that my favorite parts were Anne's conversations with Father Paul. I found that it answered questions I didn't even know I had, challenged some of my own ideas about my relationship with God, and left me wondering what is going to happen to these characters. Great read!!

Martin has penned another truly meaningful book. His characters and situations are incredibly realistic and will cause a great deal of contemplation by the reader. One warning: There is a bit of coarse language that may offend some, so be prepared. Overall, the story is touching, funny and beautiful.Mark Matthews is floundering with life after losing his job as an architect. He now works at a nearby abbey, but his heart lies in furniture construction. His landlady, Anne, is dealing with deep grief after the loss of her son in an accident. One night, Anne finds herself at the abbey, a place she frequented as a child. She meets Father Paul and the two begin talking. All three learn about themselves and each other through different encounters.

Is this an earth-shattering, Pulitzer Prize, Manbooker Award winning novella? No. That is not to say it’s bad. Fr. James is pound for holy pound the best writer in the English language on Christendom. His foray into fiction is a wonderful story of realizations and possibilities. It’s definitely a book for Catholics, whether practicing or lapsed. I enjoyed it and one should expect nothing more and nothing less than a lovely story.

LovelyThis was a wonderful read. I think both Catholics and non-Catholics can enjoy and come away with something. The teachings of the monks about love and God and spirituality are beautiful and enlightening. They are a good reminder of what we need to hold true in our hearts and there is no judgemental overtone. A great, quick read that I highly recommend.

I loved this short, lovely novel. There was a feeling of familiarity for me since I had lived near the locations. Also, I had a wonderful family friend who was also a Jesuit, so I found this story relateable and comforting. The story could have been a parable on loss and finding one's way to peace. If you enjoyed Fr. Joseph Girzone's Joshua series, you will probably like this.

A simple yet enlightening story of three people who come to connect with God through everyday events and relationships. It is a beautiful and moving novel. James Martin somehow can share the understanding of faith and love in the same, simple way as Christ's parables.

I've always enjoyed the writings of James Martin SJ and his Jesuit point of view. This book is a work of fiction, with a truly Jesuit point of view. Anne and her neighbor, Mark, are both lonely, disconnected people, each for different reasons. Mark moved to the Philadelphia area away from home and family. Anne's family has left her - first her husband because he didn't want to care for their baby son, and then Jeremiah, the son, when he was killed in a traffic accident at the age of 13. Both end up visiting the Abbey of St. Philip and James - Mark as a part time worker and Anne, sort of by accident. How they each are influenced by the monks, touched by God they would say, is a lovely, hope-filled story that may make you think about prayer in a different way, think about Mary and the saints in a different way, think about relationship with God in a different way. Not great literature, but if you're feeling a little lost these days, try it. You may find it will help.

En la reseña del libro menciona que es una novela sobre cómo Dios obra en nuestras vidas.La narrativa es agradable y al mismo tiempo mueve sentimientos porque, en esta etapa de pérdidas y la soledad me hizo identificarme con Mark y Annie quienes son los personajes principales que interactuan con el Padre Paul, el abad.En un mundo donde cada día se intenta eliminar a Dios de la vida de la humanidad, la novela está cargada de ese ambiente donde los personajes se enfrentan a su pasado para poder comprender su presente.No es una novela donde se intente convertir a una persona al catolicismo, dicha novela va dirigida para aquellas personas que en medio de las situaciones que enfrentan los protagonistas se sienten solos, sin respuestas, con reproche hacia Dios por lo que ocurre ante la pérdida... Es un viaje en donde la persona se descubre con sus sombras y luces.Lo didfruté al máximo.

This was a work read, but despite the compulsory nature of it, I enjoyed it a great deal. I've read some of Fr. Martin's nonfiction, so I'd expected the wry humor, gentleness of spirit, and refreshing down-to-earth honesty of the message of the novel. What I hadn't expected was to be as emotionally invested as I became in main character Anne's struggles with grief, lack of faith, and loneliness. I felt that Mark's storyline was somewhat overshadowed by Anne's, but that makes sense given the gravity of her situation. Regardless, Father Paul's kindness, Father Edward's genuineness, and the Abbey's beauty all made for a lovely atmosphere in which the conflicts taking place in Anne and Mark could be examined and, to some degree, resolved.

(3.75 Stars )*James Martin's SJ 's The Abby follows Anne divorced mother who lost her 13 year old son three years before the outset of this story. It deals allot with Anne's grief over her son.The plot left allot to be desired , in terms of events. It was mostly centered around Anne;s rediscovering God through out the story. I really enjoyed the parts where Father Paul asked Anne about her relationship with with God . I learned for them witch I was not expecting to in in a fiction book. I think these meetings between Father Paul an Anne made the book read as if it were non-fiction.Father Paul was a good Monk , he was not overly theological.

Fr Jim's first novel, naturally centred on spiritual development, so it could have turned out very preachy and full of sickeningly pious people who could put you off religious folk for ever! Not with Fr Jim, of course. I took a wee while to get into the story, but then was engaged by the lives of the main protagonists. The outcome is hopeful but not fairy tale "and they all lived happily ever after". (The author is far too wise and experienced for that.)Lighter listening than his non-fiction works.