To Become a Priest : A Love Story

Thirteen-year-old Danny Bates is obsessed with becoming a Catholic priest, and heenters Southport, Wisconsin?s, Resurrection Seminary in 1957. But a tragic fire inChicago ignites doubts about the God Danny is so eager to serve, and he falls in lovewith Jessica Fernettan, his best friend Pat?s twin sister. As Jessica urges both Dannyand Pat to leave the seminary, and with the Church in a period of dramatic changefollowing its second Vatican Council, the young seminarians face agonizingchoices. In a powerful and sensitive account of competing personal values,ToBecome a Priest?a Love Storyfollows the intertwined lives of Danny, Pat, andJessica over the next forty years to a memorable ending at the place where theirstory began. ?An engrossing account of the seminary and priesthood during this period, with thebest depiction of the troubled terrain of sexual longing among seminarians that Ihave read.? ?Raymond Hedin, author ofMarried to the ChurchProfessor of American Literature, Indiana University ?A conflict of fundamental values, and a great love story besides.? ?Phillip Gaustad, author ofThe Ordnance ?An incredibly sweet story.? ?Christine DeSmet, author ofSpirit LakeUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison