The journey of a 20th century priest turned cardinal

It was early in the 20th century, war loomed on the horizon for the world, and a young, newly ordained priest rode a ship bound for home after leaving Rome, the place of his formation and ordination. A half century later, this same man rode a ship back to Rome, donned with the red cap of a cardinal, on his way to making history.

This provides a brief backdrop to Henry Morton Robinson’s work The Cardinal, giving a fictional account of the first American cardinal to vote in a papal conclave. While the overall premise of the work may seem of mild historical interest to some and an outright bore to others, the events of Stephen Fermoyle’s life between these two sea voyages is anything but boring.

This work follows the life of Stephen Fermoyle, a Boston kid ordained a priest by the Pope, who lives and grows through tumultuous times in the life of the Church. Faced with the coming of two World Wars, contraception and abortion, issues of social justice and freedom, Stephen encounters many issues that still face the Church today. Enthusiasts of the Church’s academic life will enjoy following Stephen through this time when the Church thoughtfully responds to these crises, especially as they impact the Church in America. Robinson is true to the times and historical in the story of this fictional priest, incorporating real life players and events to enhance the historical value of the piece as seen through the eyes of Stephen.
 
Also of interest is the way Robinson details Stephen Fermoyle’s rise through the ecclesial ranks of the Church. Going from Father to Monsignor, Bishop, Archbishop, and finally Cardinal, readers will see through Stephen’s experiences an inside glimpse into the hierarchical structure of the Church. It is not pretty and includes many difficult administrative predicaments, but through this, Robinson brings the reader to understand more fully what being a member of Church hierarchy means and how men strive to fulfill these duties in a saintly manner.

While these experiences are insightful and interesting, what will forever stick with me from this story are the characters. We see Stephen as a Boston kid, who grew up in a faithful Catholic family with its foibles but also its enduring virtue. We live through the struggles of this family as they face death, vice, and new life. Through all this, the family remains true, and we see a loving Catholic family that produced a future prelate of the Church, which, as one character notes, is the best foundation for a good priest.

In addition to the Fermoyle family, memorable characters abound in Stephen’s life. Of particular interest to me were the pastors that Stephen worked with during his life. First is Father “Dollar-Bill” Monaghan, the gruff fundraiser who can squeeze every penny out of his parishioners. Despite his gruff demeanor, there is a redemptive value to Father Monaghan that comes to fruition following his experiences with then-Father Fermoyle.

Another character of note is Cardinal Glennon. The relationship between Stephen and Cardinal Glennon follows an interesting arc, beginning with disdain, followed by mutual respect, and finally paternal love. There is much to learn from Cardinal Glennon, but nothing speaks more than the moments where his pastoral heart is exposed, and he becomes a loving father to his people. These moments are rare, but they show the soft heart of a seasoned administrator.

In short, there is a great deal of interest in this novel as Robinson views the most critical issues facing the Church in America in the first part of the twentieth century through the eyes of a priest. There is intellectual debate, challenges to the Church’s social teaching, and insight into the hierarchical workings of the Church. In all of this, what speaks most to me are the characters Robinson so richly develops. They speak to us in our weaknesses, they are people we will cherish, and they are witnesses that a life of holiness can take on many different forms. For no other reason, I hope everyone reads this book and is moved by the examples of holiness portrayed within.