Naked Before God

Naked before God is a collection of short stories which go to the heart of the conflict the Catholic Clergy encounter in their search for and communication with the Absolute. Among the struggles laid bare is the man-made law of celibacy and the miseries it causes. The internal political life of the Catholic hierarchy is set ablaze with the murder of Pope Phillip Vincenzo Valentini. As the process of selecting a new Pope begins, the first day of the Papacy Conclave is interrupted by a mysterious disincarnate priest who chastises the assembly for their hypocrisies and outlines the vow of poverty they must take and demonstrate or suffer the consequences of being reduced to the level of a parishioner. Before concluding his visit in a flash of blinding light, he points the finger of guilt at one of the attendees as the assassin of the late Pope. The doors of the conclave unlock and the participants retreat to contemplate their personal futures within the Church. The ensuing scenes focus on the decisions a young, humble, selfless, and truly celibate priest must make when faced with the challenge of becoming the supreme pontiff. He seeks the advice and guidance of someone he trusts, the mysterious and powerful Father Fredrick Monahan. The assassin and his accomplices endure the terrible judgment they have brought upon themselves as the next page in the history of the Papacy unfolds. The final chapters in this collection of stories are a mix of mysticism, terror of the day, magic, miracles, humor, and the transparency of the phenomenon known as time. All in all, this book is a spiritual potpourri certain to pique the interest of all on many different levels. Bonne lecture mes amis.