God Underneath : Spiritual Memoirs of a Catholic Priest

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Summary: Heartwarming and Personal Stories by a Catholic Priest
Review: Fr. Beck brings the reader along for a journey through 21 touching and highly personal stories about his life experiences in this easy to read book. I absolutely could not put the book down and finished it all in one day. Some stories had me laughing, some crying, and others both at the same time! It's very unusual to find someone with a gift of telling stories such as Fr. Beck's. He is able to use brutal honesty to allow you into his heart and soul and to imagine walking hand-in-hand with him through some really challenging situations. Fr. Beck doesn't try to gloss over the fact that life sometimes challenges us, but he shows the reader that there is a bit of magic in the strangest of places!

Rating:
Summary: Well Done!
Review: Fr. Edward L. Beck's "God Underneath" is an eloquently written and refreshingly honest look into the life of a Catholic priest filled with captivating characters that he meets along his spiritual journey. His courage in allowing us to see his vulnerability and humanity made it very hard for me to put this book down. I especially enjoyed the stories of his childhood, it brought back sweet memories of my own. With each chapter he weaves his tapestry and makes you feel the colors. I recommend this book to anyone, of any creed, members of the clergy and lay people alike. The quest for spirituality is universal and the sharing of Edward Beck's journey definitely gave added dimension and reflection to my own.

Rating:
Summary: Well Done!
Review: Fr. Edward L. Beck's "God Underneath" is an eloquently written and refreshingly honest look into the life of a Catholic priest filled with captivating characters that he meets along his spiritual journey. His courage in allowing us to see his vulnerability and humanity made it very hard for me to put this book down. I especially enjoyed the stories of his childhood, it brought back sweet memories of my own. With each chapter he weaves his tapestry and makes you feel the colors. I recommend this book to anyone, of any creed, members of the clergy and lay people alike. The quest for spirituality is universal and the sharing of Edward Beck's journey definitely gave added dimension and reflection to my own.

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Summary: God Comes To The Surface
Review: God may be underneath, but he quickly comes to the surface in this wonderful, surprising, and totally honest account of the journey to a spiritual vocation. A Passionist priest, Father Beck illumines with subtle (and not so subtle) delineation, the many ways in which God is present in the community of the heart. Each chapter presents a thought-provoking examination of such issues as: the meaning of religion in the modern world; women in the church; AIDS and the spiritual community; the vagaries of hypocrisy; celibacy; and many others. Whether relating how he became a life-long friend of Carly Simon; how to defuse an angry congregation; or the beauties inherent in coming to God in the wilderness, Father Beck speaks for all communites and varieties of religious experience. I read this book in two days, and it continues to resonate. It is as much about being human as it is about coming to the divine. It gives priests, nuns, and the realm of the religious a needed and welcome embrace of honesty.

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Summary: Heartwarming, Inspirational Stories
Review: God Underneath is a moving, sincere glimpse into the heart and soul of a religious man. Fr. Edward's real life stories evoke deep feelings of joy, fear, and doubt. He bravely reveals the struggles and rewards of being a Catholic priest. Fr Edward allows us to intimately share with him his personal spiritual journey. These heartfelt and inspirational stories demonstrate the presence of God in everyday life. God touches all of us in different ways. To experience God we simply need to open ourselves up to the events and people around us.
I found it refreshing to have a priest put his trust in us by revealing himself so honestly and openly. We are fortunate to have Fr Edward working at God's side.
I highly recommend this book to anyone searching for God in their daily lives.

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Summary: A Reaffirmation Of My Faith
Review: GOD UNDERNEATH is a poignent and moving narrative which reaffirmed my faith life as a Roman Catholic. Beck's writing is charming, heart-felt, and witty as he shares, in the best sense of that word his journey as a Catholic priest. I highly recommend this testimony of life's journey and faith for all people who are serious about exploring the inner dismensions of their lives. Readers will come away feeling cleansed, assured that God cares about us, even in our folly, and reaffirmed that our life here is part of a greater whole.

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Summary: God Underneath Honest and Intimate
Review: God Underneath is a raw and intimate look inside the life of a Catholic Priest in todays world. In 21 short stories Fr. Beck details his path to priesthood,friendships,alcoholism and celibacy through the eyes of people he has met along his spiritual journey. He dares to approach the topic of Women in the Church and the Catholic teachings with regard to homosexuality and sexual ethics, issues modern day Catholics question. Beautifully written with sensitivity and humor.

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Summary: God Underneath
Review: I found God Underneath to be a delightful biography of a sensitive and giving soul. Fr. Edward's style is thoughtful and colorful. He bares his bones and his heart in this book that exposes, deeply, a priest's life. I give him praise for his honesty and for making the priesthood real, especially to a female, Protestant, embarking on her own mission in the ministry. Many blessings, Pastor/Father Edward, for continued success and joy in your writing.

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Summary: Spiritually moving & inspiring
Review: I just finished reading this book and have to extend my gratitude, praise and prayers to Fr. Beck for sharing himself with his readers in such an honest and giving way. So many of his points, of God being with us in each moment of one's life, of being present to us through others and within oneself, have been deeply moving and greatly inspiring. I strongly recommend this book!!

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Summary: If God is underneath, I want to go deeper
Review: I loved this book and highly recommend it! Fr. Beck allows us to see his human side, a rarity among priests. this book is funny and insightful. From the Peoria story to the touching friendships, we come to see a man, who loves the Lord, loves the Lords people and doesn't take himself too seriously. His descriptive story telling makes you feel like you are sitting with him on the bench by the ocean and feeling the presence and awesomeness of Gods power and creation. May God continue to bless Fr. Beck.