Character Analysis: The Man Who Saved My Soul

The encounter that began as dread and trepidation became a life-long journey of compassion, friendship and Christ like love. The book, Father Joe The Man Who Saved My Soul, begins with Tony Hendra describing his Catholic household during his youth. He was captivated with nature and enjoyed exploring the countryside. In his exploration Tony found Ben and Lily, a married couple, that Tony new vaguely from the parish he attended. As Tony spent time with the couple, Lily’s loneliness turns into inappropriate attention towards Tony. Finally, Ben discovers the two in an almost intimate way. Of course Tony is fearful of Ben’s attack but instead, Ben reacts to the unfortunate situation and requires Tony to visit a priest with him. Tony’s upbringing had placed him in front of a variety of priests mostly those who believed discipline began and ended with physical pain. But soon Tony found this priest, a Benedictine monk at Quarr Abbey, by the name of Dom Joseph Warrilow, to be different from any he had ever met. This priest, Father Joe, was

(FJ 67). This was a remarkable testimony to me of grace Father Joe extended to Tony. Father Joe did not allow the sin or the evil to overcome the relationship. In Augustine’s words, before the fall we were free both to sin and not to sin. But between the fall and redemption the only freedom left to us is the freedom to sin.” (Goz 249) Father Joe realized sin was a part of human nature but his ministry and his words reflected also what Augustine stated, “When we are redeemed, the grace of God works in us, leading our will from the miserable state…to a new state in which freedom is restored.” (Gox 249) This type of grace is recognized as Tony describes his awe towards Father Joe, one example found in their initial conversation as Tony is taken back in Father Joe’s