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Chapter 1: What challenges does Patrick face in his journey to the priesthood?
1928, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Working as a janitor under Monsignor Kelly's watchful eye, Patrick has slowly rediscovered his faith, and now his calling to the priesthood. But becoming a priest may be more difficult than he thinks. With just an eighth-grade education, 19-year-old Patrick has his work cut out for him. How will this hard-working mailman survive the school of hard knocks?
Monsignor Kelly, I want to be a priest.
Okay, Pat. What's a noun? What? I know you have a vocation. What I don't know is if you have enough education to get into a seminary.
I don't. I only finished eighth grade.
We can fix that. Gotta figure out what grade to place you in. And does Tom want to finish school too? Probably. Okay. What's a verb? How about an adjective?
A noun is a subject, a person or thing, and a verb is an action, and an adjective is a descriptor.
Close enough. Go over to the Christian Brothers and enroll for the first year of high school at St. Thomas'.
I'd like to, but I don't have the money.
I'll take care of the tuition.
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Chapter 2: How does Monsignor Kelly support Patrick's education?
Yeah, I think it started out as a joke, but I won the election. Six contenders, secret ballot. Nice one, Pat.
So, how do you like the new job? It's a good one. I couldn't ask for a more peaceful place to spend my day than in church and chatting with the priests. A priest's life is wonderful, isn't it?
Monsignor, why shouldn't Tom be a priest too?
Does he want to? If it suits me, it should suit him. Well, if it suits him, he'll have to go to school too. He'll have trouble making up the four weeks he's missed.
Yeah.
So you tell him he has until Monday morning to make up his mind, and if he still wants to be a priest, I'll pay the tuition. Wait, really? You two can split the janitor job around your classes.
Thank you, Monsignor.
How are the applications going, Pat?
I heard back from the Redemptorists and the Capuchins today. Both no's. Try again. I will. But I'm losing hope that anybody will take me now. People are saying it isn't right to give immigrants spots in American seminaries.
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Chapter 3: What unexpected event occurs during Patrick's high school experience?
I'll give you two a minute.
After all you did for me, I'm not going to be a priest after all.
Are you praying for a cure?
They say it's hopeless. I've been in here for three months.
You have the faith, Pat, but you're not using it. I'm trying to make peace with it. Pat, you brought the faith with you from Ireland. Your mother gave it to you, just as her mother had given it to her.
Yeah.
Mary is your mother too. Are you going to her? Are you begging for your life? For time to serve as a priest?
Monsignor, there's no use. Maybe this is all God wants from me. Dying before I can finish seminary. At least I tried.
Listen up, Pat. Our lady will be as good as you think she is. If you think she's a 50%er, that's what she will be. If you think she's a 100%er, she'll be there for you 100%. What do you mean? None of us ever do as much as we're capable of. We always fall short, stopping on the near side of our total effort. Even Our Lady doesn't do as much as she can, but that's because we limit her.
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