Happy are the Poor in Spirit

Greeley, Andrew M. Happy are the Poor in Spirit. New York: The Mysterious Press, 1994.
ISBN: 0515115029.

Though this certainly is not the first of Father Greeley's books, it is the first I've reviewed, so let me make a few copies. I ran across Father Greeley's Beatitudes series featuring Father Blackie Ryan only a few weeks ago while searching through my local public library. Concerning which, let me violate the laws of writing so as to pause and encourage you to support your local public library. As I get the Energion Bookshelf into some sort of order I'm trying to get all the ISBNs clearly available to facilitate a search for the books at the library. Of course, I appreciate those who purchase them via the links on this page from Amazon.com, but don't let the cost of books keep you from the pleasure of reading!

Following this non-commercial announcement we return to our regular programming . . .

Father Greeley presents an enchanting character with an enchanting theology in the person of Father Blackie, auxiliary bishop (earlier in the series a priest and monsignor), with an enchanting theology. I doubt most mystery readers are terribly interested in the theological points, but though I'm protestant and somewhat more conservative than Father Blackie (and perhaps Father Greeley?) I find these books challenging in a theological sense. Father Blackie continuously confronts the problems of real people and does so with a faith which is not ostentatious, formal or doctrinal, but is simply a form of practical meeting of people's needs.

Let me quote a brief exchange in which Father Blackie is conversing with a woman about her relationship with her husband:

W: . . . We're good companions. But it's the hunger that brought us together and holds us together and I'm not ashamed of that.

B: I should think not.

W: That's not sinful?

B: Only if God made a mistake in arranging for sexual differentiation in our species.

...

B: Fortunately for the human species the Holy Spirit encourages a wide variety of loves to entertain us and entrap us.

Lest my own involvement with theology leads anyone to believe that this is a work of theology let me assure you that there is plenty of action, mystery, character and suspense to make the book a joy to read. We find Father Blackie again charged by Cardinal Cronin to "see to it!" and in this case the seeing is about a ghost. The Cardinal wants no ghosts in the parish, and Father Blackie sets out to make things work the way the Cardinal wants them.

Along the way he does a good deal of God's work, noting that God often allows us to clean up the mess that results from her wooing of people. God works in mysterious ways--sometimes they're downright strange.

Can Father Blackie clean up the mess?

Greeley, Andrew M. Happy are Those Who Thirst for Justice. New York: The Mysterious Press, 1987
ISBN: 0892961805. Amazon.com lists the publisher as out of stock. Another good time to check your public library!

Someone has shot Fionna Downs' domineering grandmother, and left the beautiful Fionna holding the gun. Father Blackie gets involved in the twisted affairs of the family as he tries to sort out just who amongst the many suspects actually committed murder. Father Blackie is at his enchanting best, commenting on human nature, expressing his sincere faith, and searching for the truth, however twisted the path may be.

Greeley, Andrew M. Happy are the Meek. New York: Warner Books, 1985
ISBN: 0446327069. Amazon.com lists the publisher as out of stock.

Father Blackie again is charged to "see to it!" when an apparent apparition haunts the home of a recently dead man. Was it suicide? Murder? An accident? To find out, Father Blackie must sort through the twisted relationships of a dysfunctional family, a couple of cults, and some very weird people in general.