07.31.08
The Bishop and the Beggar Girl of St. Germain
Andrew Greeley takes us to Paris. In the Beggar Girl of St. Germain Auxiliary Bishop John Blackwood Ryan travels to Paris, France to act as chaperone for Cardinal Sean Cronin and his widowed sister-in-law Nora. The Cardinal decided to give her the Paris trip for her birthday. While in Paris, the Cardinal asks Bishop “Blackie” to investigate the disappearance of a famous TV celebrity priest. The priest, Father Jean-Claude, vanished in an underground crypt with only one exit. The exit was guarded and the guards claim the priest never left the shrine.
The disappearance of the priest is rather complicated. The priest was a beloved preacher who had become very renowned for his televised sermons that talked of hope and love. Blackie must consider who might wish for this priest to vanish: the French government who fear popular clerics; the Church who is skeptical of his “holiness” and fame; the Dominicans (his order) many of whom feel envy of his success; the television station who sees him as an uncontrollable amateur; political royalists who may be upset that he is not leading a cultural political revival; the students at the university, many of whom distrust clergy; or himself as a way to avoid further emotional distress.
Blackie, in need of a translator, discovers a graduate student who is so poor she begs on the steps of a church, St-Germain des Pres, to survive. The girl, Marie-Bernadette, who speaks excellent English, is a talented cellist who is studying Celtic music with her boyfriend Jacques-Yves.
Blackie and Marie-Bernadette roam around Paris interviewing everyone they can find who might know anything about the priest. We meet some intriguing characters, from a fellow priest who is burdened with anger toward Father Jean-Claude and police officer who is patronizing to clerics, to the Mother Superior of a Convent who is inspired by Jean-Claude’s spirituality. However the most entertaining scenes involve Cardinal and Nora Cronin, and the innocent young lovers Marie-Bernadette and Jacques-Yves. As is his habit, Bishop Blackie influences the young people to recognize and solidify their love.
Andrew Greeley often includes bits of wisdom in his stories. In this book he first suggests that sometimes people delay helping others because they do not want to “play God”. He ponders that maybe “if you can help people who need help, then you help them” and leave matters to them and to God. He later offers that women become “more attractive every day as hope deftly” slips into their life. Finally he says, “women should know that the things they would like to do with their men, but are afraid to, are those things that men like the most.” Some vital tips from a celibate priest.
I recommend this fine book. The novel is full of human understanding, God’s love and forgiveness. It is an enchanting mystery and a precious love story.