This autobiography details the author’s journey from seminary to priesthood to married life and serves both as a chronicle and a reflection on central Catholic teachings. Vogels initially felt “God’s irresistible calling” as a young man, just one year out of grammar school, and details his early years in seminary and as a young priest. He underwent a crisis of the soul in seminary, attributed to the struggle between his vow of celibacy and basic human desires. From this struggle began a life of examining Catholic teachings with analyses backed up by years of intense biblical study.

Vogels details the support of married priests in biblical texts, citing evidence of how marriage strengthened the apostles and the early church leaders. He expounds upon decades of bringing these issues before church leadership and the unsupportive or indifferent responses he has received. He ends with an appeal to all Catholics to band together in a common goal to promote acceptance of marriage within the priesthood.

The depth of the author’s account is immediately striking. He shares in terrific detail his struggles and innermost beliefs with refreshing honesty. Although the writing is sometimes verbose, the author’s relentless pursuit of fairness and justice within the church is always evident. His take on these issues is unique, as few first-hand accounts adequately explore potential loopholes or dichotomies within church teachings. At once divisive, intelligent, and sincere, this account will make anyone familiar with the Catholic church take a more methodical look at these centuries-old teachings and perhaps come away with a new appreciation for the struggles of the priesthood.

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