Once again, I am leading a book study. This time the book is Jim Sano's novel "Self Portrait", the 3rd 4th book in the Fr. Tom series. It is a mini-book study over 4 evenings - Feb. 13th, Feb. 20th, March 5th, and March 19th - covering 8 chapters during each meeting.
To help us with our discussions, I came up with questions for us to reflect on and prepare to share during the meeting. The questions are:
- Which character struck you the most in the chapter? Why?
- Which character reminds you of yourself or someone you know? How?
- Do you empathize or sympathize with any of the characters in the chapter? Which one? Why?
- Were there any teachings or references to the Catholic faith that you picked up in the chapter? If yes, what is it and what were your thoughts?
- What do you find most compelling about the chapter? Why?
Below are my thoughts on chapters 6, 7, 8.
Which character struck you the most in the chapters? Why?
In Chapter 6, I am struck by Mary and the peace and comfort that she finds in her faith. Even as she struggles with her illness, she remains strong for Billy, comforting him when he says to her, "I'd have no life worth living without you." Her response to the challenges that they face together? "We've got to trust in God's plan."
Which character reminds you of yourself or someone you know? How?
Billy reminds me of those who have lost loved ones in their lives. For Billy and Mary, it is their son, Patrick, who they lost. . . "Even after fifteen, this was a pain deep in his heart that would not go way. The pain was all he had left now of his only son." Billy clings onto to the pain of losing his son so that he does not lose the memories of his son.
Do you empathize or sympathize with any of the characters in the chapters? Which one? Why?
Once again, I sympathize with Billy, particularly at his retirement party when Fr. Tom shared Billy's legacy and story with the guests. Billy spent 37 years on the police force and Fr. Tom shared stories of others of a "humble but great man who had served faithfully." What was probably most difficult for Billy when when they had a "long moment of silence in recognition of their son, Patrick."
Were there any teachings or references to the Catholic faith that you picked up in the chapter? If yes, what is it and what were your thoughts?
In Chapter 7, we learn about the Church's teachings on suicide from the conversation between Fr. Tom and Billy, on pages 49-50, and the parable of the prodigal son (from the Gospel of Luke), on page 51. For those whose loved one committed suicide, they may find comfort in this: "The Church teaches that the person is not one-hundred-percent morally culpable if they weren't fully aware or in their right mind at the time [of the suicide]. . . People can suffer greatly from anguish, depression, or fear that can diminish their responsibility. Christ will always judge us fairly and justly - and with love."
What do you find most compelling about the chapters? Why?
In Chapter 8, Billy looks at his reflection in the winder of Boccaccio's Bakery and wonders to himself: "IT was as if he could see right through himself, something he often feared that others could do. . . Billy wondered if he was hiding his real self the same way Rembrandt had." How does his introspection play out as we show Billy's story.
Previous chapter(s):
No comments:
Post a Comment