Seminary: A Search

by Paul Hendrickson

Discusses the author's experiences in seminary while studying for the priesthood and assesses the significance of this period in his life, detailing the forces that brought him to the priesthood and those that drove him away

Genres: Memoir

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[M. Sarki · Rating 3 out of 5]

My intensive three month love affair with the writings of Paul Hendrickson came to a crossroads of sorts at the beginning of 2012 when I, on his advice, began tackling his personal memoir written almost thirty years ago describing his time served in the Holy Trinity Alabama cells of a Thomas Judge seminary. Entering the somewhat and serious monastic life at the unripe age of fourteen and studying there for seven years until he found the strength to leave it, Paul Hendrickson weaves a web of stories centered on a spiritual life unrealized, at least in my opinion, by much of anyone there practicing it. Of course, some would disagree, but that is the way I choose to see it.

Hard and difficult interviews along with overnight stays at the homes of past novitiates and priests connected with the Holy Trinitarian seminary further provides a forty year-old Hendrickson more fodder for his work at understanding where he was back then and where he might be headed. Fast forward thirty years to today where Hendrickson is quite an accomplished writer of several biographical works on extremely interesting subjects, happily married with two adult children, a well sought-out Pennsylvania professor of the writing game, and too-fast approaching his seventies. Let's just say that much has changed since he wrote this first book in 1983 as a way, I believe, to forcefully press forward in his life from where it had been placed in a spiritual holding pattern for one reason or another, one of which I am not sure. To think that I disapprove of the Hendrickson choices for those seven years would be an understatement, but only because I first learned of the present Paul before I was introduced to the old, but much younger version. All of the books written after this one show me a person I would surely want to know. Not sure if the old Paul and I would have gotten on much in my own checkered past. But we all change, and the two of us both for the better it would seem.

The extremely long opening to Seminary: A Search, which takes a good half or better of the book, is nothing to me but a juvenile and amateur linear reporting, too excitable and judicious in regards to telling a story meant to set the table for the reader's understanding of the seriousness to follow. I found it really interesting that when he was talking about himself in regards to himself he really wasn't much good. He's too excitable and a bit immature, which I suppose is understandable. I found that Hendrickson must talk about himself in context with another subject for him to be at his best. It is then that he is remarkable. But it isn't until after that initial linear reportage followed by the first-hand visits around the country to see his old pals and mentors still left in the world and what they had made of it that we get to engage ourselves personally in what is really happening inside to the man, Paul Hendrickson. Intimate interaction with the survivors demonstrates (as does all his books to follow) the strength of Paul Hendrickson and is seen for what it is and what it has become for the devoted readers who still follow him. I am of that camp. As I have said in the past, there is no better biographer on the planet than Paul Hendrickson. There is nothing straight and linear in a later Paul Hendrickson offering. To know that he will go where others fear to tread is why I keep reading him. But had I only read this book, I am not sure I would have continued on with my reading of him. The Catholic life, at least in Seminary, is a little creepy for me. I have my own past experiences as a Lutheran, my own visits to monasteries in my search for God and His understanding, my confirmation and public affirmation of my faith in front of my entire congregation, and the subsequent dismissal of me from the ranks of my little church because of my laxness in participating fully in the rituals and continuing to pay my monetary dues. My own distaste and bitterness for organized religion of all stripes surely would have led me away from reading any more works by Paul Hendrickson, and that would have been my great loss.

This book was not fun for me to read. There was little in it that turned me on in any way. Certainly not the sex part, of which there always is some sort of sex in a PH book, but of a more, at least for me, arousing kind or kinkiness. But I did learn much about Catholicism that I really wasn't interested in. Thank goodness that there was an even more important subject than this, and that being the author Paul Hendrickson. And I do think it is important to read a book like this if you intend to continue following the writings of this man. It is plain to me that Paul Hendrickson leaves us a clear trail. And they are not meager crumbs he leaves us. It is easy to see how he matures as a writer and thinker after this personal accounting and why he goes on to eventually write brilliantly about the civil rights era, the Vietnam War, Marion Post Wolcott, the FSA, and Ernest Hemingway. Whether or not you are a Christian, a Catholic, agnostic, demon, or cur, it will be paramount for your understanding of Paul Hendrickson and the fierce engagement he makes with every subject he writes about, that you inhale this first effort at understanding his truest subject, which is always about him and well should be.

[Len Rudner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seminary is Paul Hendrickson’s first book. Written in 1983, it details his seven-year experience as a seminary student and, 18 years later, his encounters with former students and teachers. That in itself would be an interesting read, but Hendrickson layers this story with deeply felt portraits of the boys he studied with and the men they became. Most left before becoming missionaries but their studies left their mark. Some married and had families, they became lawyers, FBI agents, counsellors, struggled with and overcame addictions. One served in Viet Nam and became one of three pastors to win the Medal of Honour in that conflict… and later was the only recipient to ever return his medal. Not all of his teachers remained in the priesthood. He tells their stories with compassion and clarity.

In all of these cases, Hendrickson asks what it was that brought these boys and men to the seminary, and why did he leave. He asks these same questions of himself. And if the answers are different, or uncertain, that is human condition. The questing itself has great value. In at least one other book, Hendrickson has offered a quotation from T.S Eliot. It is particular apt for this book: ““We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.”

[E H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply enjoyable and pleasantly slow. Rewards waiting. Read with large pot of tea.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised by the personal nature of this book as Hendrickson goes through the Roman Catholic Seminary in Alabama and later Virginia. The book reveals his personal struggle with his faith, his commitment to the priesthood, the expectations of his family and the impact of worldly events on his faith. It has many memories about his fellow classmates and shows how "human" these boys were. As Robert Coles writes for the New Republic, "A gifted writer's look inward at a soul's reasons, a sou;'s trials and turns." A good read.