Walter Joseph Ciszek, S.J. was a Polish-American Jesuit priest who conducted clandestine missionary work in the Soviet Union between 1939 and 1963.
Fifteen of these years were spent in confinement and hard labor in the Gulag, plus five preceding them in Moscow's infamous Lubyanka prison. He was released and returned to the United States in 1963, after which he wrote two books, including the memoir With God in Russia, and served as a spiritual director.
Since 1990, Ciszek's life has been under consideration by the Roman Catholic Church for possible beatification or canonization. His current title is Servant of God.
Terrific. Very basic and bear bones account of all he went through. It is an intense and sometimes difficult to read story, but the author tells it with confidence and leaves the reader wondering how could someone just endure this level of mental and physical torture? 8/10 stars
I liked the book but it is really close to his other book He Leadeth Me but with out the spiritual direction. I wanted to read this book after I read hi first one to find out his emotional reunion in the US.
Inspirational, detailed account of his trials and hardships - it’s amazing that he survived and was able to eventually return to the US, all the while still believing in God’s providence. His other book, He Leadeth Me is more about his spiritual journey.
Amazing story about a man’s perseverance in relationship with God while serving, and I’m justifying term in prison in Russia. Amazing that he can recount all the stories and names with such detail.