What do you think?
Rate this book
My Son, the Priest: A Mother’s Crisis of Faith
Not every Catholic mother wants her son to be a priest.
The true story of a young man’s journey to become a Jesuit priest—written by his mother, a fallen-away Catholic who must come to terms with her son’s decision or risk losing him. It is an intimate, sometimes irreverent, and often searing examination of faith, family, and reconciliation.
“You send your son off to college and you think that in a few years you might get a call, and he’ll announce that he has someone he’s bringing home, someone he wants you to meet. But then that someone turns out to be a recruiter hawking a lifetime of poverty, chastity and obedience. What college kid in his right mind would sign up for that?”
The book offers a rare, often entertaining, glimpse into the highly unusual Jesuit formation process—which includes sending would-be priests off on pilgrimages with $35 in their pockets. It also takes on tough issues, from the church’s history of sexual abuse to its treatment of women, and asks tough Is it possible to be Catholic, liberal, and a feminist all at the same time? What does it mean to call yourself a Catholic?
The true story of a young man’s journey to become a Jesuit priest—written by his mother, a fallen-away Catholic who must come to terms with her son’s decision or risk losing him. It is an intimate, sometimes irreverent, and often searing examination of faith, family, and reconciliation.
“You send your son off to college and you think that in a few years you might get a call, and he’ll announce that he has someone he’s bringing home, someone he wants you to meet. But then that someone turns out to be a recruiter hawking a lifetime of poverty, chastity and obedience. What college kid in his right mind would sign up for that?”
The book offers a rare, often entertaining, glimpse into the highly unusual Jesuit formation process—which includes sending would-be priests off on pilgrimages with $35 in their pockets. It also takes on tough issues, from the church’s history of sexual abuse to its treatment of women, and asks tough Is it possible to be Catholic, liberal, and a feminist all at the same time? What does it mean to call yourself a Catholic?
266 pages, Paperback
Published November 11, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 22, 2025
Patrick Gilger was baptized a Catholic and made his First Communion. However, he was raised in the Episcopalian church by his fallen away Catholic parents. This is the story of Patrick, primarily as he enters Jesuit formation and becomes a Jesuit, as well as the story of his mother as she reconsiders Catholicism and her relationship with God.
February 21, 2026
Gilger's writing is a pleasure to read -- while I disagree with her attitude towards some of the Church's teachings, it's always a pleasure to see someone honestly and earnestly striving towards the Catholic faith. She also brings interesting insight into both priestly formation as a whole, and the particularities of Jesuit formation as experienced through the life of her son.
Read
April 1, 2026Very pleased to have gotten a great review in the LA Times! https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a...
Here's the Kirkus review for this book. Very enthusiastic!
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Here's the Kirkus review for this book. Very enthusiastic!
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
July 2, 2026
4.5 stars
A mother's account of how her son becoming a priest changed her.
She tells stories of their conversations and how she had a choice to join him on the journey or get left behind.
Although this story was about a mother and her son, it bridges to the reader and our connections with the people we love and our willingness to enter into their passions. Yes, God enters the story, but not in a slap you in the face kind of way.
Criticism would only be the beginning dragged on more than the end. The other criticism would be the heaviness of the chapter on women and the Church.
Blessings would be to draw people closer to those we love through their passions and the gift of God in our lives.
A mother's account of how her son becoming a priest changed her.
She tells stories of their conversations and how she had a choice to join him on the journey or get left behind.
Although this story was about a mother and her son, it bridges to the reader and our connections with the people we love and our willingness to enter into their passions. Yes, God enters the story, but not in a slap you in the face kind of way.
Criticism would only be the beginning dragged on more than the end. The other criticism would be the heaviness of the chapter on women and the Church.
Blessings would be to draw people closer to those we love through their passions and the gift of God in our lives.
March 28, 2026
I thought Gilger was brutally honest and transparent. If I were her son I would have been not that pleased with the degree of her sharing but that’s what makes it a compelling book. The fact that it got written cooperatively is a mark of the strength of their relationship.
Her views about the church were the same ones I’ve heard from my wife and many other women who were raised Catholic.
Her views about the church were the same ones I’ve heard from my wife and many other women who were raised Catholic.
June 23, 2026
A book which resonated with me
I have the pleasure of being with Kristen at a book club. What a wonderful book! As a cradle Catholic who was educated by Jesuits,this book certainly resonated with me! Thank you Kristin.
I have the pleasure of being with Kristen at a book club. What a wonderful book! As a cradle Catholic who was educated by Jesuits,this book certainly resonated with me! Thank you Kristin.
April 5, 2026
Loved it!
May 11, 2026
Especially for persons who have had their own doubts with Faith.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews