Talking of Michelangelo: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell in the Burgundy Region
by Peter A. Giersch
Published by Sophia Institute Press
Also available as an ebook and audiobook on the Saintifi App (click for a 30 day free trial)
Something that I think should be talked about more in Catholic circles is our struggles with the Faith. We all struggle and wrestle with different aspects of our Faith, but how often do we openly discuss these struggles and questions? I feel that there is a pressure to be a “perfect Catholic” – which can’t even happen until we get to heaven (God willing)! Yes, we are called to be “perfect like our heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48), but how many of us fall short over and over again (praise God for the Sacrament of Reconciliation!) If you have ever wrestled with the Faith, you will relate to Peter A. Giersch in his new memoir Talking of Michelangelo: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell in the Burgundy Region.
An Honest and Vulnerable Memoir
I, personally, love memoirs, so I wanted to read this book immediately. This book wasn’t just Mr. Giersch’s life story. It was a powerful account of a soul actively searching for God and the lengths he went to to find Him.
Part 1
The book is divided into 2 parts. The first part gives the relevant backstory about the author’s life. While I feel that the second part really included the meat of the memoir, the first part was needed to understand the author’s faith journey and past. Peter Giersch is an extrememly learned and intelligent man and a captivating writer. He knows multiple languages and is passionate about teaching and learning about the Catholic Faith. He writes about all sorts of incredible adventures and experiences in the first part of the book, and ties them all together in Part 2.
Part 2
Peter Giersch asked for a retreat to a French monastery for his 40th birthday, and this is what Part 2 is all about. This aspect of the book intrigued me since I had never heard of anyone attending anything like this. His writing gives the reader a peek inside a French monastery of cloistered monks. I quickly finished this part of the book in a couple of nights before bed.
I will probably never get to experience a trip like this, so I loved living vicariously through Mr. Giersch and hearing all about it. From the meals with the monks to the uncomfortable silence and spiritual direction, I loved hearing about the author’s spiritual struggles and triumphs. He also cleverly and seamlessly weaves a lot of catechesis and theology throughout the book which would be great for someone new to the Faith or someone coming back to the Faith with poor catechesis. The retreat was structured around the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, so this would also be a great introduction for someone wondering about that particular topic as well.
Who Would Enjoy This Book
This book is meant for adult readers, and although I am not 100% sure, I think that his target audience is Catholic men. As a Catholic woman, I still enjoyed the book very much, but some of the jokes (he is a funny guy!) sort of went over my head or missed the mark for me because I think they are more of a masculine humor. They didn’t deter me from reading the book, but I think a man wrestling with his Faith would really relate to the author. It’s also a great book for anyone curious about the Ignation Spiritual Exercises, and really for anyone who needs a good reminder that Hell is real and that Satan is always on the prowl looking to devour our souls.
You can find Talking of Michelangelo: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell in the Burgundy Region by Peter A. Giersch from Sophia Institute Press.
